Defensive tackle Jalen Lee enters the transfer portal

Gator Country has learned that third year sophomore Jalen Lee has entered the transfer portal.

The Louisiana native was a four-star recruit in Florida’s 2020 class.

Lee played in five games in his freshman season, totaling two tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble.

In 2021, Lee played in eight games and made his first collegiate start against UCF in the Gasparilla Bowl. Lee had a strong game, totaling three tackles (two solo) and a TFL against the Knights.

Defensive Line Coach Sean Spencer had this to say about Jalen Lee before the start of the 2022 season.

 I think Jalen Lee is a technician,” Spencer said. “He’s like Sapp. He’s on the tape all the time as the example of how to do things. The thing is he’s not as big as those guys. He’s not as big as Big G or Des, right. So he has to be exact in his technique, and he works on that.”

Lee started the first three games for the Gators in 2022 because Desmond Watson missed a large chunk of fall camp trying to get in game shape.

As Watson got heathier and true freshman Chris McClellan earned more playing time, Lee’s snap count decreased. Lee finished 4th in the defensive tackle room in snaps, behind Dexter, Watson, and McClellan.

With Watson and McClellan expected to return next season, Lee is unlikely to start. Florida will dip into the transfer portal, creating even more competition for playing time next season.

Jalen Lee’s defensive grade of 54.4 is the lowest on the team of anyone who played in more than 25 snaps, according to PFF.

The 6-2, 299-pound defensive tackle totaled 19 tackles (5 solo), three TFL, one sack, and one forced fumble in three seasons at Florida.

Lee has not used his redshirt year, so he has two years of eligibility left and three if he uses a redshirt at his next stop.

The Gators will turn to unfamiliar faces during their Bowl game in Las Vegas as they will be without Gervon Dexter and Jalen Lee in an already thin defensive tackle room.

 

 

 

 

Nick Marcinko
Nick is a recent graduate from the University of Florida with a degree in Telecommunications. He is passionate about all sports but specifically baseball and football. Nick interned at Inside the Gators and worked part time with Knights247 before joining the Gator Country family. Nick enjoys spending his free time golfing and at the beach.