UF position preview: Florida’s incoming specialists look to fill big shoes

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The 11th and final in a position-by-position look at the 2026 Gators leading up to fall camp:

TODAY: SPECIALISTS

What to expect

Attempting to maintain an elite level of play with Florida’s specialists, Jon Sumrall turned to some familar faces from his previous stop at Tulane. The Gators’ new coach hired Johnathan Galante to coordinate special teams, a position former coach Billy Napier filled with a low-level analyst, Chris Couch, for two failed seasons until hiring replace Joe Houston in 2024 from the New England Patriots.

A nominee for the 2025 Broyles Award, given to the nation’s top assistant coach, Galante soon lured his decorated specialists from New Orleans to Gainesville.

Placekicker Patrick Durkin was named the American Conference’s Special Teams Player of the Year after making 24-of-27 field goal attempts at Tulane. A rising redshirt sophomore, Durkin tied second nationally in made field goals while also rankingd fifth with 66 touchbacks (on 77 kicks).

Punter Alec Clark, native of Perth, Australia, led the AAC with an average of 46.82 yards on 45 attempts. This included placing 15 punts inside the 20-yard line after he followed Galante from Marshall following the 2024 season.

Longsnapper Carter Milliron soon arrived to UF from Louisiana, where he appeared in 44 games for the Ragin’ Cajuns.

To create competition and depth, Florida also signed kicker Liam Pardon from Texas A&M, punter Miller Fealy from Southwestern Oklahoma via Melbourne, Australia, and longsnapper Hunter Solword from Washington.

The trio will have to wait while Durkin, Clark and Milliron look to fill some large shoes.

The Gators’ kicking game was one of the bright spots under Napier, producing the only punter drafted in 2025, Jeremy Crawshaw, and only placekicker selected in 2026, Trey Smack. Crawshaw’s replacement, Michigan transfer Tommy Doman, was selected by the Buffalo Bills this past April with the No. 239 selection.

Meanwhile, former long snapper Rocco Underwood, a former Lake Mary standout, was an All-SEC performer who earned the 2024 Mannelly Award, given to the best long snapper in college football.

Besides fielding a top-notch kicking game, Galante will seek more impact from Florida’s return game.

Sophomore Vernell Brown III is dangerous fielding punts, averaging 12.64 on 11 returns, including a long of 40 yards. Options abound at kick returner, including Brown and East Carolina transfer running back London Montgomery.

Returnees

K Brandon Rabasco, redshirt sophomore

Departures

P Tommy Doman: 44.04 average, 17 of 50 punts inside the 20

PK Trey Smack: 18-of-22 on field goals, with five 50-yarders

Arrivals

P Alec Clark (redshirt junior; transfer Tulane)

PK Patrick Durkin (redshirt sophomore; transfer Tulane)

P Miller Fealy (redshirt sophomore; transfer Southwestern Oklahoma)

LS Carter Milliron (redshirt senior; transfer Louisiana)

PK Liam Padron (redshirt sophomore; transfer Texas A&M)

LS Hunter Solword (redshirt freshman; transfer Washington)