Richie Leonard IV – Syndication Server

Where The Athletic ranks Florida football among in-state FBS programs

Florida finds itself in the middle of the pack among in-state FBS competition ahead of the 2024 season.

The Sunshine State has long been one of the epicenters of college football but in recent years, the in-state programs have not been quite as impressive as in years past.

Nonetheless, Florida boasts a robust rotation of seven Football Bowl Subdivision schools traditionally headlined by the Florida Gators, Florida State Seminoles and Miami Hurricanes. However, the collegiate gridiron landscape is in constant flux and this triumvirate of teams does not have the stranglehold it once held over the rest of the state.

The Athletic’s Manny Navarro took a look at the seven Florida FBS programs and ranked them from best to worst ahead of the 2024 campaign. FSU came out on top, while Miami is right on its tail followed by the UCF Knights.

In fourth lands the Gators, who have posted three-straight losing seasons and missed out on a bowl game last winter for the first time since 2017.

“Billy Napier faces an incredibly tough schedule, and his program is reeling after five consecutive losses to end the 2023 campaign,” Navarro notes.

“The Gators lost eight quality players via the portal: running back [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] (Georgia), left guard [autotag]Richie Leonard IV[/autotag] (Florida State), right guard [autotag]Micah Mazzccua[/autotag] (Nebraska), edge rusher [autotag]Princely Umanmielen[/autotag] (Ole Miss), outside linebacker [autotag]Scooby Williams[/autotag] (Texas A&M), cornerback [autotag]Jalen Kimber[/autotag] (Penn State) and safeties [autotag]Jaydon Hill[/autotag] (Texas A&M) and [autotag]Miguel Mitchell[/autotag] (Arkansas).

“Florida, though, did add the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year in defensive lineman [autotag]Joey Slackman[/autotag], a quality veteran safety in [autotag]Asa Turner[/autotag] from Washington and beefed up at receiver with Arizona State’s [autotag]Elijhah Badger[/autotag],” he continued.

“Getting back to a bowl game is going to come down to whether or not the offensive and defensive lines have improved. Right now, it’s fair to be skeptical.”

Navarro lists the passing game and experience in the secondary as the Gators’ strengths while pointing to the run defense and the pass rush coaching as their Achilles heels. He also noted four key games on Florida’s schedule: vs Miami, at the Tennessee Volunteers, vs the Georgia Bulldogs, at the Texas Longhorns, at FSU.

Florida’s 2024 season opener

Florida opens up its 2024 regular-season schedule in the Swamp against the Hurricanes on Aug. 31. Kickoff time is slated for 3:30 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on ABC Sports.

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8 transfer portal entrants Alabama could pursue

Alabama has struck gold multiple times by landing stars from the transfer portal. Here are eight names currently in the portal to keep an eye on!

The transfer portal season is upon us. There are players and coaches exiting programs left and right for better situations. The decisions made by these players are done in their own best interest, regardless of how fans online feel about it.

Oftentimes, Alabama lands transfers who are looking to make it to the next level. In the past, the Crimson Tide have helped develop transfers like Tyler Steen, Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Landon Dickerson. All of them have gone on to the NFL and are currently on active rosters.

Whatever the case may be, Alabama has done an exemplary job of recruiting players in the transfer portal.

Roll Tide Wire takes a closer look at eight transfer portal entrants that Alabama could look to pursue.

Florida’s graduate offensive lineman declares for transfer portal

Friday morning saw this long-time Gators offensive lineman seeking greener pastures through the portal.

The college football transfer portal may have already closed for undergraduates, but for players with eligibility remaining after walking with their diplomas, one can enter their name whenever they please.

Starting offensive lineman [autotag]Richie Leonard IV[/autotag] is another member of Florida’s 2023 roster who has entered the transfer portal, according to an announcement he made on Twitter.

“I would like to thank the University of Florida for my time there,” Leonard wrote on social media. “Glad I can say I am an alumnus of this great institution. With that being said I am entering my name in the transfer portal as a grad transfer.”

The 6-foot-2-inch, 310-pounder from Cocoa, Florida, started at left guard in all 12 games for the Gators this past season, recording a team-high 755 snaps on the offensive line. He also appeared in 11 games for the Gators in 2022, which included a solitary start against the LSU Tigers.

In 2021, Leonard started in one of the eight games he appeared in — his first collegiate start against the Missouri Tigers — as part of a line that only allowed 14 sacks (1.08 per game), tying for the seventh-lowest in FBS and second in the SEC. He saw no playing time in 2020 and took a redshirt as a result, though he was named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.

Leonard’s departure represents the 20th member of the 2023 roster to exit through the transfer portal. He is also the second offensive lineman who left via the portal behind Micah Mazzccua; Kingsley Eguakun also opened up a spot when he chose to enter the NFL draft.

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2023 Florida Football Position Preview: Offensive Line (Guards/Centers)

The interior of Florida’s offensive line will feature a ton of new faces in 2023, but Kingsley Eguakun is still there holding things down in the center.

The lone returning starter on the offensive line at Florida this season will be center Kingsley Eguakun. However, Billy Napier still has to replace both starting guards in 2023 after losing O’Cyrus Torrence to the NFL and Ethan White to the transfer portal.

Naturally, Billy Napier hit the portal himself to find some experienced talent to fill out the interior of his offensive line. There’s bound to be some dropoff from last year’s line that only allowed 13 sacks during the regular season and helped rushers average 5.8 yards per carry, though.

Napier will also use some of the team’s homegrown talent, and some freshmen are also starting to make a name for themselves. Of course, it takes more than five linemen to get through a game, so plenty of the backups should see action.

Here’s a look at every center and guard on Florida’s 2023 fall roster.

Depth Chart: Florida OL O’Cyrus Torrence ready to return against Georgia

Florida’s weekly depth chart is out, and it looks like right guard O’Cyrus Torrence will be back on the field against Georgia.

The Florida Gators will welcome back their right guard [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag] on Saturday when they take on the Georgia Bulldogs.

UF released its weekly depth chart on Wednesday, and Torrence is no longer listed on the injury report with the lower-body issue that kept him out of the LSU game. He tried to play against the Tigers but didn’t feel well enough during pre-game warmups to take the field. Getting him back will provide a massive boost to Florida’s running game against what might be the best defense in the country.

That’s not the only change in the offensive line rotation. [autotag]Josh Braun[/autotag] is no longer with the team after announcing his intentions to enter the transfer portal in December upon graduating from UF. [autotag]Richie Leonard IV[/autotag], who was already ahead of Braun in the rotation, is now listed as the team’s backup at both guard positions.

#Gators week 9 depth chart vs. Georgia pic.twitter.com/vEgf3DA5B6

— Graham Hall (@GrahamHall_) October 26, 2022

The defensive unit remained mostly untouched through the bye week. JACK linebacker [autotag]Lloyd Summerall III[/autotag] is questionable with an upper-body injury, but he’s still listed as Florida’s third-string option behind [autotag]Brenton Cox Jr[/autotag]. and [autotag]Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr[/autotag].

Linebacker [autotag]Diwun Black[/autotag] is still on the injury list with a lower-body issue. He missed Florida’s game against LSU and should be out against Georgia. True freshman cornerback [autotag]Devin Moore[/autotag] is also unlikely to play after missing the past two games.

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Florida OL Josh Braun expected to hit transfer portal

After seeing a major decrease in playing time under the new staff, Florida offensive lineman Josh Braun is shutting things down and waiting for the transferring portal in December.

After seeing a dramatic decrease in playing time following the coaching staff change at Florida, sophomore offensive lineman [autotag]Josh Braun[/autotag] is planning on transferring from the university, according to a report from Swamp247’s Graham Hall.

Braun won’t enter the portal until Dec. 5 due to the NCAA’s transfer regulations, but his time with the Gators has come to an end. The decision is hardly surprising considering the way Braun’s playing time has trended this year. After being on the field for 639 snaps as a sophomore, Braun has been a part of Billy Napier’s offense for just 24 plays through seven games.

But how does a part-time starter fall off so heavily? [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag]’s transfer to UF has a lot to do with it. Napier brought Torrence over from Louisiana, and he’s been among the best interior offensive lineman in the country all season. Braun had a chance to win the backup spot at right guard, but [autotag]Richie Leonard IV[/autotag] has been Florida’s man whenever one of the guards needs a breather.

Gators Online spoke with Braun’s father, Mike, and confirmed Hall’s report. With only having played in two games this season, Braun can use a redshirt and retain a year of eligibility.

“Josh had to make a decision about his future,” Mike Braun said. “He felt like he had to preserve his redshirt and enter the portal when it opens. He left the team.”

In the end, this move is what’s best for Braun’s career. He’s shown flashes of promise as a young lineman in the SEC and could help hold down a line for a team with more openings. Braun’s work at Florida isn’t exactly finished either. He is working on graduating from the university with his bachelor’s degree before he moves on, according to Hall’s report.

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Florida G O’Cyrus Torrence listed on injury report ahead of LSU game

Florida might be without its best offensive lineman on Saturday. Here’s what Billy Napier had to say about O’Cyrus Torrence being listed as questionable:

Offensive guard [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag] is questionable for Florida’s upcoming game against the LSU Tigers, according to the Gators’ Week 7 depth chart.

Losing Torrence for any length of time would impact Florida’s offense significantly. Pro Football Focus ranks him as the No. 1 guard in all of college football and he’s anchored the right side of Florida’s line for all six games this year. Florida’s running game might not see the same success if he can’t go on Saturday.

Head coach Billy Napier fielded questions from the media during his weekly availability Wednesday night and was optimistic that Torrence would play despite his inclusion on the injury report.

“I think we’ll be okay,” Napier said when asked about Torrence’s injury. “We’re just telling you the truth. He’s a guy who hasn’t participated 100% in practice, and we’ll make some decisions over the next couple days.”

#Gators depth chart vs. #LSU.

O’Cyrus Torrence listed as questionable for the first time this season. pic.twitter.com/prTya75OqY

— Graham Hall (@GrahamHall_) October 12, 2022

If Torrence can’t go, Florida will go with [autotag]Richie Leonard IV[/autotag] at right guard and have Jalen Farmer as a backup. UF listed Leonard as the backup left guard last week, so Torrence is clearly banged up enough for the team to make some changes to the rotation in case they are actually without him,

The good news in the trenches is that [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag] is off the injury report and listed as “OR” option at right tackle with [autotag]Austin Barber[/autotag], who has earned a shot to keep the starting job over the last few weeks. PFF says Barber is a top-20 tackle in the Power Five right now, but Tarquin has the better pass-blocking grade.

Torrence could end up being a game-time decision on Saturday, but he’s not the kind of player to take a game off unless he’s forced to. He’s playing himself into a first-round grade, so staying healthy is important.

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2022 Florida Football Season Preview: Offensive Line

Florida’s offensive line was fairly strong in 2021. Returning three starters and adding a preseason AP All-American should help the unit build on what it accomplished last year.

The last group on offense left to go through in Gators Wire’s position-by-position breakdown of the 2022 Florida football roster is the offensive line.

Twenty-two players deep, the offensive line is the biggest group on the list, but [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] has recently said that the team only has around eight players in the position room ready for gameday action. The starting unit seems fairly well-defined as fall camp comes to a close, and there are a few rotational pieces that should lighten the load on those starters.

Guard [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag] was the big addition to the room via the transfer portal, and UF is returning three starters to the line. Last year’s unit was quite strong, allowing just 14 sacks, finishing seventh in college football in average sacks allowed per game and finishing 23rd in team rushing yards per game. If the returning players can build on the SEC experience they’ve gained over the years, and Torrence can live up to his preseason All-American status, then Florida should be in for another strong year up front.

Here’s a look at all 22 offensive linemen on the Gators’ 2022 fall football roster.