Breaking: Gators “pushing hard” to land duo transfer defensive backs

The Florida Gators have made it pretty clear through their recruiting actions this offseason that the secondary is an area of focus to address. As the Gators continue to host transfer names in the month of January, the secondary has been where a majority of those names line up at.

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Florida has already added a pair of safeties from the transfer ranks to date, but have not slowed down their pursuit of others. In fact, two more names are expected to be in town in the near future Swamp247 has learned. Those are Texas safety transfer Jerrin Thompson and Washington cornerback Mishael Powell. As of now, the two names are expected to be in town for visits. They are expected to arrive on Sunday night.

Thompson immediately got active for the Longhorns upon arrival, playing in 10 games as a freshman in 2020. He had 14 tackles, a pass breakup and an interception. He followed that up with a 41-tackle and three-pass breakup season in 2021. His best year came in 2022, totaling 82 tackles, an interception and seven pass breakups. He was an honorable mention for the All-Big 12 team as voted on by the league’s coaches. In 2023, Thompson had 38 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass breakups. He’s currently on an official visit to Auburn starting on Friday, so the Gators will have to weather that visit before they would get their chance.

Report: Florida Hosting Ohio State WR on Transfer Visit

Florida is hosting Ohio State wide receiver transfer Bryson Rodgers on a visit Friday, according to Blake Alderman of 247Sports. Rodgers, a former recruiting target of the Gators from the class of 2023, officially entered the NCAA transfer portal on Jan. 2 after one season with the Buckeyes, a campaign in which he appeared in two games. “Buckeye Nation, I sincerely appreciate all of the love and support y’all have provided as it was truly a dream come true to put on the scarlet and grey and represent Buckeye Nation,” Rodgers, an Ohio native, wrote via social media on Dec. 31, 2023. “With that being said, I will be entering my name in the transfer portal to seize a better opportunity.”

Florida Gators Hosting Ohio State WR Bryson Rodgers on Transfer Visit - Sports Illustrated Florida Gators News, Analysis and More

A three-season varsity standout at Wesley Chapel (Fla.) Wiregrass Ranch, the 6-foot-2, 185-pound Rodgers compiled 110 receptions for 1,625 yards and 29 touchdowns over 26 varsity games in high school, roughly two hours south of UF. He added two interceptions defensively. Rodgers was recognized as the No. 49 wide receiver and No. 357 overall prospect in the 2023 cycle by the 247Sports composite rankings, making him a consensus four-star. He visited Florida thrice while considering his collegiate options as a high school recruit. 247Sports considers Rodgers as the No. 39-ranked wideout and the No. 208 overall player to enter the transfer portal this offseason.

Florida previously secured the transfer commitment of wide receiver Chimere Dike from Wisconsin in December, after star Gators pass-catcher Ricky Pearsall entered the NFL Draft upon the exhaustion of his college eligibility. The position remains of need for UF, though, after experienced wide receivers Caleb Douglas, a former starter, and Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman, a depth piece and special teamer, entered the transfer portal this offseason. Douglas has since transferred to Texas Tech. Florida is slated to return 119 receptions, 1,298 yards and 10 touchdowns at wide receiver in 2024, career numbers from a combined six contributors. Rising sophomore Eugene Wilson III accounts for more than half of those receptions (61) and scores (six),

The Gators signed two wideouts from the high school level in the class of 2024, Jerrae Hawkins Jr. and Tawaski Abrams, giving the team nine scholarship receivers in total entering the offseason.