Former Florida linebacker will transfer to Utah

Florida linebacker Mohamoud Diabate will transfer to Utah for his senior season, according to On3’s Nick de la Torre. Florida and Utah will play in Week One of the 2022 season in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Mohamoud Diabate appeared in all 12 games during the regular season for Florida, making 10 starts at middle linebacker. He finished second on the team with 89 tackles and added four quarterback hurries and 2.5 tackles for a loss. The Auburn, Alabama native then entered the transfer portal on Dec. 10, continuing to consider Florida an option under new head coach Billy Napier.

On the Stadium and Gale podcast, the new Utah linebacker said he looked to make a business decision. He came to Florida as an edge rusher but spent much of his career playing middle linebacker. Last year, when Ventrell Miller went down with a season-ending injury, he moved inside permanently. Diabate said that he views his strengths as a pass rusher off the edge and wanted the opportunity to play in that role in 2022.

He joins former Florida teammates Jacob Copeland, Khris Bogle and Gerald Mincy as players who chose to leave the program, while Lloyd Summerall and Dante Zanders chose to return to Gainesville.

Florida adds outside linebacker coach

The Florida Gators are still working to fill out their staff for the upcoming season. After former head coach Dan Mullen was let go prior to the team’s final game, there has been plenty of turnover throughout the program’s staff; which has led to questioning and concern from some Gator fans. But according to On3’s Matt Zenitz, the Gators are adding a former legendary player and NFL stand-out to their coaching staff.

Former Florida linebacker Mike Peterson will now join his alma mater as the outside linebackers coach, per sources, according to Zenitz. He was previously working for an SEC rival, the South Carolina Gamecocks but has now elected to come back to the place that he once called home in Florida.

Peterson played linebacker for the Florida Gators from 1995-98 under legendary head coach Steve Spurrier. Peterson was a member of the Gators national championship team in 1996 and was inducted into the university’s athletic Hall of Fame back in 2011.

While Mohamoud Diabate’s departure to Utah leaves the position group without one possible option, the return of Brenton Cox offers an elite option for Florida under Peterson. The Gators have also continued recruiting class of 2022 four-star linebacker TJ Dudley, who has played inside and on the edge.