Gators Lose Pyburn but they are still winning war of Attrition

Last Day in the Swamp - Photo Chris Spears

So far in the pre-bowl game attrition war, the Florida Gators are winning. Of the 12 Gators who have put their names in the transfer portal, only EDGE rusher Jack Pyburn figured to have a significant role against Tulane in the December 20 Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa.

Pyburn, who announced his intention to transfer Tuesday, has been an energy guy who helped spark Florida’s defensive resurgence following six tackles in the win over Mississippi State. Of his 60 tackles, second on the team to Trikweze Bridges, 17 were registered in the last three games. He had a season-high eight tackles in Florida’s win over LSU and he finished the season wtih four tackles including his first sack of the year against Florida State.

It should also be noted that Pyburn planted the Florida flag at midfield, which promoted a scuffle among the two teams that was borderline nasty. Head coach Billy Napier didn’t address Pyburn specifically in his post game remarks, but he did say that the Gators who instigated the melee would face punishment.

Zach Abloverdi of GatorsOnline, reports that Pyburn wanted an NIL deal that paid him $45,000 per month along with guarantees that he would be a starting outside linebacker, would play on third down and would be guaranteed more snaps. Head coach Billy Napier wouldn’t meet Pyburn’s demands.

While Pyburn played a role in the defense becoming a dominant force in the last month of the season, the Gators have plenty of depth, especially when it comes to rushing the passer. Pyburn played 12 games and registered one of Florida’s 38 sacks.

A couple of other prominent names are in the portal, tight end Arlis Boardingham and EDGE Justus Boone. Boardingham, who caught 18 passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns, saw his role in the offense decrease significantly in the second half of the season. Boardingham had four catches for 16 yards in the month of December but did not play in the win over Florida State. Boone was thought to be a key factor in Florida’s defense when the season began, but he finished with 10 tackles and a half sack.

Meanwhile, Tulane has only nine days to come up with a quarterback who can move the team like Darian Mensah. As a true freshman, Mensah completed 65.9 percent of his passes for 2,723 yards (9.5 yards per attempt) and 22 touchdowns with only six interceptions while leading the Green Wave to a 9-4 record.

Mensah is listed by On3.com as the No. 1 quarterback in the transfer portal, expected to get an NIL package in excess of $1 million at his next location. He visited Duke Tuesday and has garnered interest from Alabama and Ole Miss among others.

The dropoff after Mensah is significant. Ty Thompson, who began his career at Oregon figures to get the start. Thompson attempted 11 passes in 2024, completed six for 74 yards and two touchdowns. He ran 40 times for 243 yards and six touchdowns.  

Losing Mensah is problem enough, but the Green Wave is also losing EDGE Mathew Fobbes-White, nose tackle Parker Peterson and third string quarterback Kai Horton. Fobbes-White has 4.0 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss, while Peterson has 2.5 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss in the middle.

The Gators are listed as 13-point favorites.

SEC FOOTBALL: PORTAL DEPARTURES/ARRIVALSAlabama: LB Keanu Koht (RJR); CB Jahlil Hurley (FR); WR Kobe Prentice (JR); DL Jehiem Oatis (JR); WR Kendrick Law (JR); OT Miles McVay (FR); WR Caleb Odom (FR); OT Naquil Betrand RFR); DL Hunter Osborne (FR); TE Danny Lewis Jr. (SO)

Arkansas: WR Jaedon Wilson (RJR) to UCLA; QB Malachi Singleton (FR); TE Tyrus Washington (SO); TE Var’keyes Gumms (JR); OG Patrick Kutas (JR); TE Luke Hasz (SO); S Nico Davillier (JR); CB Selman Bridges (FR); WR Kamron Bibby (SO); LB Kaden Henley (SO); LB Alex Sanford (SO); WR Davion Dozier (RFR); S Dallas Young (FR); P Sam Dubwig (FR); RB Emmanuel Crawford (FR); LS Eli Stein; S Tevis Metcalf (SO); CB TJ Metcalf (FR); LB Carson Dean (FR); RB Isaiah Sategna (RSO); OG Joshua Braun (RSR); DL Ty’kieast Crawford (SR)

Auburn: DL Gage Keys (RJR); TE Grant Hidalgo (RJR); QB Holden Geriner (RSO); OG EJ Harris (SO); P Gabe Russo (FR); WR Camden Brown (JR); TE Micah Riley (SO); EDGE T.J. Lindsey (FR); S Caleb Wooden (JR); QB Hank Brown (RFR); CB Antonio Kite (SO); WR Horatio Fields (RJR) from Wake Forest; QB Maalik Murphy (RSO) from Texas; LB Phoenix Jackson (RJR) from Fresno State;

FLORIDA: DE Justus Boone (RJR); OL Mike Williams (RFR); EDGE Quincy Ivory (RJR); EDGE Bryce Capers (SO); WR Andy Jean (RFR); CB Ja’Keem Jackson (SO); DL Kelby Collins (SO); OG Christian Williams (RSO); TE Arlis Boardingham (RSO); LB Deuce Spurlock (RSO); QB Parker Leise; EDGE Jack Pyburn (RSO)

Georgia: CB Julian Humphrey (SO); WR Nitro Tuggle (FR); David Daniel-Sisavanh; WR Michael Jackson III (SR)

Kentucky: DL Keeshawn Silver (RJR); LS Walker Himebauch (SO); CB Avery Stuart (FR); WR Dane Key (JR); LB Jayvant Brown (SO); EDGE Tommy Ziesmer (FR); TE Khamari Anderson (SO); TE Tanner Lemaster (FR); OT Courtland Ford (SR); WR Barion Brown (JR); WR Anthony Brown-Stephens (SO); OT Ben Cristman (RJR); EDGE Noah Matthews (SO); EDGE Tyreese Fearby (RSO); QB Gavin Wimsatt (RJR); S Jarard Mosely (JR); RB Chip Trayanum (RSR); EDGE Caleb Redd (FR); WR Brandon White (RSO)

LSU: WR London Ibieta (SO); QB Rickie Collins (RFR); WR CJ Daniels (RJR); S Kylin Jackson (FR); WR Shelton Sampson JR (FR); LB Xavier Atkins (FR); CB JK Johnson (JR); PK Nathan Dibert (JR; S Jordan Allen (RSO); CB Jalailin Johnson (RJR); TE Ka’Morreun Pimpton (SO)

Mississippi State: QB Chris Parson (RFR); WR Creed Whittemore (SO); WR JJ Harrell (FR); CB Jayven Williams (SO) from Kennesaw State; EDGE Ty Cooper (JR); LB John Lewis (RJR); OT Makylan Pounders (JR); LB Tabias Hinton (FR); WR Antonio Harmon (JR); LB Marcus Ross (JR); WR Mario Craver (FR); CB Raydarious Jones (SR); CB Khamauri Rogers (SO); CB Brice Pollock (SO); DL Gabe Moore (FR); LB Jarvae Gilmore (RSO); DL Eric Taylor (SR); Christopher Keys (RSR); QB Michael Van Buren Jr.

Missouri: LB Brayshawn Littlejon (FR); P Will Safris (FR); WR Mekhi Miller (JR); PK Brody Boehm (FR); P Orion Phillips (SO); S Phillip Roche (SO); IOL Jack McGarry (RSO)

Oklahoma: WR Jaquaize Pettaway (SO); QB Jackson Arnold (SO); RB Kalib Hicks (FR); WR Nic Anderson (SO); RB Emeka Megwa (JR); TE Bauer Sharp (JR); CB Makari Vickers (SO); RB Chapman McKown (FR); CB Kani Walker (RJR); OG Geirean Hatchett (SR) to Washington; CB Jayden Rowe (SO); OT Kenny Wermy (RFR); IOL Joshua Bates  (RFR); WR JJ Hester (RSR)

Ole Miss: S Key Lawrence (RSR); QB Walker Howard (RSO) to Louisiana; OT Cam East (RSO); OT Mana Taimani (RSR); OT Jack Mills (SR); LB Rodney Groce Jr. (SR)

South Carolina: LB Bangally Kamara (RSR) to Kansas; LB Mohamed Kaba (RSR); WR Tyshawn Russell (FR); TE Connor Cox (SO); TE Nick Elksnis (RJR); WR CJ Adams (RFR); QB Robby Ashford (RJR); DL Jamaal Whyce (RSO)

Tennessee: OG Vysen Lang (FR); RB Khalifa Keith (SO); WR Kaleb Webb (SO); CB Jordan Matthews (RFR); LB Jalen Smith (RFR); WR Chas Nimrod (

Texas: WR Johntay Cook II (SO); DL Jaray Bledsoe (RSO); DL Aaron Bryant (SO); LB Derion Gullette (FR); EDGE Tausill Akana (FR)

Texas A&M: DL Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy (SO); QB Conner Weigman (RSO); WR Cyrus Allen (JR); TE Jaden Platt (FR); QB Jaylen Henderson (JR); OT Aki Ogunbiyi (JR);OT Hunter Erb (SO); CB Kevin Longstreet Jr. (FR); EDGE Malick Sylia (JR); LB Martrell Harris Jr. (JR); WR Micah Tease (SO); OG TJ Shanahan (FR); P Keegan Andrews (JR); LB Chantz Johnson (SO); OG Cam Dewberry (JR); EDGE Josh Celiscar (RSR); QB Jacob Zeno (RSR) from UAB

Vanderbilt: LB Jeffrey Ugochukwu (JR); QB Nate Johnson (JR); EDGE BJ Diakate (JR); LB Steve Sannieniola (JR); DL Devin Lee (SR); OT Gunnar Hansen (SR); CB Alan Wright (SR); EDGE Darren Agu (JR); TE Tyler Fortenberry; PK Will Faris (SR); WR Ezra McAllister; CB Alvin Williamson Jr. (FR); EDGE Evan Hermann (SO); EDGE Callahan Blair (FR)

GATORS CRACK TOP 10 IN BOTH POLLS

The Gators (9-0) haven’t played in a week but that didn’t keep them from moving up in both the Associated Press and Coaches basketball polls. The Gators are ninth in the AP and seventh in the Coaches.

The SEC is the dominant conference with nine teams ranked in the AP top 25 and eight in the Coaches.

Associated Press top 25 (SEC teams bold face: 1. Tennessee 8-0; 2. Auburn 8-1; 3. Iowa State 7-1; 4. Duke 7-2; 5. Kentucky 8-1; 6. Marquette 9-1; 7. Alabama 7-2; 8. Gonzaga 7-2; 9. FLORIDA 9-0; 10. Kansas 7-2; 11. Purdue 8-2; 12. Oregon 9-1; 13. Oklahoma 9-0; 14. Michigan 8-1; 15. Houston 5-3; 16. Clemson 9-1; 17. Texas A&M 8-2; 18. UConn 7-3; 19. Ole Miss 8-1; 20. Wisconsin 8-2; 21. Michigan State 8-2; 22. Cincinnati 7-1; 23. San Diego State 6-2; 24. UCLA 8-1; 25. Mississippi State 8-1

Coaches top 25 basketball: 1. Tennessee 8-0; 2. Auburn 8-1; 3. Iowa State 7-1; 4. Marquette 9-1; 5. Kentucky 8-1; 6. Duke 7-2; 7. FLORIDA 9-0; 8. Alabama 7-2; 9. Gonzaga 7-2; 10. Kansas 7-2; 11. Purdue 8-2; 12. Oregon 9-1; 13. Houston 5-3; 14. Michigan 8-1; 15. Ole Miss 8-1; 16. Clemson 9-1; 17. Oklahoma 9-0; 18. Texas A&M 8-2; 19. Michigan State 8-2; 20. UConn 7-3; 21. UCLA 8-1; 22. Wisconsin 8-2; 23. Cincinnati 7-1; 24. San Diego State 6-2; 25. Baylor 5-3