Florida OT Devon Manuel announces entry into transfer portal

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Florida senior offensive lineman Devon Manuel announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Sunday.

It will be Manuel’s sixth year of college football, indicating he was granted a medical redshirt for the 2025 season. Manuel played just one game for the Gators before going down with an injury.

“First and foremost, I would like to thank God for blessing me with the opportunity to play the sports I love,” Manuel wrote in his announcement. “Thank you to my family for supporting me through everything. Thank you to the Florida coaching and academic staff for all that you have done for me. I would also like to thank the state of Florida and Gator Nation for welcoming me with open arms.

“Most importantly, I want to thank my teammates — my brothers — who have motivated me and battled adversity alongside me. Much love for you boys. After much thought and prayer, I have decided to enter my name into the transfer portal with 1 year remaining.”

Manuel joins a growing list of offensive linemen to depart Florida following Jon Sumrall’s hiring as head coach. Marcus Mascoll, Noel Portnjagin and Enoch Wangoy are the others. Manuel is the only one who played while with Florida.

Devon Manuel’s college football career

A consensus three-star recruit out of high school, Manuel signed with the Arkansas Razorbacks as a member of the class of 2021. He redshirted as a true freshman after not making an appearance and played in one game during the 2022 season. As a sophomore, Manuel finally got playing time, seeing action in nine games and making four starts at left tackle for the Razorbacks. Pro Football Focus graded him the second-best run blocker on the team that season.

He transferred to Florida ahead of the 2024 season and got starting snaps during the spring with spots opened up due to injuries. He’d end up playing 58 snaps over three games, earning an 82.9 pass block grade and a 70.2 offense grade from PFF.

“The blocking on the offensive line was cleaner,” Billy Napier said after the fifth spring practice of 2024. “I think we added some length on the edges. I think Devon (Manuel) and Brandon (Crenshaw-Dickson) in particular, being 6-foot-7-inches, 315 pounds — in that range — and having some experience as players, the pocket is cleaner.”

Manuel made his 2025 season debut against Georgia, but that was the only game he’d play in. He graduated in Fall 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in Education Sciences.

Florida Gators in the transfer portal

Florida has lost 17 players to the transfer portal this offseason, including Manuel. For an up-to-date list of players in the portal, check out Gators Wire’s tracker.

On offense, quarterback DJ Lagway, running back KD Daniels, wide receivers Tank Hawkins, Aidan Mizell, Mike Peterson Jr. (walk-on) and Muizz Tounkara, offensive linemen Marcus Mascoll and Enoch Wangoy and tight end Amir Jackson are departing.

Defensive lineman Tarvorise Brown (walk-on), linebacker Grayson Howard and defensive backs Jordan Castell, Josiah Davis, Teddy Foster and Jamroc Grimsley are also gone.

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida Gators football OT Devon Manuel entering transfer portal

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