Tag: Joey Slackman

Florida earns transfer portal commitment from former Penn DT

Florida’s first addition through the transfer portal is a big one. Former Penn defensive tackle Joey Slackman is headed to the Swamp.

Florida still needs to find a defensive line coach for next year, but that job opening just got a lot more attractive with the addition of former Penn defensive tackle [autotag]Joey Slackman[/autotag].

The 2023 Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year will play his last year of college football in the SEC. Slackman announced his commitment Sunday night, marking Florida’s first addition through the portal this offseason. ESPN ranked him the top defensive tackle in the transfer portal.

Defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong and head coach Billy Napier led this recruitment.

“They did the best job of building that relationship with me and explaining to me how I would fit into their defense and how I can help them not just win on the field with my football play, but as a leader,” Slackman said to ESPN. “I can come in, even though it’s only a year, and really help change the program for the better and set them in the right direction over this next year.”

Slackman hopes to get to the draft next year, and playing in the SEC is the perfect audition for the NFL. Leading a Gators team that needs some direction would be a surefire way to get on the map.

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Texas A&M offered two productive defensive tackles from the Transfer Portal

Texas A&M has offered former Youngstown DT Anthony Johnson and former Penn DT Joey Slackman from the transfer portal.

Texas A&M and head coach Mike Elko have continued to attack the transfer portal amid losing more than a dozen players once the portal opened just a week ago, already adding former Kansas State CB Will Lee and former Old Dominion WR Javon Harvey this week.

Sustaining several losses on the defensive line, including the departures of defensive tackles Walter Nolen and Fadil Diggs, both players could return. Still, from the looks of it, it isn’t very certain. In need of immediate starting experience, Elko has fielded multiple offers to Youngstown State DT Anthony Johnson and U Penn DT Joey Slackman, both underrated yet highly productive players with one year of eligibility remaining.

During the 2023 season, Johnson, who has received much interest in the portal, recorded 25 tackles, four sacks, 6.5 tackles, and a fumble recovery.

In contrast, Joey Slackman’s final season in the Ivy League included earning Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year after recording 50 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and four sacks. For those who don’t know, Mike Elko is a U Penn alum. With new defensive line coach Sean Spencer taking over, Johnson and Slackman are working toward NFL futures, and with Spencer’s incredible track record over the years, this could be the perfect fit.

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Penn DL Joey Slackman earns Auburn offer

Slackman is one of the top available players that currently occupy the transfer portal.

Following the news of [autotag]Marcus Harris[/autotag]’ decision to enter the NFL draft, Auburn will need to find someone to fill the role of premier defensive lineman.

Head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag], defensive line coach [autotag]Jeremy Garrett[/autotag], and the rest of the Auburn coaching staff may have found a candidate in former Penn defensive lineman [autotag]Joey Slackman[/autotag]. Slackman announced his offer from Auburn on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday morning. According to 247Sports, Slackman will also visit the Plains this weekend.

Slackman is one of the top available players that currently occupy the transfer portal. In 2023, he was Penn’s highest-graded defensive player with a 90.8 according to Pro Football Focus. He excelled in several categories, but run defense was his strong suit with a 92.8.

Slackman played in 417 snaps this season over 12 games. He created 18 total pressures this season with 11 quarterback hurries and five sacks.

In a recent interview with Brian Dohn of 247Sports ($), Slackman shared what he is looking for in a program.

“Most importantly, I want to come to a team where I can affect winning in a positive way and get on the field,” he said. “The football fit is the No. 1 thing for me. Obviously, academics are important to me so I am trying to find the best master’s degree I can get on top of football for when my career is over. Along with that, just trying to find the best place that can develop me as a player, and potentially be drafted after my collegiate career is over after this season. Those three things are the main components I am looking for in my new school.”

According to 247Sports, Slackman has already visited Florida and Wisconsin and will take three more visits, including the one to Auburn, before settling on a new home.

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Blue-chip Ivy League transfer target talks official visit with Florida

This senior defensive lineman likes what Billy Napier and Co. are cooking in the Swamp.

Florida football hosted a quartet of top transfer targets this past weekend in Gainesville, including an Ivy League standout who made his official visit.

Senior defensive lineman Joey Slackman, who played the last three seasons with the Pennsylvania Quakers and is rated at four stars, spoke with Swamp247 after his stop in the Swamp.

“It was awesome,” Slackman said. “It was really great to meet the staff. Talking with Coach Armstrong and Coach Napier about where I fit in the defense. Talk some scheme, talk some ball. Seeing the facilities and everything. It’s been a really good time. [The highlight] was just now talking with Coach Armstrong about where I fit in the defense. Talking scheme and getting to work.”

The 6-foot-4inch, 300-pound lineman visited the Wisconsin Badgers the weekend prior and is scheduled to visit the North Carolina Tar Heels, Virginia Tech Hokies and Michigan Wolverines. However, he has already noticed some unique features of UF’s program.

“The brand of the Gators is unlike a lot of other places. The coaches did a really good job explaining the plan they have moving forward to turn this thing around, and where they see me fitting in their defense, and being a part of this thing.”

Not only that but Napier and Co. made sure that Slackman knew he had a place on the roster as the team rebuilds its defensive line.

“They kind of stressed [the need],” he said. “The kind of said I fit as a big end, big tackle position. Kind of what I played at Penn. They expressed a clear interest. I think it’s mutual, and I am sure we will be in communication over the next couple of days and figure it out.”

As for where the Orange and Blue stand among the other suitors?

“Florida is up there,” he said. “I have other visits scheduled for the end of the week… I am looking at a couple schools… Still kind of keeping my options open for now. I kind of narrowed it down to those five. I am open to communicating with everyone right now. I am not sure where I want to end up yet. Florida is up there.”

The former all-Ivy League first-team selection is 247Sports’ third-ranked defensive lineman in the portal (22nd overall), following a season that saw him amass 50 tackles — including four sacks.

During his three years on the field, Slackman played 28 total games, with 115 total tackles — 25 of them for a loss and 11 of those sacks — as well as three passes defended, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick.

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Highly-sought DL transfer portal target sets official visit with Florida

One of the top players available in the transfer portal will be stopping in Gainesville this weekend for an official visit.

The NCAA transfer portal action is in high gear as student-athletes across the country search for greener pastures through college football’s de facto free agency in what has become a game of musical chairs for top teams.

Billy Napier and the Florida Gators have already lost some key players to the portal and will be working hard to replace them before spring practices begin. Among those under consideration is an Ivy League athlete who is looking to move on to a bigger football program.

Senior defensive lineman Joey Slackman, who played the last three seasons with the Pennsylvania Quakers, told 247Sports that he intends to make an official visit with the Orange and Blue.

“I am taking one to Florida this weekend,” the 6-foot-4inch, 300-pound lineman revealed.

The trip to Gainesville will be his second so far as a transfer portal target after visiting the Wisconsin Badgers last weekend. He is also open to other t other suitors who are interested in hosting him as well.

As far as Florida is concerned, the Gators already made an impression prior to the opening of the portal, extending him an offer back in November.

“They are one of the schools where I see myself fitting in their system,” said Slackman. I really like their staff and they are one of the schools I’ve had the best communication with. I feel like I good judgment of people, even though this stuff is very business-oriented in every sense nowadays,” he added.

“Their staff has been very communicative, and my parents in my meetings with them, and the phone calls, has been really positive. Obviously, they’re a very storied program,” he continues.

“There is a lot of history there and it is one of the more insane atmospheres in college football. It was something that was really intriguing and I’m excited to check it out.”

The former all-Ivy League first-team selection is 247Sports’ fourth-ranked defensive lineman in the portal (20th overall), following a season that saw him amass 50 tackles — including four sacks.

During his three years on the field, Slackman played 28 total games, with 115 total tackles — 25 of them for a loss and 11 of those sacks — as well as three passes defended, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick.

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Joe Slackman gets offered by Rutgers football

Rutgers football has offered Joey Slackman out of the transfer portal.

On Tuesday morning, Rutgers football offered Joey Slackman, who has been one of the top defensive linemen in the Ivy League over the past two years.

He had 48 total tackles last year with four sacks and a pass defended.

Since entering the transfer portal on Monday, Slackman has become a target priority for a number of teams. In addition to his offer from Rutgers, Slackman has pulled in offers from BYU, UConn, Duke, Georgia Tech, Houston Illinois, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech among others.

He is a 6-foot-4, 300-pounder defensive tackle. He has one year of eligibility left.

 

Rutgers is likely to need at least one interior defensive lineman when Isaiah Iton pursues his NFL ambitions.

During his career, he has 115 total tackles, 25 tackles for a loss with 11 sacks.

This is the first known offer that Rutgers has made to a prospect out of the transfer portal.