As the transfer portal has opened on Jan. 2, the future of Florida's roster is unclear. Under new head coach Jon Sumrall, a number of Gators have entered their names into the portal, while others have chosen to remain with the program. Furthermore, new additions to UF's roster are beginning to pour in.
Stay tuned for updates throughout the 15-day portal window Jan. 2-Jan. 16.
ADDITIONS:
Jan. 7:
Safety Cam Dooley:
Kentucky safety Cam Dooley will transfer to Florida, as first announced by Hayes Fawcett.
Dooley also earned a 69.7 Pro Football Focus grade. That included a 64.6 run defending grade, a 55.8 tackling grade and a 71.4 coverage grade. He was targeted 10 times and allowed 6 catches for 80 yards for a 45.8 NFL passer rating against.
Safety Elijah Owens:
Safety Elijah Owens will commit to Florida, he announced on his social media.
Owens recently played at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. In 2025, Owens had 65 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, an interception and three pass deflections.
Wide receiver Micah Mays Jr.:
Wake Forest wide receiver Micah Mays Jr. will transfer to Florida, per Hayes Fawcett.
In 2025, Mays caught 18 passes for 302 yards and 2 touchdowns, earning a 56.4 Pro Football Focus grade. He totaled 5.7 yards after catch per reception and forced 4 missed tackles.
Mays also had a solid 1.24 yards per route run and a 10% drop rate this season.
Jan. 6:
Edge rusher/defensive lineman Emmanuel Oyebadejo:
Jacksonville State's Emmanuel Oyebadejo plans to transfer to Florida, as first reported by Steve Wiltfong.
In 653 total snaps this past season, Oyebadejo earned a 81.7 Pro Football Focus grade, racking up 36 total pressures, 5 sacks, 5 QB hits, 26 hurries and 6 batted passes.
The 6-foot-7 lineman also had a 78.9 run defending grade, a 58.9 tackling grade and a 76.4 pass rushing grade.
Offensive tackle Eagan Boyer:
Another student of Phil Trautwein at Penn State, offensive tackle Eagan Boyer will transfer to Florida.
As a redshirt freshman in 2025, the 6-foot-8 lineman made eight appearances for the Nittany Lions. He earned a 50.0 Pro Football Focus grade, allowing 2 QB hits in 2025.
Punter Alec Clark:
Another Green Wave special teamer, Tulane punter Alec Clark will also transfer to Florida, per Zach Goodall.
On 49 punts this past season, Clark earned a 84.8 Pro Football Focus punting grade. He averaged 46.3 yards and 41.4 NET yards per attempt, while kicking 18 of his punts inside of the 20-yard line. He had a 4.11 second average hang time.
Kicker Patrick Durkin:
Tulane kicker Patrick Durkin will transfer to Florida, per Zach Goodall.
Durkin went 25/28 on field goals this past season, earning a 85.6 Pro Football Focus field goal grade. Two of his misses were from 50+ yards. He also was 41/42 on extra point attempts.
Guard TJ Shanahan Jr.:
Penn State guard TJ Shanahan Jr. will transfer to Florida, as first reported by Hayes Fawcett.
Shanahan has played 804 snaps over the past two seasons at Texas A&M and Penn State. In 2025 with the Nittany Lions, he earned a 63.8 Pro Football Focus grade, including a 59.2 run blocking grade and a 79.6 pass blocking grade. (2024 at Texas A&M, 2025 at Penn State).
Shanahan allowed 1 sack, 1 QB hit, 6 hurries and 8 pressures this past season. He now reunites with former offensive line coach Phil Trautwein in Gainesville.
Running back Evan Pryor:
Cincinnati running back Evan Pryor plans to transfer to Florida, per Hayes Fawcett.
After beginning his collegiate career at Ohio State, Pryor has been productive over the past two years for the Bearcats, totaling over 1,000 all-purpose yards from 2024-25.
Pryor earned a 75.1 Pro Football Focus grade in 2025 and a 75.8 PFF grade in 2024. This past season, he racked up 319 yards after contact and 4.20 yards after contact per attempt. He also forced 16 missed tackles and earned a 92.7 elusive grade.
Jan. 5:
Defensive lineman DK Kalu:
Baylor defensive lineman has committed to Florida, as first reported by Corey Bender.
He had 11 tackles and half a tackle for loss in nine games at Baylor this past season.
In 281 snaps in 2025, Kalu racked up a 59.7 Pro Football Focus grade. He earned a 61.5 run defending grade, a 68.4 tackling grade and a 54.0 pass rushing grade. He also had 4 defensive pressures.
Wide receiver Bailey Stockton:
Georgia Tech wide receiver Bailey Stockton will transfer to Florida, as first reported by Hayes Fawcett.
In his time with the Yellow Jackets, Stockton made 38 receptions for 439 yards and one touchdown.
In 2025, Stockton earned a 68.9 PFF grade. He averaged 4.9 yards after catch per reception and forced 5 missed tackles. He also had 2.15 yards per route run, a 5.1% drop rate and a 66.7% contested catch rate.
Center Harrison Moore:
Georgia Tech center/left guard Harrison Moore is expected to transfer to Florida, per Matt Zenitz.
Moore played 682 snaps in 2025, with 427 of them coming at center and 254 coming at left guard.
He earned a 63.6 Pro Football Focus grade, a 65.5 run blocking grade and a 68.4 pass blocking grade. He also had 0 sacks allowed, 5 QB hits allowed, 10 hurries allowed and 15 pressures allowed.
Tight end Lacota Dippre:
James Madison tight end Lacota Dippre has committed to Florida, as first reported by Corey Bender.
A defensive lineman turned offensive weapon, Dippre made 17 grabs for 192 yards and three touchdowns in 2025. Over 546 snaps played, Dippre earned a 71.7 Pro Football Focus grade.
He averaged 11.6 yards per reception and racked up 105 yards after the catch, coming out to 6.2 yards after catch per reception. Dippre only had 2 drops (10.5% drop rate) while also earning a 68.9 pass blocking grade and a 70.2 run blocking grade.
Jan. 4:
The first expected offensive transfer portal addition in the Jon Sumrall era at Florida is the Gators' potential 2026 starting quarterback, former Georgia Tech quarterback Aaron Philo. The rising redshirt sophomore will follow his offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Buster Faulkner, to Gainesville, according to a report by Matt Zenitz.
Thus far in his career, Philo has appeared in eight games for the Yellow Jackets, completing 57.8% of his passes for 938 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. He has also recorded 95 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
While Philo's stats don't pop out on paper, under the hood, his analytical profile shows plenty of promise for his future.
Philo recorded Pro Football Focus overall grades of 91.3 and 80.0 in 2024 and 2025, respectively. In 2024, he made seven big time throws, good for a 9.5% BTT percentage, per the site. He also only made one turnover worthy play, accounting for 1.3% of his throws.
Now, Philo enters a quarterback group led by redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr., who made two appearances for the Gators in 2025. UF also landed four-star recruit Will Griffin on early signing day.
Safety DJ Coleman:
Baylor transfer safety DJ Coleman is the first portal addition of the Jon Sumrall era. He officially committed to UF Jan. 4, per Hayes Fawcett. He is the No. 98 ranked player in the portal, per On3.
Coleman was a standout this past season for the Bears, making 47 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 6 pass break-ups and a forced fumble. He was targeted 32 times and allowed 20 catches for 141 yards, allowing a 46.5 NFL passer rating.
He earned a 70.1 Pro Football Focus grade in 2025 and a 66.4 PFF grade in 2024. Coleman has one year of eligibility remaining.
RUMORED:
A very high-profile candidate to watch is former Ohio State wideout Quincy Porter. The former five-star only made four grabs last season, but is a highly-touted asset.
Tulane EDGE Jordan Norman also is scheduled to visit the Gators. He had 6 sacks and 8 tackles for loss in 2025.
Alabama's Micah DeBose is an offensive lineman to watch. Vanderbilt and Arkansas are other programs in the mix for his services. South Alabama's Jordan Davis reportedly has interest from Florida, as well. Another lineman that UF is bringing in on a visit is Stanford's Emeka Ugorji.
It was also reported Jan. 3 that Florida was a program to watch for former Wisconsin wide receiver Chris Hilton Jr., with LSU being the other program in the hunt. The son of former Pro-Bowl wideout TY Hilton., Chris made 8 grabs for 91 yards in 2025. Georgia Tech's Isiah Canion will also visit Florida.
Two other receivers Florida reportedly will target is Utah State's Braden Pegan and Auburn's Horatio Fields. Neither player has a visit scheduled at the time of writing.
Tulane's Shazz Preston has also emerged as a name to follow. He has visits scheduled with Baylor and Oklahoma State, and Georgia also is looking to bring him in on a visit. More wide receivers to watch are West Virginia's Cam Vaughn and Minnesota's Malachi Coleman.
Meanwhile, USC's Bryan Jackson and Michigan State's Makhi Frazier both have been pointed out as potential running back targets for the Gators. East Carolina's London Montgomery is also set to visit the Gators.
At tight end, Georgia's Pearce Spurlin is expected to visit the Gators.
RETENTIONS:
Florida has retained a number of key players, all of whom will likely see major playing time and will have impacts on the 2026 team.
The most notable retention thus far is Jadan Baugh. The star running back announced Jan. 6 that he would remain with the program. Last season, he became the first UF runner to hit the 1,000 yard mark since 2015.
Offensively, freshman quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. returns as a primary option under center. He will likely compete for the starting role against a transfer portal addition.
The new UF starting QBs weapons will include the talented freshman wide receiver duo of Vernell Brown III and Dallas Wilson, both of whom turned down the portal to remain in the Orange and Blue.
Furthermore, tight end Amir Jackson, who originally planned to enter the portal, has opted to instead remain with the Gators.
In the offensive trenches, the returns of Caden Jones, Fletcher Westphal and Knijeah Harris help bolster what could be a deep lineman group.
EDGE Jayden Woods, who originally entered the portal, withdrew and chose to remain with the Gators, marking a key defensive retention.
On the front seven, LJ McCray, Jaramiah McCloud, and Kamran James will lead the defensive line, while Myles Graham, Aaron Chiles and Jaden Robinson all return to man the linebacker positions.
Meanwhile, Cormani McClain, Bryce Thornton, Lagonza Hayward and Drake Stubbs all will return to UF's secondary.
DEPARTURES:
Jan. 3:
Two more specialists have entered the transfer portal.
Punter Hayden Craig:
Freshman punter Hayden Craig, a former scholarship player, will enter the portal.
He backed up Tommy Doman last season.
UPDATE: Craig will transfer to LSU.
Long snapper Mack Mulhern:
Freshman long snapper Mack Mulhern, a former walk-on, will be entering the transfer portal.
He was a reserve for Rocco Underwood this past season.
UPDATE: Mulhern is transferring to LSU.
Jan. 2:
A fourth Florida running back has hit the transfer portal, as well as two more walk-ons.
Running back Ja'Kobi Jackson:
After applying for another year of eligibility and it being granted, UF running back Ja'Kobi Jackson has chosen to enter the portal, per Pete Nakos.
Jackson had a three year stint with the Gators, recording 122 carries for 607 yards and 7 touchdowns over the past two seasons. However, he missed the final eight games of the 2025 season due to injury.
Jackson also showcased pass-catching skill in his UF stint, making 11 grabs for 103 yards.
Tight end Scott Isacks:
Former walk-on tight end Scott Isaacks will depart the program after four years at Florida.
He made occasional appearances in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Wide receiver Jackson Wade:
A former walk-on from Dallas, Georgia, wide receiver Jackson Wade will transfer after three seasons at UF.
Primarily a special teamer, Wade made two catches for 20 yards in his Gators career.
UPDATE: Wade is transferring to Boston College.
Dec. 31:
A third Gator running back will enter the portal, as well as a kicker.
Running back Treyaun Webb:
Redshirt sophomore running back Treyaun Webb plans to enter the portal, per Hayes Fawcett.
A former four-star recruit from Jacksonville, Webb served as a depth running back in 2023 and 2024. He did not make any appearances in 2025.
Overall, Webb finishes his UF career with 47 carries for 256 yards and three touchdowns.
Kicker Evan Noel:
Freshman kicker Evan Noel plans to enter the portal. He was the No. 1 overall kicker in the 2025 Class, per On3.
Dec. 30:
A talented member of Florida's secondary will be departing the program, as well as a depth tight end.
Defensive back Aaron Gates:
Redshirt sophomore defensive back Aaron Gates plans to enter the transfer portal, per Hayes Fawcett.
Gates shined in 2024, making 27 tackles while deflecting three passes and securing an interception. However, injuries kept Gates off the field for the majority of 2025, as he suffered a season-ending injury in UF's loss against Miami.
Gates was a four-star recruit in the 2023 Class, per the On3 Consensus rankings.
UPDATE: Gates is transferring to Kentucky.
Tight end Cameron Kossman:
Freshman tight end Cameron Kossman will enter the transfer portal after one season at UF.
A three-star recruit who walked on at Florida, Kossman played one snap in 2025 in Florida's season opener against Long Island.
He has four years of eligibility remaining.
Dec. 26:
A key member of Florida's secondary and a former promising recruit are entering the transfer portal.
Defensive back Sharif Denson:
Junior defensive back Sharif Denson will enter the transfer portal, as announced on Dec. 26.
The Jacksonville native made 11 starts for the Gators in 2025, totaling 52 tackles.
His most productive season at UF was in 2024, where he racked up 36 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and an interception.
UPDATE: Denson is transferring to Ole Miss.
Running back Chad Gasper Jr.:
True freshman running back Chad Gasper Jr. will enter the transfer portal.
The former three-star recruit made zero game appearances for UF in 2025.
He has four years of eligibility remaining.
Dec. 24:
A major piece of Florida's offenses over the past couple of seasons will depart from the program.
Wide receiver Eugene Wilson III:
Florida redshirt sophomore wide receiver Eugene Wilson III will enter the transfer portal, per a statement on his Instagram account.
Originally ranked a four-star recruit in the 2023 Class by the Rivals Industry Rankings, the Tampa native burst on to the scene as a freshman. He played in 10 games and started seven of them. He finished with team-best six touchdown catches, and he also finished second on the team with 61 catches and 538 receiving yards.
In 2024, Wilson medically redshirted after only appearing in four games. At first, it was a knee injury that kept him out of action early in the year, but a more serious hip issue would knock him out of the remainder of the season and forced him to get surgery. He finished the 2024 season with 19 catches for 266 yards and a touchdown.
Then, in 2025, Wilson became more of a complimentary piece in a crowded Florida receivers room. After starting in five of the eight games he played in, Wilson's season was cut short after he suffered a high ankle sprain against Georgia Nov. 1. He finished 2025 with 27 catches for 239 yards and three touchdowns.
UPDATE: Wilson is transferring to LSU.
Dec. 23:
Offensive lineman Neal Portnjagin:
Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Neal Portnjagin is expected to enter the transfer portal.
A three-star recruit from Karlsruhe, Germany, Portnjagin only made one game appearance during his two year UF stint.
He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Dec. 22:
Wide receiver Naeshaun Montgomery:
True freshman wide receiver Naeshaun Montgomery plans to enter the portal, per Rivals' Hayes Fawcett.
A former four-star recruit, Montgomery made three catches for 26 yards in 2025.
He has four years of eligibility remaining.
Dec. 21:
Florida's offensive line depth has been tested in the recent days of the portal, and that trend continues.
Offensive lineman Devon Manuel:
Senior offensive lineman Devon Manuel announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on his X account on the evening of Dec. 21.
Manuel only made one game appearance in 2025 and made three appearances in 2024.
He transferred to UF from Arkansas in 2023. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
Dec. 19:
One more Gator has entered his name into the transfer portal.
Offensive lineman Enoch Wangoy:
Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Enoch Wangoy will enter the transfer portal, per Swamp247's Tyler Harden.
Originally from Manchester, England, Wangoy was a three-star recruit in the 2024 Class. He made zero appearances in two seasons at UF.
Dec. 18:
Two more UF starters have hit the portal.
Defensive lineman Michai Boireau:
Sophomore defensive lineman Michai Boireau will enter the portal, per Swamp247's Graham Hall.
Boireau has been a consistent force on UF's defensive line during his two seasons in Gainesville. In 2025, he made 20 total tackles and racked up two sacks. He also made a game-sealing interception when UF defeated Mississippi State Oct. 18.
The Atlanta native marks one of the biggest portal entries from UF's roster.
UPDATE: Boireau is transferring to Ole Miss.
Tight end Hayden Hansen:
Redshirt junior tight end Hayden Hansen has decided to enter his name into the transfer portal, according to a statement on his X account.
One of UF's more experienced players, Hansen has played in all 37 games over the past three seasons. In those contests, he has made 57 catches for 611 yards and five touchdowns.
The 6-foot-8 tight end earned a 50.7 Pro Football Focus grade in 2025. His best career grade is a 59.4 mark in 2024.
UPDATE: Hansen is transferring to Oklahoma.
Dec. 17:
Florida's transfer portal departures have officially hit the double digits.
Defensive back Jamroc Grimsley:
Redshirt freshman defensive back Jamroc Grimsley is set to enter the transfer portal, per Fawcett.
A former Alabama commit, Grimsley made only five appearances for UF.
Against Mississippi State Oct. 18, he started, making a tackle and deflecting a pass.
UPDATE: Grimsley is transferring to Mississippi State.
Linebacker Grayson Howard:
Junior linebacker Grayson Howard will enter the transfer portal, according to a statement he posted on his X account.
After posting 18 tackles in his freshman season at South Carolina, Howard transferred to UF in January 2024.
He burst onto the scene for the Gators in 2024, racking up 37 total tackles, a pass deflection, a sack and a forced fumble.
However, he only played 36 snaps in 2025 after dealing with an undisclosed injury throughout the offseason. Over his three games played, he made four tackles.
UPDATE: Howard is transferring to South Florida.
Wide receiver Tank Hawkins:
To no surprise, redshirt freshman wide receiver Tank Hawkins plans to enter the transfer portal, per On3's Pete Nakos.
Hawkins opted out of the remainder of the 2025 season Nov. 8, preserving his redshirt.
“Tank came up, very professional,” then-interim head coach Billy Gonzales said. “He came out and asked if he could preserve his redshirt. Absolutely. I said I 100 percent honor it."
In his UF career, Hawkins made 12 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown. He also had three carries for 11 yards.
UPDATE: Hawkins is transferring to Washington State.
Offensive lineman Marcus Mascoll:
Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Marcus Mascoll will enter the portal, per Nakos.
A former four-star recruit, Mascoll never appeared in a game over his two years in Gainesville.
Dec. 16:
One day after six members of the Florida roster entered the portal, two more Gators followed suit.
Wide receiver Aidan Mizell:
A former consensus four-star recruit, redshirt sophomore Aidan Mizell is expected to enter the transfer portal, per Fawcett.
Mizell was a productive part of the Florida offense, but he struggled to stay healthy during his three-year UF tenure. After redshirting in 2023, Mizell appeared in only seven games in both 2024 and 2025.
Over those two seasons, Mizell made 36 catches for 379 yards and three touchdowns.
Mizell's departure adds more pressure for Sumrall and his staff to retain UF's talented receiver core, which includes true freshmen Vernell Brown III and Dallas Wilson.
UPDATE: Mizell will transfer to UCLA.
Defensive back Teddy Foster:
A redshirt freshman defensive back out of Sarasota, Florida, Teddy Foster entered his name into the transfer portal Tuesday, per Fawcett.
Foster appeared sparingly for the Gators over the past two seasons. He recorded six total tackles during his UF tenure.
UPDATE: Foster is transferring to South Florida.
Dec. 15:
A seemingly normal Monday in mid-December marked a massive shift in the direction of Florida football going forward. On Dec. 15, six members of the UF roster announced their intentions to enter the transfer portal.
Quarterback DJ Lagway:
The biggest Gator name to enter the portal, sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway announced his decision to transfer away from the program on his Instagram moments after ESPN's Pete Thamel broke the impending news.
In his statement, Lagway thanked his teammates, coaches and the UF fans before announcing his future steps.
"After much prayer, reflection, and thoughtful consideration, I have decided to enter the transfer portal," he wrote.
A former five-star recruit, Lagway’s time in Gainesville has been filled with ups and downs.
He emerged as Florida’s starter midway through the 2024 season after an injury to former Gators quarterback Graham Mertz. From there, Lagway put together an electric freshman season, throwing for 1,915 yards, 12 touchdowns while winning every game he started and finished.
However, Lagway’s performance significantly regressed in 2025. After an offseason filled with setbacks, including a shoulder injury, surgery for a sports hernia injury and a calf strain, Lagway struggled throughout his sophomore season, throwing for 2,264 yards, 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, the second most picks thrown in the country.
Later in the day Dec. 15, reports circled that Lagway's initial meetings with Sumrall "did not go well", according to CBS Sports' Chris Hummer.
Lagway has been linked to programs such as Louisiana State, Miami and Baylor, according to CBS's Cody Nagel.
Running back KD Daniels:
Nearly an hour after Lagway entered his name into the portal, redshirt freshman running back KD Daniels followed suit, as announced by Fawcett.
After recording 11 carries for 77 yards and a touchdown during his freshman season in 2024, the former four-star recruit took a slightly bigger role in the Florida offensive in 2025.
The 6-foot-tall runner took 28 carries for 120 yards and a touchdown while adding three catches for 17 yards. His yard mark ranked third on the team, behind Lagway (136) and Jadan Baugh (1,170).
UPDATE: Daniels has transferred to Wake Forest.
Defensive back Jordan Castell:
One of Florida's more experienced defensive players, junior defensive back Jordan Castell entered the transfer portal moments after Jackson, per Fawcett.
Castell burst onto the scene in 2023 as a freshman, totaling 59 tackles, deflecting three passes and grabbing an interception. He earned a spot on the Freshman All-America Team that season for his efforts.
He was again solid in 2024, making another 55 tackles and deflecting nine more passes. He also added a sack.
However, Castell's play heavily regressed in 2025. While he still filled the stat-sheet with 54 total tackles and two interceptions, his Pro Football Focus grade nosedived to a 57.6. In coverage, he allowed 19 catches on 23 targets against, a 82.6% completion rate when targeted.
Castell's best ability, however, was his availability. In a banged-up UF secondary, Castell made 34 consecutive starts for the Gators.
UPDATE: Castell is transferring to Kentucky.
Wide receiver Mike Peterson Jr.:
The son of outside linebackers coach Mike Peterson, freshman walk-on Mike Peterson Jr. is set to enter the transfer portal, per Nakos.
A Gainesville native, Mike Jr. did not make any appearances for the Gators in 2025.
Defensive back Josiah Davis:
Redshirt freshman defensive back Josiah Davis entered his name into the portal Monday evening, per Fawcett.
Davis appeared mostly as a special teamer for the Gators, recording one tackle during his UF tenure.
Dec. 10:
The second player to leave UF in the transfer portal is the first to come on the defensive side of the ball.
Defensive lineman Tarvorise Brown:
A junior college standout turned 2024 walk-on, 6-foot-7 defensive lineman Tarvorise Brown is set to enter the portal, per Nakos.
A reserve defensive lineman, Brown made six appearances for UF over the past two seasons, recording five total tackles.
UPDATE: Brown is transferring to North Carolina.
Dec. 8:
Florida has its first departure of the 2026 transfer portal cycle.
Wide receiver Muizz Tounkara:
True freshman wide receiver Muizz Tounkara will enter the transfer portal, per Nakos.
Tounkara made eight appearances as a reserve player for the Gators in 2025, making two catches for 12 total yards.
He is a former three-star recruit.
This is a developing story.
Contact Max Bernstein at mbernstein@alligator.org. Follow him on X @maxbernstein23.
Max is a junior sports journalism student in his seventh semester at The Alligator. He serves as The Alligator's assistant sports editor and football beat coordinator. He previously served as The Alligator's sports editor and as a reporter for football, women's tennis, volleyball, lacrosse and sports enterprise. He also has made multiple appearances on the Paul Finebaum Show. Max wants to shoutout his cats, Scooter and Zoe, and niche former Florida Panthers players (shoutout Maxim Mamin).
