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 champions 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 Tre Wilson

Vitals: 5-10 ¼, 194 pounds

Resumé: Wilson was a 4-star prospect and the nation’s No. 16 receiver prospect in 2023 out of Tampa Gaither, where he caught 102 passes for 1,689 yards and 18 touchdowns during his final two seasons (2021-22). Wilson senior year was cut short by a collarbone injury. His lack of durability would follow him to Gainesville.

Role: Wilson recorded 61 catches and a team-high six scores in 2023 as a true freshman, but managed just 19 grabs and one score after a hip injury ended his 2024 season. Determined to put ’24 behind him, Wilson added 10 pounds of muscle and improved his speed. Instead, he was overshadowed by true freshman Vernell Brown III and ended 2025 with 27 receptions for a modest 239 yards and three scores before a season-ending leg injury ended his season after eight games.

Outlook: Brown’s speed and elusiveness reduced Wilson’s role, especially on jet sweeps in the run game. Fellow true freshman Dallas Wilson appeared in only four games because of a foot injury, but if healthy could emerge of Florida’s No. 1 receiver in 2026. The Gators also welcome of Davian Groce, rated the nation’s No. 4 “athlete” and No. 47 overall recruit, out of Frisco, Texas.

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 Brown and 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. Groce’s arrival could have furthered reduce Mizell’s role. When healthy, Mizell was a factor, but nagging injuries were his undoing at UF.

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.

DT Michai Boireau

Vitals: 6-4 ½, 349 pounds

Resumé: Boireau was a 3-star prospect out of Creekside High in Fairburn, Ga., where he compiled 87 tackles, including 12 for loss (five sacks) to rank as the No. 116 defensive tackle prospect in the 2024 class.

Role: Boireau had a rough start to this college career after he led police on a high-speed chase in Monroe County, Ga., topping speeds of 150 mph and hitting another car while carrying marijuana in his car, according to police reports. He spent multiple nights in jail before returning home to Gainesville. Given a chance Boireau proved to be a solid rotational player as a true freshman, compiling 15 tackles in 12 appearances in 2024. He then registered 20 tackles, including two sacks, in nine games as a sophomore battling a knee issue. He also made the game-winning interception during a 23-21 victory Oct. 18 against Mississippi State.

Outlook: Baylor transfer Brendan Bett’s production (40 tackles, three sacks) and the emergence of true freshman Jeremiah McCloud (13 tackles) and Joseph Mbatchou (11) offer the Gators interior defenders to build around. UF also signed Kendall Guervil, a 4-star prospect out of Fort Myers, where he tallied 88 stops, including 12 for loss, in 2024.

DB Aaron Gates

Vitals: 6-0 ¼, 198 pounds

Resumé: Gates was a 3-star prospect out of Trinity Christian School in Sharpsburg, Georgia, where 247Sports rated him the nation’s No. 34 athlete in the 2023 class. He caught 95 passes for 1,525 yards and 15 scores in three seasons. He had five interceptions as a junior in 2020, but appeared in just three games as a senior because of a ACL tear.

Role: Gates suffered second ACL tear in three seasons during the Gators’ 24-17 upset of Ole Miss Nov. 23, 2024. A shoulder injury ended his 2025 season after four games and seven tackles. During his career, he tallied 34 tackles, including four for loss, along with an interception, four passes defended and three fumble recoveries.

Outlook: When healthy, Gates was a playmaker. His knee injury against Ole Miss followed a three-game stretch with 16 tackles and an interception. With Gates sidelined, Sharif Denson was the team’s primary nickel back. 2025 true freshman Lagonza Hayward, a high school safety out of Lyons, Georgia, played snaps at nickel.

DB Sharif Denson

Vitals: 5-11, 195 pounds

Resumé: Denson a 4-star prospect out Jacksonville’s Bartram Trail who was the nation’s No. 24 cornerback prospect in the 2024 class. He made 146 tackles and four interceptions during four seasons at the school.

Role: Denson and Gates shared nickel back duties when Gates was available. Denson started 17 games in 35 appearances, recording 97 tackles, including 7.5 for loss, an interception, a forced fumble and four passes defended at Florida.

Outlook: Denson bounced back from offseason foot surgery to start 11 games and record 53 tackles, including a team-high 39 solos in 2025. With him and Gates headed to the portal, Hayward could enter spring the starter.

RB Ja’Kobi Jackson

Vitals: 5-10 ½, 216 pounds

Resumé: Jackson left Pensacola Catholic for Coahoma (Miss.) Community College, where he was the nation’s No. 7 junior college prospect after the 2023 season.

Role: Jackson rushed for 509 yards and for 95 carries and seven touchdowns as a reserve in 2024. Poised for an even bigger season are rushing for 198 yards and three scores in the 2025 spring, Jackson managed just 98 yards on 27 carries before an injury ended his season after four games.

TE Hayden Hansen

Vitals: 6-6 ¼, 269 pounds

Resumé: Hansen was a 3-star prospect out of Weatherford (Texas) High, who converted from quarterback to tight end and was rated No. 128 prospect at his position in the 2022 class, Napier’s first at UF.

Role: Hansen’s size allowed him to soon contribute as a blocker in two-tight end sets, while catching 12 passes for 150 yards and two scores in 2023 as a redshirt freshman. He steadily improved as a target in the passing game, finishing with 30 catches for 254 yards and two scores in 2025. Despite his size, though, Hansen was not a physical runner after the catch, averaging 10.7 yards on 57 catches (611 yards) at UF. He caught five touchdowns in 37 games.

Outlook: The departure of Hansen leaves UF with only two experienced scholarship tight ends, senior Tony Livingston and redshirt sophomore Amir Jackson, who decided not to enter the portal.True freshman tight end Micah Jones, out of Madison, Miss., returns, but 3-star 2025 signee Cameron Kossman transferred. UF has yet to sign a tight end for the 2026 class. Kekua Aumua of Hawaii changed his commitment to Washington during the early signing period.

LB Grayson “Pup” Howard

Vitals: 6-4, 236 pounds

Resumé: Was a 4-star prospect out of Jacksonville’s Andrew Jackson High rated the nation’s No. 9 linebacker prospect and No. 115 overall player in 2023, according to 247Sports. In 2022, Howard recorded 106 solo tackles, including three sacks, and five pass breakups in 11 games.

Role: After he totaled 19 tackles during 11 appearances at South Carolina in 2023, Howard had 37 tackles including two for loss (one sack), two fumble recoveries, two quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a pass breakup in 2024 as a sophomore before he missed the final three games with a leg injury. Howard’s injury limited him to three tackles in three appearances in 2025, the last Sept. 20 at Miami. .

Outlook: Florida returns defensive leader Myles Graham, the Gators’ leading tackler with 76 stops as a sophomore, including seven for loss, to go with seven quarterback hurries and four pass breakups. Aaron Chiles had 52 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, and two QB hurries in his second season, while Jaden Robinson recorded 50 tackles, four for loss, four hurries and three PBUs in his third season. Myles Johnson had five tackles in 12 appearances while fellow true freshman Ty Jackson had one tackle in eight appearances. Johnson’s speed and Jackson’s production at Seminole Ridge in Fort Lauderdale bode well.

RB Treyaun Webb

Vitals: 5-11 ¼, 217 pounds

Resumé: Webb was a 4-star prospect rated the nation’s No. 17 running back in the 2023 class out Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville. The younger cousin to former Gators defensive back Dee Webb chose Florida over Penn State and South Carolina.

Role: Webb didn’t play in 2025 after a leg injury, dating to the 2024 season when he appeared in just four games after rushing for 93 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries as a third option in the run game. Webb ended his UF career with 256 yards and three scores on 47 carries, along with four receptions for 18 yards as a true freshman in 2023.

Outlook: Gators aim to build their offense around Jadan Baugh, who rushed for 1,170 yards as a sophomore. Clark and Louis will compete as redshirt freshman to be Baugh’s backup. True freshman Chad Gasper Jr., was a 3-star recruit from Katy, Texas who did not see game action.

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.

WR Tanks Hawkins

Vitals: 5-9 ½, 178 pounds

Resumé: Known for his blazing speed, Hawkins was a 4-star prospect out of IMG Academy in Bradenton who 247Sports ranked the nation’s No. 37 receiver and No. 241 overall prospect in the 2024 class.

Role: Hawkins appeared in just four games, catching two passes for 16 yards after he recorded 10 receptions for 100 yards and a score as a true freshman in 2024. The sophomore opted out prior to a Nov. 8 visit to Kentucky despite injuries to Brown, Dallas Wilson and Tre Wilson.

Outlook: After Hawkins opted out, Abrams shined. Hawkins was the Gators’ fastest offensive player, along with Mizell.

WR Naeshaun Montgomery

Vitals: 6-1, 189 pounds

Resumé: Montgomery was a 3-star prospect and nation’s No. 37 receiver in 2025 out of Miami Central High, where he managed 41 catches for 788 yards (19.2 yards per catch) and 12 scores during 18 appearances in 2023-24.

Role: Montgomery’s speed was his selling point and a potential asset at Florida. As a true freshman, his opportunities were limited. Had had just three catches for 26 yards in four games.

Outlook: The departures of Mizell and Hawkins left Montgomery as a player would could stretch the field. Brown and Wilson can challenge the back end of a defense. But UF will be in the transfer market for a player with the true long speed of the departed trio.

CB Jamroc Grimsley

Vitals: 6-foot-2 ¼ ,198 pounds

Resumé: Grimsley was the nation’s No. 24 cornerback prospect in the 2024 class out Tampa Catholic who committed to Alabama over Florida, Florida State, Penn State and others. After Nick Saban retired after the 2023 season, Grimsley left for Gainesville.

Role: Despite his prototypical size and pedigree, Grimsley appeared in just five games and played 67 snaps in two seasons at UF, recording just one tackle and one pass breakup. ACL revision surgery on his right knee after the 2024 season limited him to three appearances in 2025.

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. UF’s 2026 class features CJ Bronaugh, a top-100 prospect from Windemere, and 4-star cornerback CJ Hester of Cocoa High.

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: Foster would have struggled to get on the field because of Johnson and McClain’s experience, the promise of Flowers and Hanks, and the arrival of Bronaugh and Hester.

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.

K Evan Noel

Vitals: 6-foot-0 ¼, 165 pounds

Resumé:Noel was the No. 1-rated kicker in the 2025 per 247Sports out of Bay Saint Louis, Miss., where he set a state high school record with a 61-yard field goal in 2024. He hit 25 of 40 attempts at St. Stanislaus High, but did miss any of his 119 extra-point tries.

Role: Noel did not appear in a game.

Outlook: Record-setter Trey Smack’s graduation and Noel’s departure leave the Gators in search of a kicker, like Tulane’s Patrick Durkin after he was named the American Conference’s Special Teams Player of the Year for making 24-of-27 field goals attempt. Durkin tied second nationally in made field goals while also he ranked fifth with 66 touchbacks (on 77 kicks).

P Hayden Craig

Vitals: 6-foot-1, 208 pounds

Resumé:Craig was a 3-star Quebec, Canada, who attended Bridgton Academy in Maine and was rated the No. 5 player at his position.

Role: Craig did not appear in a game.

Outlook: Craig moves on despite Michigan transfer Tommy Doman leaving after he was a serviceable replacement for Jeremy Crawshaw, who averaged a school-record 46.4 yards per punt, including the single-season mark of 48.9 in 2023. Expect Tulane’s Alec Clark to follow new special teams coach Johnathan Galante from New Orleans. Clark, an Aussie like Crawshaw, led the AAC with an average of 46.82 yards on 45 attempts, including 15 inside the 20-yard line. Hollowed Galante from Marshall and has two seasons of remaining eligibility.

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 and Montgomery, 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.

TE Cameron Kossmann

Vitals: 6-4 ¾, 245 pounds

Resumé: Kossman was a 3-star prospect prospect out of Chesterfield, Missouri, rated the nation’s No. 116 tight end prospect in 2025.

Role: Kossman played one offensive snap at Florida, during a 55-0 season-opening win against Long Island University.

Outlook: Based on rankings and a track and field background in high school, Kossmann lacked the pedigree and talent for the SEC. Napier and his staff’s projection ended in a wasted scholarship.

OT Enoch Wagnoy

Vitals: 6-7, 333 pounds

Resumé: Wagnoy, who hailed from Manchester, England, epitomized a project as a 3-star prospect in the 2024 class out of Zarephath Academy in Florida. Wangoy has reclassified from 2025 to enroll at UF in May ’24.

Role: Wagnoy did not appear as a redshirt freshman.

Outlook: Like Kossman, Wagnoy was a signing with potential upside who didn’t pan out.

OT Noel Portnjagin

Vitals: 6-5, 306 pounds

Resumé: A project from Europe similar to Wagnoy, Portnjagin was a 3-star prospect out of Germany rated the nation’s No. 98 interior offensive lineman. He played for the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns of the German Football League.

Role: Portnjagin played five snaps during the 2024 Gasparilla Bowl against Tulane during his only appearance in ’24. He did not get on the field in 2025.

Outlook: Like Kossman and Wagnoy, Portnjagin was a signing with potential upside who didn’t pan out.

DT 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: Brown would have found himself in a logjam behind Bett, McCloud and Mbatchou, along with Boireau until he too entered the portal.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

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