The NCAA transfer portal contact period is now officially open as Billy Napier and his Florida football program look to replace departed players through the sport’s de facto free agency system.
Now that the Gators can host portal prospects, the team is hitting the ground running. Among other names in Gainesville on Wednesday is edge defender [autotag]George Gumbs[/autotag], who played for the Northern Illinois Huskies for three seasons before recently committing to the Louisville Cardinals.
The 6-foot-4-inch, 242-pound defender entered the transfer portal on Dec. 12 and gave his word to Louisville on Dec. 16, but nothing is set firmly in stone just yet.
Gumbs was originally recruited as a tight end but switched side of the ball in 2023 after appearing in 12 total games at TE as well as on special teams his first two years. In his lone season at edge defender, he amassed 32 total tackles — including 6.5 for a loss and 3.5 sacks — and two forced fumbles.
The Chicago, Illinois, product took a redshirt his freshman season, making his upcoming campaign his redshirt junior year. Gumbs will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Also visiting on Wednesday is former Arkansas Razorbacks offensive lineman Devon Manuel. The Gators have four open scholarship spots as of Jan. 2.
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