Per the Athletic Broke even Florida Billy Napier’s future in Gainesville is shaky at best after last year’s 5-7 season. He needs the players he’s recruited over the last three cycles — the ones who have stuck around — to take the next step in the fall. There are holes to fill on both sides. Aside from losing two starters to the NFL Draft in leading receiver Ricky Pearsall and center Kingsley Eguakun, Florida’s offense lost running back Trevor Etienne (Georgia) and two more starting offensive linemen in guards Richie Leonard (Florida State) and Micah Mazzccua (Nebraska). The defense, meanwhile, lost starting edge rusher Princely Umanmielen (Ole Miss), linebacker Scooby Williams (Texas A&M) and defensive backs Jalen Kimber (Penn State), Jaydon Hill (Texas A&M) and Miguel Mitchell (Arkansas) to the portal. The key additions among 10 new faces acquired via the portal: Wisconsin’s 2022 leading receiver Chimere Dike (47 catches, 689 yards), ex-San Diego State starting offensive tackle Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson (37 starts), former FCS All-America defensive lineman Joey Slackman (12 TFLs in 2023 at Penn), ex-Northern Illinois edge rusher George Gumbs, former Oregon starting cornerback Trikweze Bridges and former Washington safety Asa Turner. It’s probably a bit of a stretch to say the Gators didn’t lose more than they gained in the portal, but we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and put them in this category because Napier also picked up two young former blue-chip recruits in linebacker Pup Howard (South Carolina) and 2024 Alabama cornerback signee Jameer Grimsley. SEC winners, losers in the portal: Texas reloads, Ole Miss bolsters D, Kentucky finds a QB
