Carter's Corner: Powell-Ryland Jr. Announces Plans, Breaking Down Cags, Dressel Makes a Splash, More Gators Tidbits

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.

I will be entering the transfer portal.🙏🏾
— Antwaun Powell (@TwaunPowell) April 21, 2023

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.

READY!!!
David Conner aka #BigDave
#57#GoGators 🐊💙🧡 pic.twitter.com/yyyXpLYpdg
— Gillian R. Butts Jones (@G_ButtsConner) March 28, 2023

FOOTBALL HEADLINES

Here are a few Gators football links if you took a break from football following the Orange & Blue Game:

Gators head coach Billy Napier addresses whether more players could enter the transfer portal before the April 30 spring deadline writes Zach Abolverdi of On3.com.
Florida Victorious, the Gators' new name, image and likeness (NIL) group, has UF athletic director Scott Stricklin and Napier confident in the organization's ability to help UF in the NIL space writes Matt Baker of TampaBay.com.
Former Gators offensive lineman Ethan White, who started 20 games at UF the past two seasons, is no longer set to join USC writes the Los Angeles Times:

Offensive lineman Ethan White was expected to join USC from Florida this summer with one season to play as a graduate transfer. But an injury has left White "reevaluating if he's going to play football further," according to Trojans coach Lincoln Riley.https://t.co/c0Fm0sR0Cm
— L.A. Times Sports (@latimessports) April 20, 2023

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:

York's Trinity Thomas (@Gym_Trin) matched the NCAA gymnastics career record for perfect 10s at the national championships over the weekend.

That record is simply the exclamation point on a uniquely brilliant college career. @GatorsGym @YorkDispatch https://t.co/ISdb2EU1ng
— YDSports (@YDSports) April 17, 2023

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:

A.J. Puk enters in a save situation to the tune of "Intro" by DMX and light show to boot.#Marlins https://t.co/uGGLaKiP9w pic.twitter.com/bL05KALeiU
— Noah Berger🧩🚂 (@Trainboy100) April 19, 2023

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:

I spent time with Anthony Richardson for this NFL Draft profile. On his 'superhuman' feats, that time he thought about walking on to the UF basketball team, his love for backflips (and parkour!), and the perfectionism that makes him his own biggest critic https://t.co/1uaHbQ3oNd
— Andrea Adelson (@aadelsonESPN) April 21, 2023

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:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Caeleb Dressel (@caelebdressel)

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