GAINESVILLE, Fla. — At the end of a fruitful Early Signing Day last week,
Billy Napier prioritized his immediate schedule as the Gators took time away from the field before returning to practice Monday.
No. 3 – An exhaustive review of Florida's season and identify areas to improve.
No. 2 – Prepare for the Gasparilla Bowl against Tulane.
No. 1 – Start the process of player retention as the transfer portal opens.
"We'll start dialogue with our current players,'' Napier said near the end of his ESD press conference.
For the most part, that process had gone smoothly — at least in public view — until junior edge rusher
Jack Pyburn's announcement Tuesday that he was entering the transfer portal.
Pyburn developed into a solid contributor for the Gators in 2024, and one could make a case that the 6-foot-3, 265-pound lineman deserves consideration as the defensive MVP. Pyburn finished the regular season second on the team with 60 tackles, contributed four tackles-for-loss and a sack. But Pyburn offered more than stats. His hair-on-fire playing style and toughness added a much-needed edge to Florida's defense.
The Gators improved as a unit once Pyburn moved into the starting lineup in the fifth game of the season. His energy seemed contagious, and his play often funneled the action to his teammates to make plays. An under-recruited prospect out of The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Pyburn has taken advantage of his opportunity at Florida and in many ways is the ideal candidate to test his value in the transfer-portal market. He went from a no-name to a fan favorite.
Still, Pyburn's decision caught most Gators fans by surprise considering his family connections to UF (both is parents are UF grads) and his outspoken love for the Gators. He grew up dreaming of playing at Florida and after committing to Minnesota originally, accepted an offer from the Gators in Napier's first recruiting class.
He returned this season from a season-ending knee injury in 2023.
"It wouldn't be possible without this great university and the people that have stayed with me this entire time, and pushed me to be the best version of myself and come back at a high level,'' Pyburn said the week of the Florida-Georgia game. "I am so thankful just for the opportunity to be back in a position where I can play the game that I love and do what I love most in the world."
For those counting at home, Pyburn joined WR
Andy Jean, DL
Justus Boone, DL
Quincy Ivory, OL
Mike Williams, DB
Ja'Keem Jackson, DL
Kelby Collins, OL
Christian Williams, TE
Arlis Boardingham and LB
Deuce Spurlock II as UF scholarship players reportedly in the portal. The portal opened Monday and is available for entry through Dec. 28.
While Pyburn's announcement tops recent Gators headlines, here are other items of interests to Florida fans:
The Gators volleyball team arrived in Louisville on Tuesday night for their Sweet 16 matchup on Thursday against Stanford at historic Freedom Hall …
In searching for information on Stanford, I came across one of the best sports stories I have read recently on Cardinal setter
Kami Miner and her father,
Harold Miner, a former NBA player once dubbed "Baby Jordan" …
Former Gators swimmer and Olympic standout
Caeleb Dressel received a key to the city of Jacksonville, and over the weekend,
was part of a homecoming parade in Clay County, writes
Don Coble of
Clay Today …
The MLB winter meetings are underway and former Gators slugger
Pete Alonso is a popular topic. Alonso is a free agent and after the Mets signed
Juan Soto, his future in New York remains unclear. His agent
Scott Boras discusses the latest …
The Gators finished the regular season 7-5 and in the top 10 of one important poll: The Nielson ratings. Here is a look at where Florida stacked up in 2024 via
Nick de la Torre of Florida Victorious …
I was a bit surprised Gators C
Jake Slaughter did not make one of the three All-SEC teams released Tuesday. Slaughter was Florida's most consistent offensive lineman from start to finish.
Pro Football Focus recognized Slaughter's play …
This is a non-Gators item with a personal interest. Best wishes to Baseball Hall of Famer
Ryne Sandberg, who is battling cancer once again. Sandberg was one of my favorite players growing up in the 1980s, so when I tagged along with Tampa's
Wade Boggs and his wife, Debbie, to New York in January 2005 for a HOF media blitz, I was thrilled to learn that Sandberg would be part of the festivities once we got to New York. Boggs and Sandberg were inducted into the Hall of Fame together in the summer of 2005. Sandberg was exactly as expected, as classy a person off the field as great player on it. He was truly honored to be enshrined in Cooperstown, and that cold January day in the Big Apple remains one of my most-cherished memories in this career. We're pulling for you Ryno! ...
