UNDERWHELMED?: Florida Gators Transfer Portal Class Doesn't Impress Professionals

0:00Did the Florida Gators have an underwhelming transfer portal class? You are Lockdown Gators, your daily podcast on the Florida Gators. Part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team, every day. Hello and welcome back to another episode of Lockdown Gators. Part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team, every day. Thanks for being a Lockdown Gators. You're first listen of the day, every day. You are available daily and free by visiting the podcast and on YouTube. As always, I am Brandon Olson. Happy Friday, lifelong Florida Gators. Fan, I write about the Florida Gators for swampsicle.substac.com. Today's episode of Lockdown Gators. It's brought to my Fandall Fandall's giving you away to turn that energy into even bigger potential wins with a college basketball, parlay, profit boost, headdefandall.com to get started. That always throws me forward loop. We're going to talk about the Florida Gators transfer portal

1:01class today because it's interesting how people evaluate the portal and how people feel about the transfer portal class. According to an article in the Athletic, it was by a group of writers, but Antonio Morales, Mani Navarro and Sam Con Jr. all spoke to a bunch of personnel staffers across the country. In it, one of the questions that they asked was which teams underwhelming? Of the answers they got, there's seven answers. Three of them list Florida as underwhelming. Three of the seven say Florida was underwhelming. Which is interesting because to me, I don't think it was underwhelming.

2:09I think you didn't get some of the huge names. Maybe from a name perspective, it's underwhelming, but you did get a guy like Eric Singleton Jr. You did get a guy like Emmanuel Oyebidejo, I mean Eric Singleton Jr. chose Florida over being a late day two NFL Draftick. And Emmanuel Oyebidejo chose Florida over an SEC team that was in the cultural playoff last year in Texas A&M and Missouri. And so sure, maybe by the big name perspective, it's underwhelming. But I also think that you've got to consider the realistic part of this, right? And for me, my thought is Florida had to not had to, but Florida did retain Jaden Ball, Jaden Woods, Vernabra on the third, Dallas Wilson. I mean, just you had Kormani McLean,

3:18you had bringing in Aaron Filo. I feel like retaining Miles Graham as well. I don't know how much they paid anybody. I would assume Miles Graham is one of the higher paid linebackers in the country. And if he's not, he should be. So say that. But I don't know. To me, it's just weird to say that they underwhelmed maybe because they didn't have a ton of incoming transfers that were big names, right? I understand saying that you kind of thought that they would be a bigger destination for incoming talent. But I also feel like if you really, really disagree with that, maybe it's about your expectations, right? And we had this conversation all the time when it's myself here talking about some of the recruits and players in Gainesville, where I'm like, you know, they didn't reach your expectations, but maybe that's you.

4:24I don't know if nobody likes to hear it, but like maybe you're the one that's wrong here. Did they underwhelmed or did you have way too high expectations? Like a DJ that way, right? Like I used to say it about Jason Marshall Jr. all the time. For those of you that have been listening to the show, I'm coming up on five years at lockdown. For those of you that have been listening to the show, you might have heard me say, well, Jason Marshall Jr. is never going to reach your expectations for him in Gainesville. And that is not his fault. That is because you are expecting him to be an absolute shut down island corner. And that's not a reasonable expectation to have. That's something where if you get that, you love that. But as long as you're getting good play for like most of the time, it's cool with that. Also, I forgot to even mention this to you guys. For those of you that might not have been listening the past few days, I've been mentioning at the beginning of the shows. And I will continue to mention it until next Thursday, because on Thursday,

5:28March 12th, Florida Gators head coach John Someral will be here joining me on lockdown Gators. And I'm super pumped for that one. We'll talk about the portal class, right? We'll talk about a few things that's underwhelming. We can do that. But I do think that part of it is also just expectations guys had. And I don't know, I don't know what made anybody think they're going to be the biggest player right now. Just you look at who they retain and say, all right, well, you retained a bunch of guys that are not just really good for being young, but will have multiple years of eligibility remaining. You retained Dallas Wilson, Bernabre on the third, Jaden Woods, and Miles Graham, all of whom have at least two more years of eligibility remaining. Or sorry, all of whom you should have for at least two more years, right? And I say at least should have for two more years,

6:28because Jaden ball will also have two years of eligibility remaining, but that man is not going to be running the football for the Florida Gators in 2027. He's going to be running the football for whichever NFL team drafts him. And good for him. Jaden Woods, Miles Graham, Bernabre on the third, those guys, they're not going to be these NFL draft picks in the 2027 NFL draft. You know why? Because they are not going to be eligible for the 2027 NFL draft. It doesn't matter what they're going to do. It doesn't, right? And so, or, well, yeah, you can have Miles Graham, I guess, but linebacker probably not going to be gone that early. I don't think he will be, right? But you're going to have guys for two more years. I think the only one, maybe better way to better, the only one that's definitely going to be gone, Jaden ball, almost definitely going to be gone,

7:29Jaden ball. Miles Graham, you should have for another two years, I miss it. I think that you can get two more years out of them. Linebacker, if you haven't seen a ton of them go really early, he's coming into a new defense, a different defense, should have him for two more years. Even worst case, right? You spent a lot of money on keeping Bernabre on the third, Dallas Wilson, Jaden Woods, who you know you're going to have for two more years. Miles Graham will shift into these should have him for two more years, and Jaden ball one more year. Like, yeah, oh, a little bit of an underwhelming class. Okay, I disagree for myself. I also think that that's your expectations are just wrong, and your thought process is wrong. Throwing that one out there. But the Florida Gators maybe didn't have this insane trench portal class coming in because they retained a wild amount of their talent when you're talking about having a head coach and change. Something that

8:35you do not normally see, right? You don't normally see a new coach come in and a bunch of the best players stay. The Florida Gators did that. We're going to look at some of the direct quotes in this, and we're going to pick them apart a little bit. Let me get back with locked on Gators. College basketball is non-stop big games, tight spreads, momentum swings every single night. From early tip off to late night west coast shootouts, there's always action on the board. And now band was giving you a way to turn that energy into even bigger potential wins with a college basketball parlay profit boost. You can build any college hoops parlay you want rivalry games, ranked matchups, whatever fits my read your read whoever's read right mixed spreads totals player props match how much you see the slate playing out or how you see the slate playing out. Then you can apply the profit boost and instantly bump up the potential payout go safe, go bold ride with the team you've been following all season. It's your parlay your style now. More upside behind it at defandal.com

9:39to get started. It's fandal.com fandal play your game. It's tax on, but for a lot of us the old way of doing taxes is a lot, right? Trying to book an appointment that's not the most convenient sitting in a waiting room with a stack of papers emailing back and forth and wondering if they really get your situation. But this year you're getting a major upgrade into a turbo tax now has in-person locations nationwide. You can meet face to face with a real tax expert and your documents get uploaded straight to your turbo tax app on the spot. And just like that, you're done your turbo tax expert works to get you every dollar that you deserve while you get real time notifications as you go about your day. It's the relief of walking in and meeting a real person and walking out knowing your taxes are being handled right. Head to TurboTax.com, such local to find a store near you and book your appointment. Thanks for having a lot of your first listen of the day. Every day we are available daily and free of his podcast and on YouTube. And we've got four people,

10:41or sorry, three people here that mentioned Florida as the underwhelming one. The first one is a group of six staffer that at least they're quote involving Florida is the question which teams underwhelmed you. The answer may be Florida. With a new coach coming in, I thought they would bring in a larger talent influx with the resources they have. To me, that might be an indicator of you not knowing, right? At first off, I don't know if you mean larger talent influx. I'm assuming you mean like bigger name because Florida brought in a lot of guys. So I'm assuming you mean name wise or like at the top of the list wise. But no, instead Florida brought in a ton of guys that well should mostly contribute in 2036. That matters. And again, you do not acknowledge that

11:42part of what was the most impressive about their transport of class was not losing the talent that was there, right? Not losing rising freshmen to sophomores in jaded woods for an over on the third and Dallas Wilson. Not losing rising sophomores to juniors in jade and ball and miles gram. Again, one of whom definitely going to be gone after this year, one of whom I do think you got a pretty good shot at getting back for a second year. And again, like he, I will say this about miles gram as well. He's someone that I know a lot of Florida Gators fans were talking about. He's showing incredible. He's amazing. Look, he's really good. I'm not taking that from him, okay? I'm really not. He does have flaws. He needs to fix. I think part of it was also what the defense was asking of linebackers in 2025. Not exactly the most reasonable thing to do, especially when you're

12:43talking about coverage wise and like asking linebackers to do a lot in coverage while also asking defensive lineman to not really attack and rush the passer, but just collapse the pocket. Not the best approach to things, right? Especially when you're going, oh, by the way, like, yeah, we're just rushing for one of them is a nickel and everybody knows he's rushing. And so it's not even like we got the elephant a surprise here or an overload that teams are preparing for that. It's tough. It's tough. Let's say that. So maybe with a strong year this year, he's gone, but I could see two more years. I kind of do see two more years right now. So that group of six staffer, I will say feels weird to, again, larger talent influx. I don't know if you mean quality or quantity, but quantity is plenty quality. I'll give you like a little bit. I do think that there's to an extent away where you go. Yeah, like they didn't bring in the big names. I thought they would. But again, I think that's your mistake and your misevaluation there.

13:49The SEC staffer, the first one at least said one that that was weird because I'm going to read their whole quote here. It's the answer is Alabama with everything they lost and knew they needed. It was very underwhelming. I don't know what Florida did. Their biggest thing was trying to hold on to their guys. I guess South Carolina for a coach that's kind of on the hot seat, you would expect them to spend what they need to spend to fix things. A couple of things. One, South Carolina spent in the trenches. Like Jakarius Peak was a big name. Just got hurt. And for Florida, like, I don't know what Florida did. Right? I don't know what Florida did. Their biggest thing was trying to hold on to their guys. That's what Florida did. Florida retained their best players. No, like, you don't got to put it there. Really any other way. I don't know what they did. But this is what they did. Like, yeah, dude, you nailed it. I just hate when it's like, yeah, I get it. You didn't have a top rank portal

14:55class or anything. But you retained talent. And we're just going to completely overlook it. Well, by the way, bringing in still quality football players, like still quality guys that should be contributing and should be participating, right? Like this year. You did that. Running back, you brought in two guys that should at least play a little bit this year. One is probably going to be running back to. Like, as in one of them should be running back to two. Quarterback, you brought in your potential quarterback one. Why receiver, brought in your potential, why receiver one? Offensive line, you brought in the bunch of guys. Tight end, you brought in the bunch of guys. Defensive line, you brought in the manual of a Badejo, who's like, that was your big ticket. Your big ticket player there. Maybe Aaron Fylo is the bigger ticket name, but it's heard of talent. I think a manual of a Badejo is a better F than Aaron Fylo is a proven quarterback right now. That's not a knock on anybody. I think a manual of a Badejo is just really good. But in depth on the interior of the defensive line,

16:00you brought in two guys that could be starting at safety star three, really, right? Because you could talk about how DJ Coleman and Cam Dooley will probably be competing for starting safety spot, Kanye Clark probably starting at your nickel corner. But underwhelming, I don't get it. I don't. Again, I get it from a big name perspective. Sure. But I think if you were expecting Florida to bring in big names in 2026, I think that's on you, or 426. I think that's on you. I do. We have people go, we're about to, there we go, the group of six one. Maybe Florida with a new coach coming in, I thought they would bring in a larger talent and flux with the resources they have. Part of bringing in a new coach is one paying that new coach, but two paying that old coach to leave.

17:00This should not have been the year we expect Florida to make these big waves. When there's not pressure to be great right away, the pressure has now come from John Sturmall saying that we're going to win right away. That's where the pressure has come from. And then we have SEC staffer number two said Florida. I don't know what they're doing. As it did. They didn't the library just Florida. I don't know what they're doing. I got to say one thing I'm confused about is that two of the people that name Florida as underwhelming is I don't know what they're doing. I don't know what they're what they did. Are you stupid or dumb? Like, which one is it? Just out of curiosity. I know what they did. They brought in a bunch of guys that have multiple years of eligibility remaining while also having multiple years of experience playing college football. That should be contributing at just about every level of the field while trying to raise your floor for 2026 and you are ceiling for 2027. Because again, you brought in guys that could come

18:08in in in in 2026 and maybe play a rotational role and then 2027 be starters. Like you did that at quite a few spots honestly. I need to spell it out for you. Again, like, I don't think that Florida had this monumental transfer portal class that just made them an STER program or an STER team in 2026. But I do think that they made some smart decisions to make their program better. Right? Again, like, yeah, Florida lost a lot of guys too and maybe that's part of your equation here. But like, I don't I don't understand calling it I really don't just just being underwhelming. I didn't expect Florida to be, you know, swinging for the fences with all these big names. I expected Florida to fill out a roster

19:12and 2027 like after the 2026 season is when I'm expecting you to maybe pursue some bigger names there. That's where I would think at least. That's how I've been looking at it. That's I'm going to keep looking at it and we'll see if after the 2026 season things are different. Obviously, that depends on how the season goes. But underwhelming, I'm going to say that I disagree on that one. We'll talk more about it when we get back with Lockdown Gators. Workplace chaos, deadlines, stacking up, inbox overflowing, and the one position you have to fill still sitting open. When the pressure's on, you need to write higher this is a job for sponsored jobs. Indeed, sponsored jobs helps you reach the people who actually fit what you're looking for. Skills, experience, location. So you're not just helping the right candidate stumbles across your post. Nope, spend less time searching and more time actually interviewing candidates to check all of your boxes. Less stress, less time, more results. When you need the right person to cut to the chaos, this is a job for indeed sponsored jobs. And listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to help get your job,

20:13be premium status and deserves at indeed.com slash podcast. Just go to indeed.com slash podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about it on this show indeed.com slash podcast, terms and conditions apply need to hire this is a job for indeed sponsored jobs and ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the five hour energy flavor draft with 18 different flavors to choose from, including new options like confetti craze, fruity rainbow, or cotton candy. There's something for every one. There's one for me though. All right, the board is set. The flavors are ready. I've got a literal white board in my apartment with the name slapped on and the position slapped on. What our grade is, right? And lucky for us, we got the number one pick in the five hour energy flavor draft. And lucky for us, we're making the right decision. That's what we do. We make the right decision. We evaluate. We take our time. We research. We make sure we get it right.

21:15My God, it's great. Find your new favorite flavor. Five hour energy shots available online at five hour energy.com or on Amazon. Thanks again for a lot on Gators. You're first listen of the day every day. We are available daily and free reviews in the podcast and on YouTube. And the Floridaers had their 2026 transport of class come in and apparently underwhelmed. But she got like I just I hate calling it underwhelming because I disagree. I think and I say this is someone that doesn't love the class, right? I really like the approach that they took to finding guys that are, you know, that are experienced and have multiple years of eligibility available. I like the approach of going out and just just getting guys in that I can fit a role, right? Like a Jalen Lloyd is someone that I don't view as this game changing receiver that I don't

22:18view as this awesome receiver, but I do view him as someone that is really fast and can fit in the offense. And I can see a role for him in Buster Faulkner's offense. And that matters. I don't think that DKK lose is amazing interior defense alignment, but I can see a role for him fitting on the interior of this defensive line in Gainesville. Things like that like I like the approach there. I'm not underwhelmed with that. I think that's a great decision. Just go get guys that fit what you want, fit what you need, and can contribute right away. And like he brought in guys like Eric Singleton Jr., again, who turned down the NFL to come to Gainesville. Like I said, I've spoken to people. You're going to second day pick, a day to pick, right? Potential second round, likely third. Yet Cam Dooley from Kentucky. First off, I think he could tie his shoes without leaning over at all.

23:20So I say that in in in insanely long arms, but you brought Cam Dooley. He's coming over and he's in a compete for playing time in a starting spot immediately. Eric Singleton Jr. Cam Dooley, TJ Shanahan, DJ Holman, Erison Moore, Emmanuel Oibidejo, Evan Pryor, Aaron Filo, you got Kanye Clark, you got Lou Carpring, you got, we'll say Egan Boyer. Maybe look at a dipri and we're at what 12 portal guys that are all going to have a somewhat significant role here. Maybe you can include DKK Lew too if he ends up becoming second string and anything. Second string defensive lineman is going to play, right? So yeah, I think I said 11 before, so now 12 guys that are going to play considerable significant roles in 2026 or should. You're going to tell me that a team that brought in potentially 12 significant contributors

24:28in the first offseason under a new head coach. That's underwhelming. And by the way, what almost half of them have multiple years of eligibility remaining? That's underwhelming. By what standard? Again, I would have spent way more of my resources on the offensive line. I would have made sure I got a pure nose tackle there. So I'm not saying that I'm someone that's in love with what they did, right? Some of the names I was very open like I'm not a huge fan of them, but he's here. I say this as someone that isn't like, oh, this is an amazing portal class. I just think calling it underwhelming is more indicative of where you stand as an evaluator or

25:28where you stand as someone that is if you're a person else that's actually part of putting a team together. I think it's more indicative of you than Florida. I think Florida's process was sound. I think Florida's process was sound in the transfer portal. Again, I disagree with it with with some of what they did. I would have done things differently, but just because I say I disagree with it or or I would have done things differently, that does not mean that it was all of a sudden this big flaw. That doesn't all that doesn't mean that all of a sudden it's bad. It just means I would have done things differently. Was it perfect? No. Would I call it a great class? No. I'd call it a good class, a good transport class, especially for a team coming off me awful season that they just had. And like one of the quotes was, oh, yeah, with the resources

26:29they had, they just spent a lot of resources on this transition, on this change. Duh. Maybe that was someone from like Georgia who hasn't fired someone during the NIL era or the transfer portal window era as a firedehyde coach. On of the day, but for Florida, was this class underwhelming? I strongly disagree with that. But again, I think if you think it was underwhelming, I think it's about your expectations more so than what they actually did because what they actually did was what they had to do to feel they sound competent competitive roster for 2026 with potential to improve upon it in 2027. That's they did. I think just about any team that sees that. And like, I think if any team did that,

27:31remove the logo. If any team you say, hey, they just fired their head coach after an awful season, they just hired a new world for prospective purposes. We'll say they just hired a new group of five coach starting quarterbacks gone. A bunch of their offensive linemen to the NFL draft, best defensive linemen to the draft. A bunch of guys, they're fielding a competitive roster where we're thinking they're going to win conservatively. Seven games? I'm sorry, I'm not going to take that and go, oh, so they underwhelmed in the portal. And you go, hey, by the way, they got maybe they're starting quarterback, maybe they're running back to and running back three. Maybe three of their four top tight ends, really four of their five top tight ends. They got a top three receiver in their room with probably wide receiver six and seven.

28:34They got up to defensive end on their roster there. They got depth on the interior of the defensive linemen that's going to play. They got two potentially three starters in the second area. You're going to tell me that's underwhelming. Nope, I'm going to call BS on it. I'm going to call BS on it. I'm going to say you guys are wrong. I'm going to say I'm right. I'm not saying it's an amazing class, but underwhelming I think is a bit disrespectful there. I'll say that. Thanks for making a lot of our gators. You're first listen of the day every day. We are available daily and for you guys to podcast and on YouTube, we will be back later on today. We're going to talk about Jarela McCoy and what his role might be after yesterday would look like a strong public session, public, in quotes, media was there of practice. We'll see what his role is going to be. We'll talk about that next time. I'll see you all next time. I'm Brandon Olson, calling in Twitter at WNS underscore brand and find all my written work on New York China Science Science swamps it with that subset.com. I'll see you later on today and tomorrow after the

29:39Kentucky game.