The Florida Gators highest rated recruit from the 2016 recruiting cycle will transfer. Antonneous clayton was the 27th ranked payer in the country when he signed with the Gators in 2016 but hasn’t found his footing in Gainesville and has entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal.
“After talking over with my family I’ve decided to transfer and see what my future holds in store for me and my son and family,” Clayton wrote on Twitter. “Please understand this decision is harder than it sounds but please understand I will be forever grateful for Gator Nation for their support and I wish you all the best.”
Clayton was moved from defensive end to Florida’s rush linebacker (BUCK) position last year. The coaching staff decided to redshirt him in 2018 while he adjusted to that. Clayton was receptive to the redshirt because it would give him two more years of eligibility.
Clayton alluded to transferring when he spoke to reporters last week.
“I’m just happy I’ve got two years left because I’ve got options if it comes down to it,” Clayton said. “As far as me, whatever happens this year, at the end of the day I just know I have options. I’m a businessman too at the end of the day. Whatever happens happens. I’ must trusting the process and the coaches and everything they’re trying to tell me. We’ll just see what happens.”
Clayton amassed just 11 tackles during his three seasons in Gainesville. After redshirting in 2018, and with the departure of several players that were ahead of him on the depth chart this year appeared to be a chance for Clayton to finally realize his potential and play. However, just six practices into spring and clayton was finding it hard to get reps ahead of transfer Jon Greenard. Additionally redshirt freshman David Reese, Andrew Chatfield, early enrollees Mohamoud Diabate and Josiah Pierre were getting reps at BUCK as well.
“Last year, one day somebody just comes and tells you you’re playing BUCK and you gotta forget a whole playbook and learn another one,” Clayton said. “I go from coming off the edge to covering the flat. What do you do with that? Boom, I’m redshirting. I gotta learn this.”
Clayton is on track to graduate this year. He and his girlfriend have an eight month old son, Antonneous Jr.