While the transfer portal is not yet open for FBS players / non-graduates, there are a ton of names floating around that would be welcomed additions to the Florida Gators. Gator Country provides you with our early transfer portal wish list.
WR Juice Wells / South Carolina
South Carolina’s star receiver Juice Wells plans to enter the transfer portal according to multiple reports. Wells has put together an impressive career despite missing most of the 2023 season with an injury, posting 28 career touchdowns and 2,818 receiving yards throughout his four-year career (two teams). Wells will be looking for a new home as a graduate transfer with one more year of eligibility remaining. With the offseason departures of Caleb Douglas and Ricky Pearsall, the Gators will look to fill a need at wide receiver through the transfer portal and Juice Wells would be one of my first calls.
OL Davion Carter / Memphis
Memphis offensive guard Davion Carter will be entering the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining, according to his social media. Carter logged 852 snaps this season and graded as the 10th best offensive guard in college football, according to Pro Football Focus. His pass block grade of 87.2 ranks 13th in the FBS amongst guards, which is an area Florida struggled in this season. Carter allowed just one sack and six QB hurries this season in 522 passing snaps. Carter is also former teammates with Florida’s Cam Jackson, who just announced he will be returning for his final season of eligibility. Florida needs all the offensive line help they can get; this would be a good place to start.
OL Jalen Travis / Princeton
Jalen Travis is one of the more intriguing FCS players in the portal because he stands at 6-9, 315 pounds. In 2022, Travis started on an offensive that helped Princeton post the Ivy’s No. 1 passing offense and the No. 2 scoring offense. Travis earned Second-Team All-Ivy, Phil Steele Second-Team All-Ivy, and Blue Bloods Second-Team All-Ivy for his efforts in 2022. In 2023, Travis appeared in six games and was the top ranked player on Princeton’s offense, according to PFF. Travis allowed just one sack and three total pressures in 224 passing snaps while grading as Princeton’s best pass blocker.
DT Joey Slackman / Penn
Slackman is the only offer Florida has extended that we know of to this point. Slackman is one of the bigger names in the portal right now, receiving offers from Michigan, South Carolina, Washington, Missouri, TCU, Wisconsin, Miami, Vanderbilt, North Carolina, Duke, and Louisville among others. The 6-4, 300-pound defensive tackle was UPenn’s highest rated player in the 2023 season, holding a 90.1 defensive grade, which would make Slackman the second highest graded interior defender in the FBS if he was included. Slackman has totaled 25 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in his career while earning 1st Team All-Ivy DT and FCS Mid-Season All-American Status. Slackman has one year of eligibility remaining.
OL Alan Herron / Shorter University
The 6-6, 310-pound tackle out of Shorter University has been another hot name after entering the portal, picking up offers from Miami, NC State, Clemson, Penn State, Miami, Auburn, Kansas, Louisville, and Texas Tech. There’s not a ton of information or analytics on Herron because he played at the division two level, but he’s appeared in 11 games this season for Shorter. Herron would have two seasons of eligibility remaining at his new school.
WR Kenny Akharaiyi / UTEP
UTEP wide receiver Kenny Akharaiyi has entered the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining. The 6-1, 194-pound receiver recorded 1,033 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023, grading as UTEP’s 5th best offensive player among players with 50+ snaps. His teammate, RB Deion Hankins, is also in the portal and looking for a new home. If the Gators end up having an opening at running back, Napier and his staff should look his way as he totaled 812 yards and five touchdowns on 5.2 yards per carry.