Linebacker Derek Wingo, No. 15, and receiver Chimere Dike, No. 17, represent two ends of the spectrum in the modern-day Senior Day experience. (Photo: Jordan Perez/UAA Communications)
Amidst Ever-Evolving College Football Landscape, Senior Day Still Burns Through
Thursday, November 21, 2024 | Football
Share:
By: Noah White, FloridaGators.com Student Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The college experiences of student-athletes can be tedious and draining. For years, young men and women endure 6 a.m. lifts, late-evening film sessions and sprints across campus to class. They tolerate all of that for the opportunity to play the sport they love.
Despite the countless days of work, every competitor's college career ends. When that happens, they experience their concluding celebration: Senior Day. That moment comes Saturday, as 21 Gators will participate in Senior Day ceremonies before facing No. 9 Ole Miss.
While college football has undergone a metamorphosis, Senior Day has also transformed. Many players Florida will celebrate on Saturday have seen time at multiple schools. Transfers litter UF's roster, with many having been in college beyond four years.
Fifteen years ago, a coach would have suffered a stroke if they heard that, but now, that is the state of the land they navigate.
Since the launch of the transfer portal in 2018, student-athletes have utilized it more each year for various reasons. Over its six seasons of operation, the number of players blipping in and out of the portal has more than doubled to over 3,700 in 2023, the most recent year of NCAA data. That's become notable for college coaches, especially in the schedule they follow when developing their teams.
"The process of acquiring a player has significantly changed every six months since I've been at Florida," Florida head coach Billy Napier said. "And then the retention of players has changed, that process is significantly different."
Napier added that he spends time every week during the season scouting potential transfers — it's just something to balance as a coach in 2024.
In his third season, Napier has enticed several transfers to UF in his first few seasons and will see a group of notable ones move on after just one season. Receiver Chimere Dike, offensive lineman Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson and defensive back Trikweze Bridges are among the most recognizable, each arriving in Gainesville this past spring seeking a change.
Offensive lineman Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, after five seasons at San Diego State, transferred to UF and found a home in his final season. (Photo: Jordan Perez/UAA Communications)
Crenshaw-Dickson and Bridges have both contributed in their first season with Florida. Having seen significant time for three years at their previous colleges, San Diego State and Oregon, respectively, Crenshaw-Dickson has started every contest this year, while Bridges has tallied 30 tackles over the last four games.
Meanwhile, a four-year contributor at Wisconsin, Dike followed his former quarterback Graham Mertz to UF a year after Mertz left Madison. Dike has thrived in the new environment during his final college season, leading the Gators in receptions.
"Even though it was only a year, this place has forever impacted my life," Dike said. "I'm proud to be a Gator. This is a place I'll cherish regardless."
The trio is a good representation of the Senior Day transformation of the 2020s. Each played most of his college career at another school, yet they'll always be tethered to the University of Florida. Other transfers with differing experiences will jog onto Steve Spurrier-Florida Field alongside Dike, Bridges and Crenshaw-Dickson on Saturday.
What ties them together is their conclusion with the Gators.
"I feel like it's a crazy tradition down here,'' said Crenshaw-Dickson, who is from Inglewood, Calif. "I'm definitely coming back to Florida [after my playing career]."
Rotating from college to college may be a more common experience than in the past, but some players still fit the old mold. At UF, one comes to mind immediately: Derek Wingo.
While players move in and out of programs, Wingo has remained a Florida man through and through. As a Florida Gatorade Player of the Year in high school, the Fort Lauderdale native committed to the Gators in 2019 and never looked back.
Five years later, his influence is noticeable throughout the UF roster.
"My teammates can look to me to be able to give them motivation and just go after and compete every day because I know at the end of the day it's going to make you better," Wingo said.
Wingo is completing his fifth year at UF after arriving as a four-star recruit, representing an abnormality in modern college football. His career may not have played out exactly as anticipated, but he didn't turn to a different school when facing challenges getting playing time. Wingo stuck it out, developing into a notable leadership figure. His effect has transcended what he does on the field. Teammates and coaches recognize Wingo as an uplifting presence, always looking to help his teammates in whatever way he can.
Senior Day is a time to celebrate student-athletes' careers — it just happens that their careers are changing. That doesn't mean their impact deserves any less praise. While Florida will see transfers and longtime faces jog onto the field, Napier will meet them all with open arms.
"We got some special ones in this group, some guys that I think have shown outstanding leadership," Napier said. "You'll spend a little more time thinking about each one of those individual players."
With college sports shifting, Senior Day is a pedestal for the changes occurring, but more importantly, it's the curtain call for some of UF's stars. Each player will say goodbye to a slice of their life.
"I'm excited, and I think I've played enough college football for everyone," Dike quipped. "I'm ready for the next step. I'm definitely going to cherish this one Saturday."
Billy Gonzales Media Availability 11-5-25Billy Gonzales Media Availability 11-5-25
Wednesday, November 05
Play Breakdown with Billy Gonzales presented by Tower Hill Insurance 11-5-25Play Breakdown with Billy Gonzales presented by Tower Hill Insurance 11-5-25
Wednesday, November 05
Gator Insider presented by Talon Wealth (November 4, 2025)Gator Insider presented by Talon Wealth (November 4, 2025)
Tuesday, November 04
Gator Insider presented by Talon Wealth 11-4-25Gator Insider presented by Talon Wealth 11-4-25
