University of Florida freshman defensive back Chris Steele has entered the NCAA transfer portal.
Steele, a consensus four-star recruit from California, graduated early from St. John Bosco Prep and enrolled at Florida for the spring semester. He was the highest rated player in the Gators’ 2019 recruiting class. Steele saw significant playing time in the spring with Marco Wilson returning from ACL surgery. Steele held his own with the first team defense during the spring and was set to play a major role on the team. He had earned the praise and respect of his teammates.
“I got to give it up to Chris Steele,” receiver Trevon Grimes said. “He comes out here, he competes with me every day, he calls me out. Just today he had a pretty nice hit on me, he knocked the ball out. He’s going to be great, and props to him.”
Steele was a consensus four-star recruit. With his departure the Gators are thin at cornerback. Wilson and CJ Henderson are the presumed starters at cornerback with Trey Dean replacing Chauncey Gardner-Johnson at nickel. After that Florida has freshman Jaydon Hill, who is returning from an ACL surgery of his own, and CJ McWilliams as backups at cornerback.