Florida Gators EDGE Princely Umanmielen enters transfer portal
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida junior EDGE rusher Princely Umanmielen is entering the transfer portal. Umanmielen announced his decision on Wednesday.
“I want to start off by thanking God, because without the Lord I wouldn’t be in the position I am in today. I would like to thank Coach Mullen for the opportunity of being a Gator, and Coach Napier for embracing me when he came in as the new HC. I want to thank all of my teammates that I’ve went through battles with throughout the years and I would also like to thank my coaches that have supported me. Lastly, I would like to thank the Gator fans that have supported me throughout my career as a Gator.”
“After a lot of thought, prayers, and conversations, I would like to state that I will be returning to college football, but I will be entering my name in the transfer portal. We all must do what is best for us and I think this is what is best for me at the time. Thank you, Gator Nation. #Gator 4L”
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Umanmielen was named to the 2023 USA Today Sports Network All-SEC Team as one of four defensive linemen. The 2023 All-SEC team was determined by the beat writers who cover the Southeastern Conference for the USA Today Sports Network. Umanmielen started all 12 games this season, leading the team with career-high tackles-for-loss (11.5), sacks (7.0), quarterback hurries (17) and tied his career high in tackles (39).
According to Pro Football Focus, Umanmielen is the highest graded Gator defensive player that has played more than ten snaps. He is also the tenth highest graded EDGE defender in the SEC (77.0) while being the second highest graded EDGE defender in the conference when it comes to pass rush grade (88.9).
Umanmielen’s most impressive performance of the season came against Arkansas on November 4, when the Manor, Texas native totaled two and a half sacks for negative 13 yards and six tackles (three solo). The Gators premier pass rusher collected at least one sack in five of the Gators 12 games this season: McNeese, Charlotte, South Carolina, Arkansas and Missouri. The junior also collected his single-game career high in tackles during the 2023 campaign as he registered nine against No. 1 Georgia on October 28.
RELATED: Transfer portal tracker: Florida Gators football 2023 roster updates
The Gators will return Kelby Collins, TJ Searcy, Justus Boone, Kamran James, Quincy Ivory and Jack Pyburn (who injured his knee against Arkansas) to fill the void left by Umanmielen.
