Florida's 2025 Transfer Class: UF fills key needs with 5 portal additions
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida Gators coach Billy Napier and his staff signed a total of five players from the portal in UF’s 2025 class, including a pair of top 300 transfers and one ranked just outside of the top 100.
The Gators met some of their biggest needs with the handful of transfers they added. The team’s positions of priority in the portal were wide receiver, quarterback, EDGE, defensive back, and punter.
Florida addressed those spots with the signing of UCLA wide receiver J.Michael Sturdivant, Louisville quarterback Harrison Bailey, UMass EDGE Kofi Asare, Southern Miss cornerback transfer Michael Caraway Jr. and Michigan punter Tommy Doman.
UF landed Bailey late in the cycle after releasing transfer quarterback signee Deshawn Purdie, who went to Wake Forest instead. Given the timing, Florida was fortunate to find a signal caller as experienced as Bailey. He has started at Tennessee and Louisville.
“We were looking for another quarterback, and I think we went down a lot of rabbit holes there, but I think we landed in a good spot,” Napier said of Bailey, who was named the 2024 Sun Bowl MVP after throwing for three touchdowns in the Cardinals’ 35-34 win over Washington.
“We got a punter. We were able to get an edge player, a corner, really a DB and then I think J.Michael can play a lot of spots.”
RELATED: Harrison Bailey’s Journey: From top recruit to veteran leader
Florida Gators sign two top 300 transfers
Sturdivant is the highest-rated transfer in UF’s class at No. 109 nationally in the On3 Industry player rankings. Caraway is also ranked in the top 300 at No. 277 overall.
“I’m excited about J.Michael. I think he’s got a chance to bring some things to the table there,” Napier said. “Mike Caraway is a traitsy player from Southern Miss out of the portal, height, length speed and production there.”
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EDGE became a need for the Gators after their top two outside linebackers transferred. They turned to the portal for Asare, who made 30 tackles and three sacks last season at UMass and played against Georgia, Missouri and Mississippi State.
“Kofi’s off to a great start,” Napier said. “He’s added probably 12 to 15 pounds, played really good against the three SEC teams. He’s 6-4 ¾, he’s 85-inch wing(span), a lot of length there. And then just really good movements.
“Good athlete, can play in space. He’ll have some special teams value. We got him for two years. So Gumbs-ish, a little bit different. But I like him so far. He’s brought a lot. He’s a worker.”
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