How impactful do the Florida Gators need their transfers to be on offense?
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators made several splashes in the transfer portal this offseason adding both immediate starters as well as depth at key positions. In total, Florida added 16 players through the transfer portal. Some will be asked to start, some will be asked to fill a role, and some are more long-term signees, who need to develop.
Today we’ll look at the offensive players the Gators signed this offseason and break down how impactful they each need to be for the Florida offense this season.
High impact needed
WR Elijhah Badger
Previous School: Arizona State
On3 transfer portal ranking: 82
What they add: Badger is an explosive receiver who has shown the ability to make defenders miss when he has the ball in his hands. He was very productive with the Sun Devils the past two seasons, hauling in 135 passes for 1,579 yards and 10 touchdowns. Badger also returned kicks for Arizona State. Last season he returned 20 kickoffs for 578 yards, a 28.90 yard-per-return average, which led the Pac 12.
He is exactly the type of receiver that Florida was looking for in the transfer portal to help complement sophomore Eugene Wilson. Badger is expected to battle for the starting job at the X position, where Kahleil Jackson, senior Ja’Quavion Fraziars, and redshirt freshman Andy Jean take reps. Wilson will play the Z spot with Chimere Dike at the H.
OT Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson
Previous School: San Diego State
On3 Transfer Portal Ranking: 447
What they add: Crenshaw-Dickson has started 30-plus games at the college level. He has experience at both tackle positions and a should start opposite of Austin Barber. He’s long and lean at 6-7 and 315 pounds. He moves his feet well. He accumulated 2,410 blocking reps with the Aztecs: 1,216 at left tackle and 1,195 at right tackle. Of those reps, 1,187 came in pass protection, where Crenshaw-Dickson gave up just six sacks overall and allowed an average of 15 quarterback pressures per season, per Pro Football Focus.
WR Chimere Dike
Previous School: Wisconsin
On3 Transfer Portal Ranking: 998
What they add: Dike brings veteran leadership and experience to the receiver room. He also was able to hit the ground running when he arrived in Gainesville due to his relationship with Florida quarterback Graham Mertz. Dike and Mertz met at Wisconsin when they were both scout team players. They developed a rapport in practice, which showed on the field in 2022. Dike had his best season to date with Mertz throwing passes for the Badgers. He hauled in 47 passes for 689 yards and six scores. Dike is expected to start this season and Florida will need him to get back to those 2022 numbers with Mertz throwing passes to him again.
Medium impact needed
OT Devon Manuel
Previous School: Arkansas
On3 Transfer Portal Ranking: 307
What they add: Last season with the Arkansas Razorbacks, Manuel appeared in nine games with four starts at left tackles. He started the last three consecutive games. Manuel had the second-best graded run blocking on team according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). He also Played in 417 snaps last season ranking eighth most on the team and fifth among offensive linemen. This spring, with Austin Barber out due to a shoulder injury, Manuel got a lot of reps with the first and second team along the offensive line. He won’t be a starter but will serve as a backup tackle for Barber and Crenshaw-Dickson
Developmental/Depth
OL Jason Zandamela
Previous School: USC
On3 Transfer Portal Ranking: 28
What they add: Zandamela was a huge addition for the Florida Gators this offseason. A native of Mozambique, Africa, Zandamela he attended Clearwater (Fla.) Academy International. He committed to Southern California but quickly realised his desire to be closer to his host family back in Clearwater. Florida beat out UCF for his commitment and Zandamela will be a player who the Gators will develop and plan to be a future starter.
“The ideal situation is obviously to play, but I’m not really expecting that,” Zandamela told Corey Bender of Gators Online. “I’m obviously going to work my ass off, but I’m thinking redshirt first year and then fight for a spot next year.”
QB Clay Millen
Previous School: Nevada/Colorado State
On3 Transfer Portal Ranking: 2,271
What they add: Millen was added as a depth piece for the Gators’ quarterback room. The veteran quarterback began his career at Nevada with Jay Norvell. Millen followed Norvell when the coach left for Colorado State. At the time of signing, Millen was just the third scholarship quarterback on Florida’s roster with Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway. Mertz is the starter in 2024 and Lagway is the future of the program. Millen gives the Gators depth and is another veteran to have around Lagway as he develops and prepares to be the starter of the future.
TE Caleb Rillos
Previous School: Air Force
On3 Transfer Portal Ranking: 575
What they add: Rillos is coming to Florida as a graduate transfer and a walk-on. He joins a room with Keon Zipperer, Arlis Boardingham, Hayden Hansen, Tony Livingston, Amir Jackson, and Gavin Hill. Air Force’s triple-option offense doesn’t really showcase tight ends, or passing the ball in general. However, Rillos was a very effective pass catcher at the high school level. He was named to the first-team all-state honors in football as a senior. Rillos recorded 57 catches for 766 yards and 12 touchdowns his senior year. He also, obviously, is a veteran blocking option and could also contribute on special teams.
The post How impactful do the Florida Gators need their transfers to be on offense? appeared first on On3.
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