Photo: Billy Napier; Credit: Alex Shepherd
The initial NCAA transfer portal window has closed, and the vast majority of college football players looking to play elsewhere in 2023 at least began their search process during the 45-day window, if not completed it.
That pool includes 22 former scholarship members from the Gators’ roster and so far ten prospects set to join Florida for the upcoming campaign.
All Gators has tracked all scholarship transfers from Florida under the first NCAA transfer portal below.
This story has been and will continue to be updated if any status changes or additional players are added to the transfer in/out list.
Transfers in (10)
Listed chronologically
DL Caleb Banks: With Gervon Dexter off to the NFL Draft and Jalen Lee transfer to LSU, Florida’s need for defensive line reinforcements only became more crucial heading into the offseason. The team quickly identified Banks, a 6-foot-7, 300-pound redshirt freshman from Louisville, as a high-upside lineman who could help fill the void.
While earning just 38 snaps during the 2022 season, Banks tallied two total tackles with one for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and three quarterback pressures. according to Pro Football Focus. He maintains three seasons of eligibility to use in Florida.
QB Graham Mertz: Florida’s plan for quarterback moving forward blows up as elite 2023 signal-caller Jaden Rashad reportedly requested a release from his letter of intent on Tuesday. Mertz, a seasoned Big 10 veteran, was acquired to serve as the bridge quarterback while Rashada developed behind the scenes.
Mertz’s role has not changed as he is expected to start for UF in 2023 with experience on his side after the 2022 start Anthony Richardson‘s departure for the NFL Draft, although Mertz won’t have a quarterback of the future behind him on the depth chart.
Serving as the Badgers’ starting signal caller for three of his four years in Madison, Mertz combined for 5,405 passing yards, 38 touchdowns and 26 interceptions on just under 60% completion, adding eight touchdowns on the ground.
Mertz has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
DL Cam’Ron Jackson: The Gators weren’t done adding depth in the trenches when they landed Banks when Jackson transferred to Florida less than two weeks later. He’s expected to play nose tackle and some three-technique, while Banks is likely a three-technique with defensive end potential.
After two seasons in a backup role while adding beef to his frame, Jackson produced 41 tackles, one sack and 20 quarterback pressures (PFF) during his 2022 redshirt sophomore campaign. He routinely demanded double teams in the middle of Memphis’ defense at 6-foot-5, 340 pounds.
Jackson can play for Florida for two seasons before running out of college eligibility.
LB Teradja Mitchell: With Ventrell Miller and Amari Burney out to the professionals and Diwun Black transfer to Temple, Florida entered the offseason with a glaring need for linebacker, leading to the acquisition of a former Buckeyes starting ‘backer in Mitchell.
After three seasons of primarily special teams play from 2018-20, Mitchell assumed a starting role on Ohio State’s defense in 2021, posting 45 tackles with 4.5 for loss in 12 games. An undisclosed injury limited him to just four appearances in 2022, however, leading to his transfer portal on 5 December.
Mitchell has one season of eligibility to spend with the Gators.
LB Deuce Spurlock: Florida continued to hammer home the need for linebackers, and Florida got Spurlock’s commitment shortly after Mitchell’s. Spurlock may not take on as immediate a role as the other Big 10 linebacker transfer, but UF is intrigued by Spurlock’s potential as he has put on the weight (now 6-foot-1, 231 pounds) needed for to play at the second level after manning the safety position in high school.
Spurlock recorded three total tackles in two appearances as a freshman and retained his redshirt. He will have four seasons of eligibility to take advantage of in Gainesville.
OL Micah Mazzccua: Florida lost four of its five 2022 starters on offense this offseason Richard Gouraige and O’Cyrus Torrence entered the NFL Draft and Michael Tarquin (USC) and Ethan White (no obligation) entered the transfer portal.
It became an absolute necessity for the Gators to bring in offensive talent from the portal, and that process began with securing a former Baylor starter in Mazzccua.
In his first season starting in 2022 at left guard in 11 games, Mazzccua allowed just one sack and 11 pressures in pass protection, per PFF. He also produced a run-blocking grade of 78.5 (out of 100), good for the 15th-best mark among qualified FBS guards.
After redshirting the 2020 COVID-19 season, Mazzccua retains three seasons of college eligibility.
OT Damieon George Jr.: For the same reason as Mazzccua’s welcome, George officially transferred to Florida on Wednesday and should compete to start at offensive tackle thanks to his experience in the SEC.
George appeared in 13 games on Alabama’s offensive line over three years in Tuscaloosa, making three starts at the end of the 2021 regular season against New Mexico State, Arkansas and Auburn. He has also played a role as a blocker on field goals and extra points.
He has two seasons of eligibility to use for the Gators.
RB Cameron Carroll: Florida filled out its 2023 running back cap space by adding Carroll to the mix on Monday. He wants to join Montrell Johnson Jr., Trevor Etienne and true freshmen Treyawn Webb at the position in 2023 and could play a role in passing games with Johnson and Etienne handling the bulk of the carries.
In five seasons with the Green Wave, Carroll rushed the rock 312 times for 1,638 yards and 19 touchdowns, adding 23 receptions and five touchdowns to complement Tulane’s passing attack. His best year came in 2020, when he accounted for 741 yards and 12 touchdowns at 6.1 yards per carry. carry on average.
Carroll joins the Gators as a graduate transfer with one season of eligibility remaining.
LB Mannie Nunnery: Nunnery’s addition means Florida will surpass its number of scholarship off-ball linebackers from a season ago, as the Gators will take seven into the 2023 campaign with Mitchell and Spurlock joining the team through the portal and Jaden Robinson admitted as a freshman.
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Nunnery appeared in 22 games for the Cougars over four seasons, playing primarily in a special teams role the first three years before stepping into a more expansive role in 2022. He accounted for 34 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and a pass breakup broke as a redshirt sophomore last season.
Nunnery has two seasons remaining in his college career.
OT Kiyaunta Goodwin: Florida’s third addition to its offensive line via transfer could be its most potentially loaded, as Goodwin, 6-foot-8, 351 pounds, was a borderline consensus five-star in the 2022 recruiting cycle. His potential should have time to continue to develop at UF after George’s acquisition last week.
Goodwin, a mid-year enrollee last January, burned his redshirt as a freshman by appearing in 12 games for Kentucky in 2022. He didn’t crack the starting lineup on the offensive line, though, and topped the Wildcats’ backup left tackle on the depth chart.
Goodwin has three years of eligibility to use in Florida.
Transfers out (22)
Scholarship players only, listed chronologically within each position
RB Nay’Quan Wright: USF
RB Lorenzo Lingard: Akron
WR Trent Whittemore: UCF
WR Daejon Reynolds: Pittsburgh
HERE Nick Elksnis: South Carolina
TE Griffin McDowell: Tennessee-Chattanooga
Olympic Josh Braun: Arkansas
Olympic Yousef Mugharbil: Colorado
Olympic Michael Tarquin: Southern California
Olympic Ethan White: Southern California
DL Jalen Lee: LSU
EDGE David Reese: California
EDGE Chief Borders: Nebraska
EDGE Lloyd Summerall III: USF
LB Diwun Black: Temple
CB Avery Helm: TCU
CB Jordan Young: Cincinnati
STAR Tre’Vez Johnson: Missouri
DB Kamar Wilcoxson: Temple
S Donovan McMillon: Pittsburgh
S Corey Collier Jr.: Nebraska
LS Marco Ortiz: Nebraska
16 of the 22 Florida players to transfer this offseason ended up at Power 5 programs and four remain in the SEC.
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