Despite being viewed as winners so far this offseason, some areas remain to be addressed. For the Gators, they are seen by many as a younger team, not losing too much veteran talent. However, they are not free from losses, as the defense should look quite different next season. Losing some edge talent to the portal, there are still some missing pieces for the Gators. Expectations are rising for year four under Billy Napier, especially after the hot end to the season. With quarterback DJ Lagway looking like a future star, the first step is to surround him with talent. Luckily, the Gators receiving and running back rooms should be the team’s strong suit. The trenches and defensive backfield, however, will undergo a full makeover. If Florida wants to compete for a national championship, it must fill in these missing pieces. The Gators can do that by looking in the transfer portal.
Transfer Portal Key for the Florida Gators
Already Addressed
As the Winter transfer window opened, the Gators were supposed to be hot on the trail. Fans expected some highly rated commitments early and often. This was not the case. A slow start, and after some time, they had only landed a punter from Michigan. Fans started to grow a bit frustrated. They thought the team would be a big-time spender. Luckily, it appeared that the coaching staff was simply playing the long game. On December 19th, the Gators landed a highly sought-after receiver in J. Michael Sturdivant from UCLA. Three days later, they welcomed edge rusher Kofi Asare from UMASS and quarterback Deshawn Purdie from Charlotte. Addressing some real areas of need, fans were certainly happy with these incoming players. Still only having four commits, the Gators could be a team to watch out for in the Spring window.
Replacing the Edge
Although Florida did land Asare, the edge group still has missing pieces. Fans are currently awaiting news from Tyreak Sapp, as he has the choice to enter the NFL Draft. If he were to depart, the edge position could become a real weakness. As it stands, with TJ Searcy and Jack Pyburn transferring out, former five-star LJ McCray will be called upon. Last season, the Gators utilized a rotation at the edge spot. As a true freshman, he earned some valuable minutes. Now with these losses, he will have to step up for this defense. Competing with McCray should be George Gumbs, someone whom Gators fans have grown fond of. A transfer from Northern Illinois, he could be the anchor of this position group after a strong finish to the year. If Sapp returns, this four-man rotation (including Asare), could be stronger than first perceived.
Secondary Thin?
The Gators’ secondary impressed down the stretch, even after the loss of starting cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. The leader of this unit, fans were worried after losing him for the season. Luckily, some young players stepped up in key positions. Florida will need more of that after losing do-everything player Trikweze Bridges to the NFL. Young players like Aaron Gates and Dijon Johnson will have to take the next step. Already playing in key games, they must become leaders in the locker room. Despite the secondary staying mostly intact, depth could be a concern. Starter Devin Moore returns at the other corner spot. However, he has struggled to remain healthy. Florida must use the portal to complete this position group. This is a talented unit but if injuries pile up it could be devastating to the Gators’ playoff chances. One depth piece out of the portal should be a smart investment.
Building out the Trenches
The good news for Gators fans is that many players have chosen to return to school. Several have decided to postpone their NFL dreams. Along the offensive line, Florida returns four out of five starters. Although there are several talented backups, this unit could look to address that fifth lineman spot in the portal. The Gators could wait until the Spring Window to decide if the offensive tackle position is a real need. Defensively, the return of defensive tackle Caleb Banks should keep this unit steady. Losing Cam Jackson and Desmond Watson, however, does sting. One name to keep an eye on is defensive tackle Jamari Lyons. Missing the entirety of last season due to injury, his expected return should give this group a boost. Running thin on the inside, Florida should still turn to the portal. Even if Lyons comes back 100 percent, depth is still a concern.
Final Thoughts
As previously discussed, there are still some missing pieces that the Gators must address in the transfer portal. After a tremendous recruiting class, the Gators have not been quite as busy in the portal. Only earning four commits, once the playoffs end things could ramp back up. This Spring will be key, as it will give the coaching staff time to address positions of need. After some losses to the portal, there are plenty of depth concerns along the trenches. The Gators have a real chance to compete next season thanks to their impressive finish. They must keep the momentum riding for what will be a pivotal offseason. On the cusp of competing for the SEC, the transfer portal could provide Florida with some missing pieces. Champions are decided in the offseason, and if Florida wants to compete, they must attack the portal and spend heavily.
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