Tag: Ty’Ron Hopper

5 things to watch for in Florida’s Week 6 matchup with Missouri

Florida is still looking for its first conference win of the year. Will it come against Missouri on Saturday?

In 2021, Florida’s overtime loss to Missouri signaled the end of Dan Mullen’s tenure as the head coach of the football program. Billy Napier is hoping for better results in his first go against the Tigers and to claim his first SEC win.

After falling to Kentucky and Tennessee, Florida needs to win out to even have a shot at the SEC East title. Beating Eastern Washington wasn’t enough to convince the rest of the college football world that the Gators are capable of making such a run, but a convincing win over a Missouri team that just tested Georgia might earn the team some love.

UF enters the weekend as an 11.5-point favorite. The offense has been hot and Napier’s adjustments to the defense seem to be working slowly but surely. This will be a good test for the defensive unit as Missouri’s offense lacks a superstar presence compared to the success it saw with Tyler Badie at running back last year.

If Florida can cover the spread and then some, the Gators could end up back in the top 25. Here’s what to watch for when Florida takes on Missouri on Saturday.

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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Here’s where former Gators LB Ty’Ron Hopper is transferring to

Linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper was expected to be a major part of Florida’s defense next year, but Billy Napier will now have to scheme against him in 2022.

Linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper is leaving the University of Florida for another SEC East program. He’ll play for the Missouri Tigers moving forward, according to On3’s Matt Zenitz.

Hopper’s name was reentered into the transfer portal on Monday after a short and strange stint in it the week before. The rising redshirt junior never intended to take his name out of the portal initially, according to his uncle, who claims the removal was done without permission.

Missouri was an early favorite to land the former Gator along with Auburn. The Tigers that wear black and gold came out on top and expect Hopper to arrive on campus in the coming days.

Hopper was expected to be a major player on Florida’s defense in 2022 after a breakout season. Mohamoud Diabate also left via the transfer portal, leaving a spot for Hopper alongside sixth-year senior Ventrell Miller. Instead, he’ll be joining his cousin, Tyrone Hopper, in Missouri.

The Gators will likely look to rising redshirt sophomore Derek Wingo to step up in the linebacker rotation behind Miller. David Reese and Diwun Black offer some depth at the position, and Napier signed four-star Shemar James as part of the most recent recruiting class.

In 2021, Hopper totaled 65 tackles (34 solo), 10 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two pass deflections and a forced fumble. Missouri will be in Gainesville next season on Oct. 8 to face Florida.

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Report: Florida linebacker enters transfer portal once again

It looked like Ty’Ron Hopper had changed his mind, but the Florida linebacker reentered the transfer portal on Monday.

For the second time in five days, Florida linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper is entering his name into the transfer portal, according to Gators Online.

Hopper made news last Thursday by spending just over an hour in the portal before removing his name. Whatever led him to withdraw didn’t stick, and it appears that he’s prepared to move on from Florida with his reentry on Monday.

Auburn is the early favorite to land Hopper, especially after former Gators coach Christian Robinson landed with the Tigers. Missouri is another potential destination with his cousin Tyrone recently transferring there.

Losing Hopper is a major blow to Billy Napier‘s defense in 2022. He established himself as one of the team’s best playmakers this season and was expected to be a starter alongside Ventrell Miller, who is returning for his sixth year after suffering a torn bicep in 2021. Mohamoud Diabate already transferred to Utah, so Florida is left without much experience at linebacker without Hopper.

David Reese and Derek Wingo are next up on the depth chart, but younger players such as Chief Borders or Jeremiah “Scooby” Williams could get a shot at some more playing time as well. There’s also incoming freshman Shemar James, who wouldn’t flinch at the idea of playing regularly in his first year.

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Florida linebacker enters transfer portal, withdraws shortly after

Ty’Ron Hopper entered the transfer portal on Thursday but changed his mind just an hour later.

The Gators’ defense got some bad news on Thursday, as redshirt sophomore linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper, who started four games in 2021 and was expected to play a major role on defense, entered the transfer portal. The news was first reported by On3’s Matt Zenitz.

However, just 69 minutes after reporting that Hopper intended to transfer, Zenitz followed up to say that Hopper had since quickly withdrawn his name from the transfer portal, seemingly indicating that he intends to stay at Florida. Players are permitted to enter and withdraw from the portal without consequence, though programs are not required to maintain a player’s scholarship once they enter the portal.

Hopper saw significant action this season due to depth issues at linebacker after the team lost starter Ventrell Miller for the season. Hopper finished the year with 65 tackles (10 for loss), 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble, and he is expected to start alongside Miller, who decided to return for a sixth year, in 2022.

It was certainly a strange saga for Florida fans, but it seems like crisis has been averted and Hopper intends to stick around, at least for the time being.

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