Florida football made 15 additions through the portal this offseason, a transfer class that ranked 5th in the country, according to 247 Sports. The Gators attacked several positions of need, including wide receiver, offensive line, and the secondary.
Billy Napier brought in a mixed bag from an experience standpoint, signing two true freshmen, five redshirt seniors, and everything in between.
Gator Country provides you with the five transfers we think will be the most impactful this season in terms of playing time and production.
Sophomore LB Grayson Howard
South Carolina transfer Grayson Howard was a massive addition at a position of need for the Gators. The 6’4, 235-pound linebacker saw a healthy amount of playing time as a true freshman, playing in 11 games and logging 221 snaps in his lone season with the Gamecocks. Howard finished with 19 tackles (10 solo) and didn’t record a single missed tackle in 2023, ranking as South Carolina’s top tackler with a tackle grade of 88.1, according to Pro Football Focus. Howard also added a tackle for loss and a forced fumble.
Howard has all the physical tools to be great. He’s a big-bodied linebacker that can move well in space, which we saw on display in Florida’s Orange and Blue game. Florida’s staff was impressed with Howard’s ability to quickly pick up the defensive scheme throughout spring camp, as well as his leadership traits.
“He’s really done a nice job of picking up the system,” Billy Napier said during spring camp. “At that position, you got to communicate and you got to do that with confidence and I think you got to be decisive. I think he’s done a good job doing that. Now, he’s got height, length, he certainly looks the part. He’s still a somewhat inexperienced player but I do think he’s a mature young man.”
I believe Howard left spring camp as a starting linebacker alongside Shemar James, who is excited to play with the former Gamecock.
“He’s a dog. He’s big,” James said on Howard. “Like, I don’t know if you’ve seen in person, but he’s a big guy. So, he’s a great guy, great player.”
“Being in the box, playing out in space. He’s got a unique build and I can’t wait to play with him,” James said on Howard’s size.
For more information on Howard, check out my player breakdown.
Senior WR Elijhah Badger
Florida needed to add playmakers at the wide receiver position in the offseason, and they got exactly that in Elijhah Badger. The 6’2, 190-pound receiver brings experience, production, and more seed to the wide receiver room.
In his last two seasons with the Sun Devils, Badger combined for 1,579 yards and 10 touchdowns on 135 catches. In 2023, Badger graded out as the 63rd best wide receiver in the FBS and the top offensive player on Arizona State among players with 150+ snaps.
Badger displays great ball skills, balanced route-running, and the ability to make contested catches deep down field.
I view Badger as the clear-cut WR2 in a Florida offense that is looking to take the next step with Mertz under center in 2024.
You can find a full breakdown on Badger in my Wide Receiver Room Breakdown.
Redshirt Senior S Asa Turner
Asa Turner was one of three redshirt senior safeties that Florida added through the transfer portal this offseason. Turner is coming off a National Championship appearance with the Washington Huskies, where the 6’3, 212-pound safety logged 42 snaps in the start.
Over the course of his five-year career in Seattle, Turner logged 28 starts including all four in a Covid shorten 2020 season. Turner battled injuries in 2023, but still managed to start all three of Washington’s postseason games.
Turner is an experienced football player that has a good feel for the game. He’s an above average tackle that looks to hit hard at the safety position, just ask WR Ja’Quavion Fraziars.
“That’s probably the hardest I’ve ever been hit,” Fraziars said on Turner. “It was on a run play and Asa was coming down from the top. He was filling the run hole and I tried to crack block him. I thought he didn’t see me. The next thing I know, I open my eyes and I see feet in the sky. That was it. That was probably the hardest I’ve ever been hit. Those guys that we brought in in the secondary, they’re honing in. They’re learning from guys like Jason Marshall and Devin Moore, guys that have been here in the defense. They’re coming along very well.”
I expect Turner to start alongside Jordan Castell, likely rotating with DJ Douglas and Trikweze Bridges.
Graduate DL Joey Slackman
UPenn DL Joey Slackman ranked as Florida’s 3rd highest transfer addition behind OL Jason Zandamela and CB Cormani McClain. Slackman totaled 12.0 tackles for loss, ranking first on the team and second among Ivy League defenders. Slackman tallied 50 total tackles (with 23 solos), which ranked fourth on his team. He also finished with four sacks for a loss of 30 yards, four QB hurries, a pass break up, and a blocked field goal.
The 6’4, 305 pound defensive tackle earned Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year, Second-team AFCA All-America, and Third-team Phil Steele All-America for his efforts in 2023.
Slackman got to campus with a shoulder injury, which limited his first few weeks of spring camp. It was hard to take your eyes off Slackman when he was on the practice field. His violent and quick hands pair well with his noticeable upper body strength.
Florida is looking to rebuild their defensive line, and I expect Joey Slackman to be a center piece of the unit.
Redshirt Senior OL Brandon Crenshaw Dickson
Perhaps the biggest need this offseason was offensive lineman. Florida went out and added two offensive tackles in Brandon Crenshaw Dickson and Devon Manuel. As of now, I expect Crenshaw-Dickson to start at right tackle vs Miami, but that could change from now until week one.
Crenshaw-Dickson will enter his 6th and final year of college football in 2024. The senior logged 2,410 snaps across 36 career starts at San Diego State, playing both left and right tackle with the Aztecs. The 6’6, 310-pound offensive tackle posted a pass block grade of 77.3 in 2023, which ranked 55th amongst FBS tackles last season.
The California native allowed three sacks, one QB hit, and six QB hurries in 343 pass block snaps in 2023.
Florida has the most depth they’ve had along the offensive line in the Billy Napier era, but they’ll need Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, Devon Manuel, or Kamryn Waites to anchor down the right tackle spot to give Florida the best chance at success in 2024.