UF defenders Lloyd Summerall and Dante Zanders have removed their names from the transfer portal and will remain with the program, according to several reports.
Summerall, a defensive end/outside linebacker, played in every game in 2021 but mostly on special teams. He made five tackles, including half a sack against Vanderbilt. He also returned a short kickoff for 20 yards against Samford.
The 6-foot-5, 247-pounder from Lakeland played in just three games and made two tackles en route to a redshirt in 2019. He only played against Missouri and Oklahoma in 2020, and the Gators were extremely thin on depth in both of those games.
Zanders, a 6-foot-5, 291-pound defensive end, played in 12 games in 2021 in a reserve role. He made six tackles, including half a sack against Florida Atlantic.
The Boca Raton native started his career as a tight end. He appeared in just two games and redshirted in 2018. He played in all 13 games in 2019 but primarily on special teams, as he didn’t record any statistics.
He switched to defense prior to the 2020 season and played in the final 11 games of the season, registering five tackles and a quarterback hurry.
With Summerall and Zanders sticking with the Gators under new coach Billy Napier, that leaves only two players in the portal. Edge rusher Khris Bogle (Michigan State), offensive lineman Gerald Mincey (Tennessee) and receiver Jacob Copeland (Maryland) previously announced their transfer destinations.
Quarterback Emory Jones and linebacker Mohamoud Diabate have yet to announce their future plans. With the spring semester starting this week at many universities, they figure to make their decisions very soon.