Tag: Montrell Johnson

Florida RB transfer Demarkcus Bowman commits to UCF

It didn’t work out for Demarkcus Bowman in Gainesville, but maybe Orlando will be the right fit.

Less than a week after UCF lost its top recruit in the class of 2023 to Florida, the Knights landed former Gators running back [autotag]Demarkcus Bowman[/autotag] through the transfer portal.

Coming out of high school, Bowman was a five-star recruit and considered among the top 3 running backs in his class by 247Sports. He ranks No. 391 all-time on 247Sports’ list with a near-perfect rating of .9909. However, a high rating didn’t translate to immediate success, and Bowman left Clemson in October of his freshman year in 2020. It took him just two days to decide on Florida at that point, one day less than he spent in the portal this time around.

Bowman’s departure from Florida on June 24 came as a bit of a surprise after he impressed in spring practices, but a crowded running backs room was presumed to be the reason. Lousiana transfer [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag] already knows Napier’s scheme, [autotag]Nay’Quan Wright[/autotag] is the only returning back on the depth chart with legitimate in-game experience and Lorenzon Lingard is also a former five-star that’s been impressive. If that’s not crowded enough, freshman Trevor Etienne was behind him hungry for any playing time.

For a guy that could be a star, it’s not the ideal situation. So, he headed a few hours south to the team that beat Florida last year in the Gasparilla Bowl. The only problem is that he will have to sit out the 2022 season with this being his second transfer and well past the deadline for players to enter the portal. A waiver could clear that issue though, and the Knights have had three players regain eligibility over the past two years.

It may benefit Bowman to wait, though. Isaiah Bowser and Johnny Richardson each netted over 700 rushing yards last season, and the duo is set to return for another run in Orlando. Playing alongside Richardson was one of the catalysts for Bowman’s transfer to UCF, according to 247Sports.

Sitting out until 2023 would give Bowman time to learn the playbook and move up the depth chart with only Richardson to compete with, assuming he returns for his senior year. Behind those guys, UCF has a fleet of former three stars that are fighting for some playing time.

Bowman will be 22 in 2023, though. The likelihood of him staying another year to meet up against his former club when the UF-UCF series begins in 2024 is low. However, he should be a part of the Knights’ first season as a member of the Big 12.

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Report: Florida losing former 5-star RB to transfer portal

Running back Demarkcus Bowman is in the transfer portal after just one year at Florida.

After Billy Napier cut three players from the program earlier in the week, the Florida Gators lost another scholarship player on Friday. Running back [autotag]Demarkcus Bowman[/autotag], a former five-star recruit out of high school, has entered his name into the transfer portal, according to On3.

Bowman came to Gainesville in 2020 after playing his freshman year at the Clemson Tigers. That makes this his second transfer, which means he will be required to sit out for a year before playing with a new team. That might not be so different than what he would be doing at Florida, though, with [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag], [autotag]Nay’Quan Wright[/autotag], [autotag]Lorenzo Lingard[/autotag] and [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] in UF’s running backs room.

Entering the portal doesn’t guarantee Bowman’s departure, but Florida is still over the scholarship limit and the room is too crowded for a talent that was once considered among the top 20 recruits in the nation. Bowman’s far from a bust at this point. He still possesses good speed and impressed many during spring practices. He ran the ball 14 times for 81 yards in 2021 across appearances in five games.

Florida should be okay without Bowman given the depth in the room. It also opens the door for Etienne to pick up some carries as a freshman, especially if injuries come into play. Both of last year’s starting backs, [autotag]Dameon Pierce[/autotag] and [autotag]Malik Davis[/autotag], are gone and Napier likes to run the ball.

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These 3 new Gators among The Athletic’s college football transfers to watch

Here is who The Athletic thinks are the best transfer portal scores for the Gators this offseason.

The college football landscape has been overhauled in recent years thanks to the implementation of name, image and likeness laws as well as the expansion of the transfer portal into an entity not dissimilar to professional free agency. In fact, the combination of those two nascent elements has given collegiate sports a much more business-like feel, quickly shedding any vestiges of its amateur past.

The latter has been a crucial element in the short-term plans of [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag], who has dealt with a fair amount of turnover so far — especially in light of the dismissal of three players recently. The good news is that the new head coach and his staff are off to a good start on that front, having brought in a pair of studs from the skipper’s previous stop with at Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns while the third crossed the country from the Arizona State Sun Devils to relocate to the Sunshine State, among others.

The Athletic’s college football staff recently assembled an overview of the transfers to watch for in 2022, including the three new Gators referenced above. Take a look below at what writer Manny Navarro offered on the topic.

Ex-Arizona State wide receiver [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] (48 catches, 580 yards, four touchdowns in 2021) definitely will help the Gators, but Billy Napier brought over the two most impactful transfers with him from Louisiana. That would be offensive guard [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag], a 35-game starter at guard and tailback [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag], who ran for 838 yards rushing with 12 touchdowns as a freshman last season. 

While there are others who arrived through the portal, such as quarterback [autotag]Jake Miller[/autotag], cornerback [autotag]Jalen Kimber[/autotag] and offensive lineman [autotag]Kamryn Waites[/autotag], none offer the experience nor can be expected to hit the ground running like the aforementioned trio. In a debut season with a challenging schedule, the Gators will need all the help they can get and hopefully the portal proves its worth for the Orange and Blue.

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Here’s where Florida football stands in ESPN’s top 25 Future Power Rankings

You’re probably not going to like where ESPN ranks the Gators. We certainly didn’t.

Florida’s football program reached stratospheric heights during the first decade of the 21st century under head coach [autotag]Urban Meyer[/autotag], but since his departure, the team has taken a massive U-turn back into a level of mediocrity not seen since before [autotag]Steve Spurrier[/autotag]’s tenure. Exacerbating the issue is the coaching carousel that the Orange and Blue experienced in recent years, having burned through three new skippers before bringing on [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] to right the ship.

There is little question that the new administration has a steep hill to climb to get the Gators back to their previous level of success. Even though [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag]’s tenure saw three straight New Year’s Six bowl game appearances, it still came to a tumultuous close as the program imploded upon itself due to neglect, leaving things in shambles for the next coach to clean up.

With that in mind, ESPN senior writer Adam Rittenberg recently published his college football’s top 25 future power rankings and where he placed Florida may rustle a few jimmies among the Gator Nation. Take a look at his entry below.

22. Florida Gators
2022 Future QB ranking: Not ranked
2022 Future offense ranking: Not ranked
2022 Future defense ranking: 21
2021 Future team ranking: 8

Scouting the Gators: Florida is the type of program that could surge in these rankings as soon as 2023. There’s always talent in Gainesville, and coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] looks like a smart hire for a program that hasn’t made the CFP and last won the SEC in 2008, the Gators’ most recent national championship. But an unexpected transition — no one pegged [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag] to be fired at this time last year — could lead to a down year or two, especially in the improving SEC East Division. The biggest immediate question is the offense and whether dual-threat quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] will provide a consistent spark. Richardson must show greater accuracy and fewer mistakes in the pass game, but he has sophomore eligibility and room to grow under Napier.

Florida also received some QB insurance in Ohio State transfer [autotag]Jack Miller[/autotag]. Running back could become a multiyear strength. [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag] followed Napier from Louisiana to Florida after a 12-touchdown season as a freshman in 2021. Johnson leads a sophomore group that includes [autotag]Nay’Quan Wright [/autotag]and [autotag]Demarkcus Bowman[/autotag]. Florida also added ESPN 300 recruit [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag]. Junior [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag] leads a young wide receiver group with opportunities to shine. The Gators need sophomores [autotag]Trent Whittemore[/autotag] and [autotag]Xzavier Henderson[/autotag] to stay healthy, or someone else to emerge. They return two veteran tight ends in [autotag]Keon Zipperer[/autotag] and [autotag]Dante Zanders[/autotag] but need options for 2023 and 2024. Offensive line has some concerns, especially depth at tackle, but returns junior center [autotag]Kingsley Eguakun[/autotag] and some other interior pieces. Florida has a 2023 commitment from [autotag]Knijeah Harris[/autotag], ESPN’s top-rated center in the class.

The defense has fewer immediate questions. Florida returns proven players such as safety [autotag]Trey Dean III[/autotag], end [autotag]Brenton Cox Jr[/autotag]. and tackle [autotag]Gervon Dexter[/autotag]. Both Cox and Dexter could play multiple seasons and lead a line that needs others to emerge this fall, including sophomore end [autotag]Princely Umanmielen[/autotag]. Florida could become a back-to-front defense in Napier’s first few seasons, as the secondary returns Dean and sophomores [autotag]Rashad Torrence II[/autotag] and [autotag]Tre’Vez Johnson[/autotag] at safety, and talented young cornerbacks such as [autotag]Jason Marshall Jr[/autotag]., an ESPN top-50 recruit who appeared in every game as a true freshman. [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag], ESPN’s top-rated safety and No. 18 overall recruit, headlined Napier’s first class. Seniors [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag] and [autotag]Amari Burney[/autotag] lead a linebacker group that will look to build long-term depth this season. [autotag]Derek Wingo[/autotag] has sophomore eligibility, and Florida added ESPN 300 linebacker [autotag]Shemar James[/autotag] in the 2022 recruiting class.

Despite just making the top 25 list by a few spots, the future is beginning to look bright again in Gainesville. Napier and Co. have done a great job on the recruiting front so far, and once the new regime has its plans for the future fully implemented, the Swamp should once again be a favorable destination for the best in the business.

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CBS Sports lists its top incoming transfer for Florida football

CBS Sports published its list of top incoming transfers for Southeastern Conference schools in the coming 2022 season.

Rebuilding Florida’s football program is no easy task as new head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] is quickly learning. Among the building blocks available to the Gators’ staff is the transfer portal, which has transformed from a small creek into a massive river flowing with players due to the change in eligibility rules, which now allows a student-athlete to immediately play for their new team.

While prep recruiting is at the forefront of Napier’s agenda, the portal has also been a major component in building the 2022 roster. CBS Sports’ Barrett Sallee recently took a look at the Southeastern Conference and selected the best transfer for each school. Florida’s selection was an offensive lineman who followed his head coach from the bayous of Louisiana to the Swamp: O’Cyrus Torrence. Here is what Sallee offered about the big man on the line.

The senior earned All-Sun Belt honors twice and played on a pair of Joe Moore Award semifinalist offensive line units under Billy Napier at Louisiana. Now, Torrence provides an anchor on the Gators’ rebuilt offensive line in Napier’s first season.

Torrence was not exactly an easy selection, given some of the other talent collected in the portal so far. Two of his teammates at ULL who also came to Gainesville, running back [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag] and fellow OL [autotag]Kamryn Waites[/autotag], are expected to carry a load for the Gators, while former USC wide receiver [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] could make an instant impact on the team as well. There is also former Georgia Bulldog [autotag]Jalen Kimber[/autotag] who bolsters Florida’s defensive backfield.

Who do you think will have the biggest impact? Let us know in the comments below.

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ESPN takes a look at how Billy Napier’s rebuilding process is going at Florida

The Gators are slowly rebuilding through recruiting and filling positions of need first.

Recently, ESPN took a look at how new head coaches are choosing to rebuild the programs they take over, and [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s first go around with the Florida Gators is an easy case study to look at it given the school’s history and membership in the perenially strong Southeastern Conference.

Identifying positions of need is the first step in ESPN’s assessment, and the list is unsurprisingly long. Running back, wide receiver, offensive line, defensive line and linebacker it reads. Only two of those holes (running back and offensive line) would be filled in the first six months of Napier’s tenure, though.

He had just weeks to scramble and piece together a recruiting class that had prospects jumping ship left and right. Napier ultimately snagged five-star safety, [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag], from Georgia’s grasp and also landed four-star linebacker [autotag]Shemar James[/autotag]. Four-star running back [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] is another nice addition, but the group is still considered weak in a conference that routinely boasts the nation’s top recruiting classes.

New coach Billy Napier has his hands full trying to remake this roster as the previous staff went 6-7 last season with lackluster recruiting over the past few classes. The Gators finished the 2022 recruiting cycle ranked No. 32 overall, last in the SEC.

Napier then turned to the transfer portal, bringing in a trio of offensive players that already know his scheme. [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag], the Sun Belt Conference’s Freshman of the Year, is sure to add to the run game behind four-star Louisiana transfer [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag] and fellow interior offensive lineman [autotag]Kamryn Waites[/autotag].

Still, it’s been hard to fill the holes left in the receiving core by [autotag]Jacob Copeland[/autotag] (Maryland) and [autotag]Kemore Gamble[/autotag] (UCF). The transfer portal, in general, has hurt more than it’s helped this offseason. Sure, guys like [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen Kimber[/autotag] have a chance to make an impact early, but it doesn’t replace the departing starting talent. Not to mention those who have graduated or turned pro.

The coaches lost quite a bit to the portal and weren’t able to fill every hole… Defensive linemen [autotag]Zachary Carter[/autotag], [autotag]Antonio Valentino[/autotag] and [autotag]Daquan Newkirk[/autotag] are all gone as well, so the defensive staff has some work to do in the front seven to replace the production they had from last season.

It’s not the total overhaul some programs have seen, such as LSU or Oklahoma. In fact, Napier is taking a fairly traditional approach to rebuilding the Gators considering the modern game’s transfer rules. Landing a strong recruiting class in 2023 seems to be the path he’s headed down, but there are questions about whether or not Florida can keep up in the NIL space with some of the nation’s top programs.

As ESPN suggests, there’s still plenty of work to do for Florida to be “rebuilt,” but Napier is addressing the issues one by one. That attentiveness is what got him the gig, and he’s been successful in the past.

Here’s where Florida’s incoming transfers stand, per 247Sports

The Top247 transfer rankings have been finalized and there are five incoming Gators on the list.

It’s no secret that Florida has seen a decent amount of movement through the transfer portal this offseason, and there’s reason to be excited about the new names and faces coming to Gainesville next season.

247Sports finalized its Top247 college football transfer portal player rankings, and five incoming Gators made the cut. Offensive guard [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag] leads the way at No. 33 overall and is joined by fellow Louisiana-Lafayette offensive line transfer [autotag]Kamryn Waites[/autotag] at No. 41.

Torrence was a three-year starter for the Ragin’ Cajuns and [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] decided that his skill set fit the needs of his new team. Playing his final year in the Southeastern Conference should help his draft stock rise, assuming he takes the step forward he’s expected to. Waites only played one year at ULL, but Florida needed offensive linemen and he’s got the size (6-foot-8-inches, 358-pounds) to compete at the highest level in college football.

Next up is former Georgia cornerback [autotag]Jalen Kimber[/autotag] at No. 49 on the list. Kimber was targeted by cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] after playing just three games in two years at UGA due to a shoulder injury that limited him for most of 2021. He likely would have seen plenty of playing time with the Bulldogs this season had he stayed, but now he’ll compete for a starting job at Florida instead.

[autotag]Montrell Jonhson[/autotag], the third Lousiana transfer to make the cut, is ranked No. 70 among transfers and has a shot to be a major contributor in his first season with the Gators. He knows Napier’s playbook and was the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year in 2021 after rushing for 838 yards on 162 attempts (5.17 yards per carry) and 12 touchdowns.

Finally, there’s the newest addition to the team, Arizona State transfer [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] at No. 155 on the list. He was one of the best receivers in the Pac-12 last season and gives the Gators some depth at a position where they don’t have much experience from returning players to rely on.

Of course, Florida did lose its share of Top247 talent as well. The Gators lost linebacker [autotag]Mohamoud Diabate[/autotag] (No. 42) to Utah, receiver [autotag]Jacob Copeland[/autotag] (No. 60) to Maryland, linebacker [autotag]Ty’Ron Hopper[/autotag] (No. 86) to Missouri, EDGE [autotag]Khris Bogle[/autotag] (No. 88) to [autotag]Michigan State [/autotag]and tight end [autotag]Kemore Gamble[/autotag] (No. 135) to UCF.

Quarterback [autotag]Jack Miller[/autotag] is the only incoming transfer not ranked by 247Sports. [autotag]Emory Jones[/autotag],[autotag] Carlos Del Rio-Wilson[/autotag] and [autotag]Gerald Mincey[/autotag] comprise the list of outgoing players that failed to make the Top247.

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Two more 2022 signees arrive at UF for summer semester

New faces are popping up in Gainesville as the summer semesters begin. Welcome to the Swamp, Trevor Etienne and David Conner!

A trio of early enrollees, [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag], [autotag]Devin Moore[/autotag] and [autotag]Chris McClellan[/autotag], joined the Gators over the spring, but more members of the class of 2022 are making their way to the Swamp. Running back [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] and offensive tackle [autotag]David Conner[/autotag] both arrived on campus on Sunday and are ready to take part in the Summer A semester at Florida, according to 247Sports.

Etienne, a four-star running back out of Louisiana, was one of the rare offensive standouts in the class of 2022 for Florida and has the family name to warrant lofty expectations as a Gator. [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag], [autotag]Lorenzo Lingard[/autotag] and [autotag]Demarckus Bowman[/autotag] have held down the running backs room over spring, but now Etienne and a returning [autotag]Nay’Quan Wright[/autotag] enter the mix.

It’ll take Etienne some time to learn the playbook but look for him to contribute early on as he was one of the first players [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] sought out after taking over in Gainesville and the No. 188 overall recruit on the 247Sports composite.

Conner, a three-star tackle out of Deerfield Beach, Florida, is one of the few commitments that stayed with the Gators through the coaching change. Offensive line coaches [autotag]Rob Sale[/autotag] and [autotag]Darnell Stapleton[/autotag] think his frame and athleticism project well for an offensive tackle in the Southeastern Conference. It’ll likely take a few years of development to see him on the line every day, but Conner is setting himself up for success.

Getting to campus a bit earlier gives Conner more time to get used to his new environment and it sounds like he’ll be rooming with Florida’s running back of the future. Getting a lineman and a running back comfortable with each other early is a good sign for the team’s future chemistry.

The other members of the class of 2022 will arrive around May 22 and get settled in for the summer. The new-look Gators are finally starting to take shape and the Napier era is in full swing with a new crop of talent making their way to campus.

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Florida announces rosters for Orange and Blue game

Who are Gators fans cheering for Team Orange or Team Blue? Florida’s spring game is this Thursday night.

Florida’s first football game under new head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] is finally here. The Orange and Blue Game is Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. EDT and can be seen on SEC Network+. Ahead of the game, the Gators unveiled their rosters for the spring game on Wednesday.

The rosters consist of 52 and 48 players, respectively, even though outside linebacker [autotag]Chief Borders[/autotag], running back [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag] and cornerback [autotag]Jordan Young[/autotag] are expected to play for both teams. Napier and Florida also divided up its on-the-field coaching staff and off-the-field analysts and staffers. Women’s basketball coach [autotag]Kelly Rae Finley[/autotag] and men’s basketball coach [autotag]Todd Golden[/autotag] will serve as the honorary captains for the Orange and Blue teams.

Napier has elected to put the first-team offense and defense on opposite teams. The first-team defense will be on Orange while the first-team offense will be on Blue. Orange’s defense will be highlighted by safety [autotag]Trey Dean[/autotag], defensive tackle [autotag]Gervon Dexter[/autotag] and linebacker [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag]. Blue’s offense will be led by quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag], wide receiver [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag] and offensive linemen [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag].

It’s an exciting time for Florida fans because it’s their first chance to see Napier in charge and the program’s first spring football game in three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here is a look at the rosters for both teams:

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Billy Napier not concerned about quarterback inconsistency so far

Florida head coach Billy Napier doesn’t seem too overly concerned about the quarterbacks inconsistency so far this spring.

The way Florida has conducted spring practices has been a breath of fresh air as the team has allowed the media to observe portions of practices after not allowing any access over the past couple of seasons. One concern the media has developed about Florida is the inconsistency at quarterback.

The media has observed quarterbacks [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] and [autotag]Jack Miller[/autotag] make some brilliant plays but have also watched them miss some easy throws and reads so far this spring. They asked Napier about his level of concern with his quarterbacks after the team’s second scrimmage this spring and he didn’t seem overly concerned and pointed to other positions around the quarterbacks.

“Overall, I didn’t think it was bad,” Napier said of the passing game in the second scrimmage. “Sometimes we evaluate the quarterback and if the ball’s moving and we’re scoring we think the quarterback’s doing great. But in reality a lot of times, quarterback play is dependent on the players around him.”

This makes sense considering the question marks about the Gators receiving corps. They can rely on [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag], [autotag]Trent Whittemore[/autotag] and [autotag]Xzavier Henderson[/autotag] but need other receivers to emerge.

Napier said they need other wideouts to step up, so they can have reliable depth. He added that this applies to the rest of the team, too.

“I think the team as a whole lacks depth,” he said. “We need more players as a whole that do their job consistently and play winning football. The receiver position is much like every position on the team. We have a good group of ones and a couple twos we can put in the game, but after that we have to prove more.”

However, the running back group has been a bright spot for the Gators and Napier. Louisana transfer [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Lorenzo Lingard[/autotag] have had a strong spring. The offensive line is now starting to win up front more than they did earlier this spring.

Life should become much easier for the quarterback if Florida can find some more playmakers at receiver.

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