Most impactful portal opponents on the Florida Gators schedule

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Gators coach Billy Napier and his staff signed a dozen transfers in the 2023 class, including seven players in the top 275 of the On3 Transfer Portal rankings.

Several teams Florida will face this season also did well in the transfer market, with seven of the nation’s top 14 transfers in the On3 rankings on UF’s schedule.

RELATED: Most impactful portal additions for Florida Gators in 2023

Here are the Gators’ top five most impactful portal opponents from the 2023 transfer class.

Florida State CB Fentrell Cypress II (Virgina)

On3 ranking: No. 3 overall transfer, No. 1 cornerback

Former stop: Appeared in 18 games with 15 starts in four seasons at Virginia. Totaled 57 tackles, 0.5 sack, one interception, 14 pass breakups and one fumble recovery. First-team All-ACC performer by Pro Football Focus and second-team all-conference selection by the Associated Press in 2022.

Quotable: “He’s really coming on. He’s a guy that has played a lot of football. When you come into a new situation, maybe a couple of new techniques, terminology. What I love is just his work ethic. He is an incredible teammate. You sit there and just the way that he is locked in with the guys that are around him trying to either listen to them or also try to help provide his insight through the things that he’s done. … I think he’s really building in that confidence and is playing fast.” — FSU coach Mike Norvell

Tennessee WR Dont’e Thornton (Oregon)

On3 ranking: No. 5 overall transfer, No. 3 wide receiver

Former stop: Played in 25 games in his two seasons at Oregon, combining for 26 catches for 541 yards and three touchdown catches. Caught 17 passes for 366 yards and one score in 2022, averaging a team-best 21.5 yards per catch as a sophomore.

Quotable: “He’s long. He’s got great speed, he’s got experience, he’s mature, he’s got great work habits, and he’s a guy that is constantly up here in the meeting room but also doing things in the indoor and trying the best that he can. He’s got some position flexibility. He can play inside, can play outside. Really excited about who he is and what he’s brought to the table so far.” — Tennessee coach Josh Heupel

Kentucky QB Devin Leary (NC State)

On3 ranking: No. 6 overall transfer, No. 2 quarterback

Former stop: Left NC State ranked sixth in school history with 6,807 career passing yards and fourth in career completion percentage (.602). Record of 17-9 as a starter with 62 touchdowns and 16 picks. Threw for 1,265 yards and 11 TDs last year before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury vs. Florida State.

Quotable: “I think he’s a very natural leader. He’s trying not to force it. He’s trying to earn the respect of his team and just get out there and make sure he masters his craft in his backyard at this point. He definitely has some leadership skills. He does a lot of things behind the scenes and he doesn’t have to be vocal. He spends an awful lot of time with the wideouts, the wide receivers, the running backs, watching film, spending time with them. So, he’s doing a lot extra.” — Kentucky coach Mark Stoops

Georgia WR Dominic Lovett (Missouri)

On3 ranking: No. 10 overall transfer, No. 6 wide receiver

Former stop: Appeared in 25 career games with 12 starts. Finished the regular season leading the team in receptions (56) and receiving yards (846), also finished with three receiving touchdowns. His 846 yards ranked 4th in the SEC. Caught 26 passes totaling 173 yards as a freshman in 2021.

Quotable: “Dom’s been able to make some plays down the field. I’ve been very pleased with Dom. He’s been matched up on Tykee [Smith] and Bull [Javon Bullard] and Joenel [Aguero] a lot, and he’s made some plays on those guys. I’ve been really proud of what Dom’s been able to pick up.” — Georgia coach Kirby Smart

LSU CB Denver Harris (Texas A&M)

On3 ranking: No. 13 overall transfer, No. 2 cornerback

Former stop: Appeared in five games as a true freshman at Texas A&M, collecting 14 tackles and three pass breakups. Suspended twice last year including the final six games of the season. A five-star recruit in the 2022 class and ranked a top-25 overall prosect by On3.

Quotable: “This was not a decision that we just said, ‘You know, here’s a great player,’ he had to fit. We did our due diligence in terms of his background. We felt with the culture in which we have put together here that he would make it here because the culture is really strong. And it’s proven to me that he’s done well, early on.” — LSU coach Brian Kelly