UF football transfer tracker: Jon Sumrall overhauls 2026 Gators’ roster
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GAINESVILLE — New UF coach Jon Sumrall arrived from Tulane to resurrect a program coming off a 4-8 season, the Gators’ fourth losing season in five years — including the past four under Billy Napier.
After signing a 2026 recruiting class ranked 16th nationally while he still coached the Green Wave, Sumrall and his evolving staff turned their attention to preparing for the 15-day transfer portal window Jan. 2-16.
Sumrall and Co. aim to retain top talent from the 2025 Gators and add players from other schools seeking a new opportunity. Meanwhile, players themselves are making moves.
Here are players who have made known their intentions to enter the portal when it opens:
QB DJ Lagway
Vitals: 6-3, 247 pounds
Resumé: Lagway was a 5-star prospect out of Willis (Texas) High School who was named 2023 Gatorade National Player of the Year after he accounted for 73 touchdowns and led his team to an unbeaten season until losing in the third round of the 6A state playoffs to top-ranked defending champion DeSoto.
Role: Lagway was 6-1 as a starter as a true freshman in 2024 after he replaced injured veteran Graham Mertz during an overtime loss Oct. 11, 2024, at Tennessee. But Lagway struggled after an injury-riddled offseason prevented him from throwing during spring practices and limited him much of fall camp. He threw 16 touchdowns and an SEC-leading 14 interceptions. A season after his passer rating was second in the SEC to Ole Miss’ Jaxon Dart, Lagway had a 127.0 rating — lower than all but one quarterback in the conference. Expected to be a dual threat, Lagway rushed for just 237 yards and a score in two seasons.
Outlook: Lagway’s departure leaves UF with three scholarship quarterbacks: Trammel Jones Jr., Aidan Warner and Will Griffin. A former 4-star prospect from Jacksonville Mandarin, Jones appeared in two games, including the loss to Kentucky after interim coach Billy Gonzales benched Lagway. Warner is a former walk-on and Yale transfer from Winter Park who stepped in for Lagway when he injured his hamstring during a 2024 loss to Georgia. Warner started a week later at Texas, a 49-17 beatdown by the Longhorns, but that was his last appearance at UF. Griffin is a 4-star recruit out of Tampa Jesuit tabbed the nation’s No. 14 quarterback in the 2026 class by 247Sports composite rankings. A starter since he was an eighth-grader, Griffin compiled 12,299 passing yards and 143 touchdowns throws, including 37 on just 246 attempts in 2025, during a record-setting career.
WR Aidan Mizell
Vitals: 6-1 ½, 185 pounds
Resumé: Mizell was ranked No. 13 in Sentinel’s 2023 Central Florida Super60 out of Orlando Boone, he was the nation’s No. 16 wide receiver and No. 204 overall prospect, according to 247Sports composite.
Role: Mizell leaves UF with 38 catches for 404 yards and three touchdowns, but injuries limited him to seven games in each of the past two seasons. Mizell had touchdowns of 41 yards against Samford and 43 yards against Georgia in 2024, while continuing to establish a connection with Lagway. But in 2025, Mizelll managed just three receptions longer than 15 yards, including a 23-yard catch during a 40-21 win Nov. 29 against Florida State.
Outlook: Mizell would have faced a logjam at receiver because Vernell Brown III and fellow true freshman Dallas Wilson. Wilson appeared in only four games, but had 12 catches for 174 yards and three scores — or Mizell’s career total in 15 appearances including one in 2023. The Gators also welcome of Davian Groce, rated the nation’s No. 4 “athlete” and No. 47 overall recruit, out of Frisco, Texas. The future of redshirt sophomore Tre Wilson is murky after injuries ended consecutive seasons. After sophomore Tank Hawkins opted out, redshirt freshman TJ Abrams stepped in and proved to be a crisp route-runner who produced — highlighted by three catches for 76 yards at Ole Miss. Hawkins, another candidate to transfer, was the Gators’ fastest offensive player, along with Mizell. First-year receiver Naeshaen Montgomery, who is expected to remain, possesses impressive top-end speed.
S Jordan Castell
Vitals: 6-2, 213 pounds
Resumé: Castell was an Under-Armour All-American ranked No. 7 in Sentinel’s 2023 Central Florida Super60 out of West Orange High in Orlando. Playing cornerback in 2023, Castell posted 39 tackles, five interceptions and 10 passes defensed.
Role: Aiming to shore up the back end of the defense, coaches moved Castell to free safety to capitalize on his length, range and ball skills. Castell responded in 2023 with a team-high 60 tackles, along with an interception, and leaves UF 168 stops, 12 pass breakups, three interceptions and a sack. While his production was solid, Castell rarely made game-changing plays. In 2025, he did not record a pass breakup.
Outlook: Bryce Thornton, Castell’s sidekick and a rising senior, is coming off this best season. He recorded 56 tackles, second on the team to linebacker Myles Graham, a team-leading six pass breakups, five quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries. A 37-yard scoop and score were the 2025 Gators first points during a 55-0 season-opening win against Long Island University. Drake Stubbs of Jacksonville was the nation’s No. 6 safety prospect in the 2025 class, but managed just three tackles in eight appearances. Fellow true freshman Lagonza Hayward, rated No. 15 at his position among 2025 prospects, also played nickel back. He finished with 12 tackles and two QB hurries last season. UF signed two safeties in the ’26 class, 2025 Under Armour All-American Kaiden “KD” Hall of Milton, on the Florida Panhandle, and Dylan Purter of Alabama, who flipped his commitment from LSU. Hall compiled 129 tackles with 11 for loss, four interceptions and two pass breakups during 29 career games. Rated the No. 20 safety in the 2026 class, Purter is more slightly built (6-0, 170) than Hall but is instinctive and able to line up anywhere in the secondary. He compiled 148 tackles with eight for loss, two interceptions and 11 breakups in 2023-24.
RB KD Daniels
Vitals: 5-11 ½, 203 pounds
Resumé: Daniels was a 4-star prospect rated the nation’s No. 14 running back in the 2024 class by 247Sports composition rankings. Named Mississippi’s Class 5A Mr. Football, Daniels rushed for 2,737 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2023, highlighted by a 253-yard performance in the state-title game.
Role: Daniels began his career down the depth chart, behind senior Montrell Johnson Jr., true freshman Jadan Baugh and redshirt junior Ja’Kobi Jackson. The sole highlight of Daniels’ first college season was his heady 27-yard touchdown after he scooped a fumble by Lagway during the UFs 33-8 win in the 2024 Gasparilla Bowl against Tulane. When Jackson suffered a season-ending injury in 2025, Daniels battled true freshman Duke Clark for touches. Daniels leaves UF with just 185 yards and two scores on 39 carries.
Outlook: Baugh’s 266-yard day during UF’s 40-21 season-ending win against FSU cemented the sophomore’s place the Gators’ key offensive weapon entering 2026. The 6-foot ½, 210-pound Clark had 58 yards on 14 carries, along with two catches for 14 yards in four appearances. Redshirt sophomore Treyaun Webb, a former top recruit, did not play in 2025 after missing all but four games in 2024 following an injury. Byron Louis is a former Plantation American Heritage standout and a 4-star prospect in 2025 who rushed 2,943 yards and 34 scores in 2024-25. Fellow true freshman Chad Gasper Jr., was a 3-star recruit from Katy, Texas who did not see game action.
TE Amir Jackson
Vitals: 6-4 ¾, 235 pounds
Resumé: Jackson was a 4-star prospect from Portal High in Georgia, rated the No. 9 tight end prospect and 139th overall recruit, per 247Sports. As a senior in 2023, he recorded 44 catches for 727 yards and 12 touchdowns while also making 57 tackles, six for loss. During his basketball career, Jackson averaged 13.6 points and 10.9 rebounds in 88 games.
Role: Jackson was among the more versatile athletes and intriguing playmakers in the 2024 class but needed to build strength and become more physical. Despite noticeable games in the weight room, Jackson did not factor as a redshirt freshman in 2025. He managed just three catches for 29 yards and a score.
Outlook: Sumrall and his staff aim to improve the production and explosiveness at a position where top players cause mismatches. Hayden Hansen has started 34 straight games and did not often leave the field under Napier, who relied heavily on two-tight end sets. The 6-6 ¼, 269-pound Hansen tallied 30 receptions for 254 receiving yards and two scores as a redshirt junior. Tony Livingston had 11 catches for 119 yards and scores in 10 games. The 6-foot-4 ¾, 260-pound junior has yet to fully capitalized on his athletic ability. A former high school basketball standout, Livington averaged 24.3 points and 10.9 rebounds in 2021-22 at Tampa King. True freshman tight ends Micah Jones, out of Madison, Miss., and Cameron Kossman, who hails from Chesterfield, Missouri, were 3-star prospects in the 2025 class. UF have yet to sign a tight end for the 2026 class. Kekua Aumua of Hawaii changed his commitment to Washington during the early signing period.
CB Teddy Foster
Vitals: 6-foot ¾, 188 pounds
Resumé: Foster was a 3-star prospect out of Cardinal Mooney in Sarasota, where he the nation’s No. 69 cornerback prospect in the 2024 class.
Role: Foster managed four tackles in five appearances and allowed a 24-yard reception on the only target he faced in 2024. In 2025, he recorded two tackles in nine appearances.
Outlook: The Gators lose senior Devin Moore, but are in line to return veterans with much to prove, Dijon Johnson and Cormani McClain. Johnson suffered a season-ending knee injury during a Sept. 20 loss at Miami. McClain had an interception at Miami, but otherwise just one pass breakup in 2025 along with 18 tackles. Ja’Vari Flowers had four breakups in 10 appearances and saw his role increase. Fellow true freshman Ben Hanks Jr. appeared in just three games, but finished with a flourish against FSU. He made two tackles, two pass breakups and his first career interception, returning it for 48 yards.
S Josiah Davis
Vitals: 6-foot ½, 199 pounds
Resumé: Davis was a 3-star prospect out Nashville, Ga., rated the nation’s No. 44 prospect at safety in 2024 after recording 159 tackles and two interceptions in three seasons.
Role: Davis recorded one tackle, during a win at Mississippi State in 2024, but none in 2025.
Outlook: Castell’s departure leaves Thornton as the leader on the back end of the defense, while 2025 true freshmen Stubbs and Hayward could have larger roles in 2026. Hall and Purter also could factor as first-year freshmen.
OT Marcus Mascoll
Vitals: 6-foot-4 ¾, 308 pounds
Resumé: Mascoll was a 3-star prospect out of Snellville, Ga., who 247Sports rated the nation’s No. 88 offensive tackle prospect.
Role: Mascoll did not appear in a game during his two seasons. He did make the SEC academic honor roll in the 2024-25 school year.
Outlook: Mascoll is one of many young offensive tackles the Gators pushed to develop. Among them on scholarship are redshirt freshmen Fletcher Westphal, Noel Portnjagin and Enoch Wangoy, and true freshmen Daniel Pierre-Louis and TJ Dice Jr. UF will return veterans Caden Jones and Bryce Lovett, while four-year starter Austin Barber moved on.
WR Muizz Tounkara
Vitals: 6-3, 208 pounds
Resumé: Tounkara was a 3-star prospect out of Clear Springs High in League City, Texas, rated the No. 73 wide receiver in the 2025 class and the No. 75 player in Texas by 247Sports. He caught 30 passes for 455 yards and five scores during his senior season.
Role: During eight appearances at UF in 2025, Tounkara recorded two receptions for 12 yards on 49 offensive snaps.
Outlook: Tounkara, like Mizell, would have faced a logjam at receiver and was likely even more have limited opportunities going forward because of Brown III’s fast rise, Wilson’s production in limited action, Abrams’ emergence down the stretch and Groce’s arrival.
Tarvorise Brown
Vitals: 6-6 ¾, 296 pounds
Resumé: Brown was an unranked prospect out of Heritage High in Palm Bay who went to Hutchinson C.C. in Kansas, where he became the nation’s No. 4 defensive tackle and No. 43 overall prospect in the 2024 transfer portal.
Role: Brown arrived during fall camp in 2024 and struggled to catch up. He logged 26 snaps in three appearances. Brown, though, did not factor much again this past season. He recorded four tackles in three appearances.
Outlook: Baylor transfer Brendan Bett’s production (40 tackles, three sacks) and the emergence of young tackles made Brown expendable. Sophomore nose tackle Michai Boireau registered 20 tackles, including two sacks, in nine games and made the game-winning interception during a 23-21 victory Oct. 18 against Mississippi State. True freshman Jeremiah McCloud (13 tackles) and Joseph Mbatchou (11) each steadily improved.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
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