The Florida Gators are losing defensive lineman/edge defender [autotag]Kelby Collins[/autotag] to the transfer portal, according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett.
Collins spent 2023 in the edge defender room, playing 228 of 274 defensive snaps at either end or linebacker, but he transitioned to an interior role in 2024. His snap count plummeted to 58 this season — 35 at tackle and 23 off the edge — thanks to the emergence of Jack Pyburn as a pass rusher. Thirty of Collins’ snaps this season came in Week 4 against Mississippi State.
“I think Kelby is in a room that’s deep,” head coach Billy Napier said in last month. “I think it’s very competitive in that room. I think there’s obviously some veteran players, and then I think he’s in between roles in terms of the different things that he can do.
“But he’s still a young player, and I think obviously it’s all about improvement. It’s all about getting better at your craft, and you got to work while you wait, and you may not like your role, but you have to work hard to improve and embrace that role and try to earn more.”
Collins made the All-SEC Freshman Team in 2023, and rather than wait behind more experienced edge defenders in a tweener role, he can transfer out and return to his natural position full-time.
Pro Football Focus gave him a 69.7 grade on defense in 2023 and a 69.4 grade this season. He led all Florida edge rushers against the run (72.6) last year.
Collins is the eighth Gator to announce an intent to enter the transfer portal. Edge defenders Justus Boone, Bryce Capers (walk-on) and Quincy Ivory (JUCO transfer, 2023), wide receiver Andy Jean, cornerback Ja’Keem Jackson and walk-on Safety Ahman Covington are all leaving the program as well.
Florida’s Options on the Defensive Line
Although Collins was listed as an edge defender on Florida’s official roster, we’ll cover the Gators’ options at both EDGE and defensive tackle for next year.
Edge defenders
Collins is the fourth edge defender to leave the program this offseason, following Justus Boone, Quincy Ivory and walk-on Bryce Capers.
Tyreak Sapp and Jack Pyburn have a year of eligibility remaining, and Boone’s departure could signal an intent to return for both. Even if both players were to depart, Northern Illinois transfer George Gumbs Jr. played a significant role in Florida’s defensive front this year, and a number of young players are hungry for more snaps.
Kamran James, LJ McCray and TJ Searcy are all set to return, barring any future transfer announcements. Florida will add four-star recruit Jayden Woods to the position room this spring, as well.
The Gators are only losing one scholarship player from the position room to graduation, specialist Ja’Markis Weston. Walk-on Tyreik Norwood is also out of eligibility.
Walk-ons Titus Bullard, Charles Emanuel III and Layne Swafford also have enough eligibility to return to the roster.
Defensive tackle
The Gators are losing three key members of its interior defensive line rotation to graduation: starting nose tackle Cam Jackson, grad transfer Joey Slackman (Penn) and fan-favorite Desmond Watson, who played the third most snaps in the position room.
Redshirt junior Caleb Banks has a decision to make between going pro and returning for a fifth year of college ball. He’s led the position room in snaps played in each of his seasons with Florida Gators — Banks transferred from Louisville ahead of the 2023 campaign.
Redshirt sophomore Jamari Lyons is expected to return after missing the entirety of the 2024 season with a broken ankle suffered in fall camp. However, coming back from a major injury could limit him early in the year.
A pair of junior college transfers are likely to return in junior Brien Taylor Jr. and redshirt freshman Tarvorise Brown. The Gators also have true freshmen Michai Boireau and D’Antre Robinson on the roster. Both saw the field for more than 100 snaps this season.
Florida has four defensive linemen under commitment from the class of 2025: four-stars Joseph Mbatchou, Jeramiah McCloud and Jalen Wiggins and three-star Stephon Shivers.
Walk-ons Nicolas Flynn (R-So.) and Sebastian Scott (R-Fr.) should return as well.
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