GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The transfer portal is open and that means players on the move. Two Gators dipped their toes into those waters this week.
Meanwhile, a more famous Gator is back in the pool which has the swimming world abuzz.
Of course, with the NFL Draft next week, Gators quarterback
Anthony Richardson continues to make headlines beyond the usual places, but he had company this week from UF slugger
Jac Caglianone.
Those stories and more if, like me, you have some catching up to do on what's happening of interest with Gators of the past, present and future.
POWELL-RYLAND JR. EXITS
In his three seasons at Florida, edge rusher
Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr. changed his last name — he added a hyphen and Ryland Jr. following his first two seasons — and became a regular contributor on a defense that is in no danger of being mentioned among UF's best. Powell-Ryland Jr. had 29 tackles last season, tied with cornerback
Jason Marshall Jr. for 10th on the team, and started the last five games, offering signs that he would be a regular in the lineup in 2023. However, Powell-Ryland Jr. was noticeably absent from the Orange & Blue Game participation chart and he announced Friday that he planned to enter the transfer portal. Powell-Ryland Jr. battled
Princely Umanmielen for reps in spring camp under first-year defensive coordinator
Austin Armstrong. However, in camp sophomore
Jack Pyburn and true freshman
T.J. Searcy emerged, and equipped with more size than the 6-foot-2.5, 233-pound Powell-Ryland Jr., his place on the depth chart heading into the fall was in jeopardy. Maybe Powell-Ryland Jr. finds a better situation at his next destination. He represented himself and the Gators well, and from my interactions with him, came across as a bright young man trying to make a name for himself in the game. Good luck to Antwaun.
CONNER UPDATE
Since transfer portal season is upon us once again, and while I was in Fort Worth covering the UF gymnastic team's bid for a national championship, Gators offensive lineman
David Conner departed the team and later announced his plans to enter the portal. The 6-foot-5.25, 301-pound Conner signed with the Gators in 2022 out of Deerfield Beach High following a move from Atlanta. Conner did not appear in a game last season and tried to climb his way up the depth chart in spring camp before leaving the team prior to the spring game. Conner remains largely an unknown at this point in his career, but he should have an opportunity to continue his career at another school with his large frame, always an attention grabber for O-Line recruiters.
FOOTBALL HEADLINES
Here are a few Gators football links if you took a break from football following the Orange & Blue Game:
FROM RAGS TO CAGS
Gators two-way standout
Jac Caglianone made headlines beyond the norm this week for his robotic non-celebration of his grand slam in Sunday's win over Georgia. Some are calling Caglianone the most dangerous hitter not in the big leagues right now. Former big leaguer
Todd Walker breaks down Caglianone, who slugged his NCAA-leading 23rd homer Friday at South Carolina, on the
SEC Network:
TRINITY TRIBUTE
Gymnast
Trinity Thomas thrilled Gators fans the last five seasons and capped her brilliant career in the NCAA Championships with the 28th perfect score of her collegiate career, tying the NCAA record. Thomas is from York, Pa., and her hometown newspaper paid tribute in this column by
Thomas Kendziora:
EXCELLENT ENTRANCE
Former Gators lefty
A.J. Puk is off to a good start with the Florida Marlins after a trade from Oakland. Puk's intro from the bullpen as the Marlins closer is gaining popularity with Fish fans. If you haven't seen it, here you go:
RICHARDSON REVIEW
The NFL Draft is next week and Gators quarterback
Anthony Richardson, perhaps the most talked and written about player in the draft, continues to garner national attention. Here is the latest on Richardson from
Andrea Adelson of
ESPN.com:
CAELEB CALL
Former Gators champion swimmer and Olympian
Caeleb Dressel caused a splash (pardon the pun) by returning to the UF pool following an extended break. Dressel posted videos of him in the pool to Instagram, which caused the swimming media to immediately post stories,
such as this one from
SwimSwam.com. Here is Dressel's video:
