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Wednesday, February 04, 2026

Florida football’s top five defensive additions

UF has added key pieces in head coach Jon Sumrall’s first recruiting cycle as a Gator

Florida Gators inside linebacker Myles Graham (5) speaks after Billy Gonzales at the interim coach’s opening press conference on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla.
Florida Gators inside linebacker Myles Graham (5) speaks after Billy Gonzales at the interim coach’s opening press conference on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla.

A common theme presented itself throughout Florida football’s 2025-26 season: The Gators defense could hold its own against top offenses, but UF lacked the offensive firepower needed to win games in the SEC.

The 2025 season turned out to be nothing but a springboard for a Gators program looking to regroup, strategize and rebound. They fired head coach Billy Napier Oct. 19, and Florida’s opponents averaged over 30 minutes of possession each game of the season. 

This pointed toward the Gators’ inability to sustain drives and the defense’s relentless task of stunting opposing offenses drive after drive, leading newly hired coach Jon Sumrall to add eight new defensive weapons during the portal cycle.

As the Gators lost 10 defensive players to the transfer portal, including six defensive backs, and UF’s staff was tasked with building a cohesive roster with new additions, here are Florida’s top five defensive pickups of the 2026 transfer portal cycle:

DL Emmanuel Oyebadejo

Oyebadejo is a 6-foot-7 redshirt junior from Manchester, England who piqued Florida’s interest after a 41-tackle season on Jacksonville State’s defensive line. He is the No. 25 defensive lineman in 247Sports’ transfer rankings after forcing two fumbles, defending five passes and logging 4.5 sacks, per ESPN, in a nine-win season for the Gamecocks.

He is expected to develop under UF defensive line coach Gerald Chatman and work into the room alongside Brendan Bett, Jeramiah McCloud, Joseph Mbatchou and Jamari Lyons.

If he plays edge — which is likely under newly hired UF defensive coordinator Brad White — he will split reps with multiple proven linemen in Jayden Woods, LJ McCray, Kofi Asare and Kamran James.

S DJ Coleman

Junior safety DJ Coleman was UF’s first transfer addition under Sumrall, and he is expected to be one of the most impactful pickups for the Gators. In three seasons at Baylor, Coleman has logged 84 tackles (59 solo) — including eight for loss — and defended nine passes. He also forced a fumble and recorded two interceptions in 2025 alone.

He has grown exponentially over his three seasons at BU and is ranked the No. 73 transfer safety by 247Sports’ rankings as a three-star.

With UF’s loss of redshirt sophomore Aaron Gates and junior Jordan Castell in the safety room, Coleman could find himself a place in the rotation alongside Bryce Thornton and Alfonzo Allen Jr.

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S Cam Dooley

Cam Dooley is another big defensive addition for Sumrall’s Gators, who look to bolster their pass defense. The sophomore transferred from Kentucky after seeing action in 24 games across two seasons.

Despite not producing much in his freshman year, Dooley broke out as a sophomore. He forced a fumble, recorded 29 tackles and logged an interception, making him a promising addition as a rising junior in 2026.

Just one spot behind Coleman in 247Sports’ transfer rankings at the safety position (74), Dooley brings SEC experience to a defense in need of improving upon a 2025 statline of 8 yards per pass attempt allowed. 

He also played under newly hired UF safeties coach Chris Collins in both his seasons at Kentucky, which means there’s someone on Florida’s staff who has spent plenty of time learning Dooley’s playstyle and scouting his talent.

DB Jordy Lowery

Jordy Lowery is a three-star redshirt junior transfer from East Carolina who is expected to be a game-ready defensive back in White’s scheme. In the wake of UF losing cornerbacks Sharif Denson, Jamroc Grimsley and Teddy Foster, Sumrall saw the opportunity to add experience among one of the team’s younger position rooms.

Lowery spent three developmental years at Western Carolina, where he finally broke out as a redshirt sophomore. In 2024, he tallied 48 tackles and six interceptions — which he returned for a total of 133 yards — before heading to East Carolina in 2025. In his most recent campaign, Lowery notched 27 tackles and both forced and recovered a fumble for the Pirates.

While returning Gators Dijon Johnson and Cormani McClain are expected to secure the starting cornerback positions, Lowery will bring much-needed depth to a Gators squad that finished 2025 as a bottom-five SEC team in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense and pass defense efficiency.

Freshmen Ben Hanks III and J’Vari Flowers will also likely serve roles in 2026. If they are effectively mentored by veteran transfer Lowery and newly-hired cornerbacks coach Brandon Harris, Sumrall’s Gators have a bright future in limiting opposing receivers. 

DL Mason Clinton

Redshirt sophomore Mason Clinton enters Gainesville after a year-long stint at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he recorded 16 total tackles.

At 300 pounds, the 6-foot-5 lineman brings size and strength to a Gators defense that allowed 154 rushing yards per game on average in 2025.

Clinton should bolster the line and add depth by providing the Gators with flexible pass-rush pairings featuring Bett, McCloud, Mbatchou and Lyons. Given a healthy five-man rotation at the line come September — and of course, development — Florida should feel confident in its pass rush and defensive potential.

With UF looking to build an elite and efficient defense as it enters the Sumrall era, the school’s annual spring game will be the Gators’ first showcase of how their new additions complement seasoned returners and mesh with the team’s culture.

Florida’s 2026 Orange & Blue Spring Game will be played April 11 at 12 p.m.

Contact Curan Ahern at cahern@alligator.org. Follow him on X at @CuranAhern.

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Curan Ahern

Curan is a junior sports journalism student in his fourth semester at The Alligator. He is currently the sports desk's football and enterprise beat writer, and previously served as a reporter for men's tennis, sports enterprise and football. He is currently pursuing a public relations minor and is an avid Duval sports fan. (#DTWD)


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