Gators Add a Pair of Veterans in Transfers Carroll and Nunnery

Former Tulane running back Cameron Carroll, who has transferred to Florida, stiff arms an Ole Miss player during the 2021 season. (Photo: Marvin Gentry/USA TODAY Sports)

Gators Add a Pair of Veterans in Transfers Carroll and Nunnery

Monday, January 23, 2023 | Football, Scott Carter

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Based on an answer in a Q&A posted on his bio page on the Tulane football team's website, running back Cameron Carroll is arriving at UF at the perfect time.

The Gators officially announced the addition of Carroll on Monday afternoon.

A 6-foot, 225-pound running back, Carroll is a sixth-year senior transfer from Tulane, where he rushed for 1,638 yards and scored 19 touchdowns. Carroll appeared in only one game last season after suffering a leg injury in the Green Wave's season opener, but he rushed for 741 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2020, and 516 yards and three scores in 2021.

He joins a Gators backfield that lost Nay'Quan Wright and Lorenzo Lingard to the transfer portal, and gained true freshman Treyaun Webb on the early signing day. Carroll and Webb join Montrell Johnson Jr. and Trevor Etienne in the backfield.

As for that Q&A, Carroll was asked his favorite spot to hang out in New Orleans. His answer: the weight room.

The Gators opened the "foundation phase" of head coach Billy Napier's offseason program last week, which includes regular visits to the weight room in preparation for spring camp.

Carroll signed with Tulane out of Northwest Rankin (Miss.) High. He played in 40 games at Tulane and proved a capable receiver in 2021, catching 17 passes for 198 yards and three scores.

Be like Cameron.

Welcome to Gainesville, @cam__carroll! #GoGators | #D23AMTEAM pic.twitter.com/MZDTPwC1Lh
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) January 23, 2023

Soon after officially announcing that Carroll had joined the program, the Gators announced the signing of linebacker Mannie Nunnery, a transfer from the University of Houston.

Nunnery recorded 46 tackles for the Cougars last season, including eight stops in Houston's win last month over Louisiana in the Independence Bowl. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Nunnery had 81 stops in his four seasons at Houston, where he played most of his snaps on special teams prior to this season.

Nunnery, a native of Pearland, Texas, has two years of eligibility remaining.

Linebacker **Mannie Nunnery**, No. 14, makes one of his eight tackles in Houston's Independence Bowl win over Louisiana last month. (Photo: **Petre Thomas**/USA TODAY Sports)

"Mannie Nunnery is a freak," Houston team captain and fellow lineback Donavan Mutin told reporters prior to last season. "He's as elite as anyone I've ever seen athletically. Not football or any specific sport. He can do anything athletically and he can play ball at a really high level."

Nunnery's playmaking ability showed up on special teams, where in 2021, he led the country with two blocked punts and three blocked kicks. Nunnery earned National Special Teams Player of the Year Award for non-specialists. He signed with the Cougars out of Shadow Creek (Texas) High.

Be like Mannie.

Welcome to The Swamp, @nunnery1k! #GoGators | #D23AMTEAM pic.twitter.com/UILiBgoMaF
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) January 23, 2023