J. Michael Sturdivant and Dallas Wilson will be Gators in 2025

On the eve of Florida’s Gasparilla Bowl game with the Tulane Green Wave, Billy Napier got a double shot of good news. First, 5-star wide receiver Dallas Wilson (6-3, 193, Tampa, FL Tampa Bay Tech) was released from his national letter of intent by Oregon. Wilson will be signing with Florida, which will move the Gators from the No. 11 recruiting class into the top ten.

The second piece of news came from the transfer portal where the Gators landed a commitment from UCLA wide receiver transfer J. Michael Sturdivant (6-3, 205, RJR), whose career numbers are 123 catches for 1,667 yards (13.6 per catch) and 13 touchdowns. A 4-star recruit out of Highland Village, TX Marcus, Sturdivant signed with California. After a redshirt year, he caught 65 passes for 755 yards and seven touchdowns. He transferred to UCLA where he caught 36 passes for 597 yards and four touchdowns in 2023. UCLA changed offensive coordinators for 2024 and the team dropped eight points and 100 yards per game in productivity. Sturdivant’s numbers also suffered, dropping to 22 catches for 315 yards and two touchdowns.

The additions of Dallas Wilson and Sturdivant will help to make up for the loss of Elijhah Badger and Chimere Dike, who will be playing their final games in a Florida uniform today. Badger caught 37 passes for 789 yards and four touchdowns after transferring from Arizona State. His 21.32 yards per catch rank seventh in the country. Dike, who transferred to Florida from Wisconsin, caught 36 passes for 687 yards and two TDs, his 19.08 per catch ranking 17th in the nation.

Tre Wilson is expected to return to the Gators healthy after undergoing hip surgery that ended his season prematurely. Wilson caught 19 passes for 266 yards and a touchdown in only four games in 2024, which qualifies him as a medical redshirt. The Gators also return redshirt freshman Aidan Mizell (13-152, 2 TDs), freshman Tank Hawkins (10-100, 1 TD), redshirt junior Marcus Burke (7-69, 2 TDs) and freshman TJ Abrams (1-3). Kahleil Jackson, who missed the last 11 games of 2024 after suffering a game one knee injury, is also expected back. In addition to Dallas Wilson, the Gators signed 4-star wide receiver Vernell Brown III (5-11, 175, Wildwood, FL/Orlando, FL Jones), 3-star Naeshaun Montgomery (6-1, 170, Miami, FL Central), and 3-star Muizz Tounkara (6-4, 195, League City, TX Clear Springs).

***

The task for the Gators today will be to neutralize Tulane running back Makhi Hughes and wide receivers Mario Williams, Dontae Fleming and Yulkeith Brown. Hughes ran for 1,378 yards and scored 15 touchdowns to lead a Tulane rushing attack that averages 205.38 yards per game, which ranks 17th nationally. The passing game will be without freshman sensation quarterback Darian Mensah, who signed with Duke out of the portal, allegedly for $1.3 million. Mensah threw for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Mensah’s replacement will be former Oregon transfer Ty Thompson, who is in the portal but will be the Green Wave’s starting quarterback today. Thompson threw only 11 passes this season, completing six for 74 yards and two touchdowns. He is a prolific runner, who gained 243 yards and scored six touchdowns. Thompson will have the benefit of three experienced receivers who put up good numbers in 2024. Williams caught 54 passes for 940 yards (17.41) for five touchdowns. Fleming who played for Florida coach Billy Napier at Louisiana in 2020-21, caught  30 for 585 (19.5) and one TD. Brown who spent the first two years of his college career at Texas A&M, caught 34 passes for 472 yards (13.82) and four touchdowns.

It will be critical for the Gators to put pressure on Thompson, who will be starting his first collegiate game. The Green Wave offensive line gave up only 17 sacks all season. Florida’s defense ranks 11th nationally in sacks (38) with 18 coming in the final three games.

There is familiarity on Florida’s defensive side. D-line coach Gerald Chatman coached the Tulane defensive line in 2023 when the Green Wave got to opposing quarterbacks for 35 sacks. In Florida’s secondary is safety D.J. Douglas, who had 21 tackles. Douglas had 54 tackles and three interceptions in 2023 playing for Tulane.

SEC FOOTBALL: PORTAL DEPARTURES/ARRIVALS

Alabama: LB Keanu Koht (RJR) to Vanderbilt; CB Jahlil Hurley (FR) to Kansas; WR Kobe Prentice (JR) to Baylor; DL Jehiem Oatis (JR) to Colorado; WR Kendrick Law (JR); OT Miles McVay (FR) to North Carolina; WR Caleb Odom (FR) to Ole Miss; OT Naquil Betrand RFR) to Syracuse; DL Hunter Osborne (FR); QB Dylan Lonergan (RFR) to Boston College; LB Braylon Chatman (SO); RB Justice Haynes (SO); CB Devonta Smith (RJR) to Notre Dame; EDGE Kelby Collins (SO) from Florida; WR Emmanuel Henderson (JR); DL Damon Payne (RJR) to Michigan; WR Isaiah Horton (RSO) from Miami; CB Cameron Calhoun (SO) from Utah

Arkansas: WR Jaedon Wilson (RJR) to UCLA; QB Malachi Singleton (FR) to Purdue; TE Tyrus Washington (SO); TE Var’keyes Gumms (JR); OG Patrick Kutas (JR) to Ole Miss; TE Luke Hasz (SO) to Ole Miss; S Nico Davillier (JR) to UCLA; 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 to Wisconsin; S Tevis Metcalf (SO) to Michigan; CB TJ Metcalf (FR) to Michigan; LB Carson Dean (FR); RB Isaiah Sategna (RSO) to Oklahoma; OG Joshua Braun (RSR) to Kentucky; DL Ty’kieast Crawford (SR); EDGE Brad Spence (SO) to Texas; OG Addison Nichols (RSO) to SMU; OT Jac’Qawn McCray (FR) from Oregon; CB Jaylon Braxton (SO) to Ole Miss; WR Raylen Sharpe (JR) from Fresno State; RB Rashod Dubinion (JR); TE Jaden Platt (FR) from Texas A&M; WR Kam Shanks (SO) from UAB; EDGE Ken Talley (RSO) from Michigan State; S Taye Seymore (SO) from Georgia Tech; CB Raion Strader (SO) from Miami (OH); RB Braylen Russell (FR); IOL Caden Kitler (RSO) from UCF; OT Corey Robinson II (RJR) from Georgia Tech

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) to Georgia Southern; TE Micah Riley (SO) to Texas A&M; EDGE T.J. Lindsey (FR); S Caleb Wooden (JR); QB Hank Brown (RFR) to Iowa; CB Antonio Kite (SO) to Ole Miss; WR Horatio Fields (RJR) from Wake Forest; LB Phoenix Jackson (RJR) from Fresno State; LB Laquan Robinson (JR); QB Jackson Arnold (SO) from Oklahoma; RB Durrell Robinson (SO) from UConn; P Hudson Haak (SO) from Oklahoma State; QB Walker White (FR) to Baylor; OT Xavier Chaplin (SO) from Virginia Tech; IOL Mason Murphy (RJR) from Southern California; QB Ashton Daniels (JR) from Stanford; DL Dallas Walker IV (RSR) from Western Kentucky; CB Raion Strader (SO) from Miami (OH); S Taye Seymore (SO) from Georgia Tech; EDGE TJ Searcy (SO) from Florida; LB Xavier Atkins (FR) from LSU; DL Darron Reed Jr. (FR)

FLORIDA: DE Justus Boone (RJR); OL Mike Williams (RFR); EDGE Quincy Ivory (RJR) to Jackson State; EDGE Bryce Capers (SO); WR Andy Jean (RFR); CB Ja’Keem Jackson (SO) to LSU; DL Kelby Collins (SO) to Alabama; OG Christian Williams (RSO); TE Arlis Boardingham (RSO); LB Deuce Spurlock (RSO) to Liberty; QB Parker Leise; EDGE Jack Pyburn (RSO) to LSU; TE Gavin Hill (RFR); P Tommy Doman (SR) from Michigan;  EDGE TJ Searcy (SO) to Auburn; WR J. Michael Sturdivant (RJR) from UCLA

Georgia: CB Julian Humphrey (SO) to Texas A&M; WR Nitro Tuggle (FR); David Daniel-Sisavanh; WR Michael Jackson III (SR); DL Jamaal Jarrett (SO); EDGE Samuel M’Pemba (SO); LB Troy Bowles (SO); CB Justyn Rhett (RFR); S Jake Pope (RSO); WR Rara Thomas (SR)

Kentucky: DL Keeshawn Silver (RJR) to Southern California; LS Walker Himebauch (SO); CB Avery Stuart (FR); WR Dane Key (JR); LB Jayvant Brown (SO); EDGE Tommy Ziesmer (FR) to Eastern Kentucky; TE Khamari Anderson (SO); TE Tanner Lemaster (FR); OT Courtland Ford (SR) to UCLA; WR Barion Brown (JR) to LSU; 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); EDGE Sam Greene (RFR) from Southern California; LB Landyn Watson (RJR) from Marshall; OT Alexander Wollschlaeger (SR) from Bowling Green; OG Joshua Braun (RSR) from Arkansas; QB Zach Calzada (GR) from Incarnate Word; TE Jordan Dingle (RJR) to South Carolina; IOL Dylan Ray (RJR); WR JJ Hester (RSR) from Oklahoma; IOL Wallace Unamba (RJR) from New Mexico; TE Henry Boyer (RSO) from Illinois; OT Koby Keenum (RFR) .

LSU: WR London Ibieta (SO); QB Rickie Collins (RFR) to Syracuse; WR CJ Daniels (RJR) to Miami; S Kylin Jackson (FR) to TCU; WR Shelton Sampson JR (FR); LB Xavier Atkins (FR) to Auburn; CB JK Johnson (JR); PK Nathan Dibert (JR); S Jordan Allen (RSO); CB Jalailin Johnson (RJR); TE Ka’Morreun Pimpton (SO); CB Bernard Causey (FR); DL Jay’viar Suggs (RSR); S Sage Ryan (RJR); DE Da’Shawn Womack (SO) to Ole Miss; TE Bauer Sharp (JR) from Oklahoma; CB Ja’Keem Jackson (SO) from Florida; WR Barion Brown (JR) from Kentucky; S Jordan Allen (JR) to Houston; EDGE Jimari Butler (RJR) from Nebraska; QB Michael Van Buren Jr. from Mississippi State; WR Nic Anderson (SO) from Oklahoma; WR Destyn Hill (SO) from Florida State; CB Mansoor Delane (JR) from Virginia Tech; QB AJ Swann (JR); P Grant Chadwick (FR) from Middle Tennessee

Mississippi State: QB Chris Parson (RFR); WR Creed Whittemore (SO) to Utah; WR JJ Harrell (FR); CB Jayven Williams (SO) from Kennesaw State; EDGE Ty Cooper (JR) to Tulane; LB John Lewis (RJR); OT Makylan Pounders (JR) to Louisville; LB Tabias Hinton (FR); WR Antonio Harmon (JR); LB Marcus Ross (JR); WR Mario Craver (FR) to Texas A&M; CB Raydarious Jones (SR); CB Khamauri Rogers (SO); CB Brice Pollock (SO) to Texas Tech; DL Gabe Moore (FR) to Nebraska; LB Jarvae Gilmore (RSO); DL Eric Taylor (SR); Christopher Keys (RSR); QB Michael Van Buren Jr. to LSU; EDGE Redd Hibbler (SR) from North Carolina State; S Jahron Manning (JR) from Old Dominion; CB Kevin Coleman (JR) to Missouri; EDGE Nevaeh Sanders (RJR) from Northern Illinois; WR Brenen Thompson (JR) from Oklahoma; WR Jaron Glover (RSO) from Michigan State; QB Luke Kromenhoek (FR) from Florida State; IOL Jesse Ramil (RJR) from James Madison; LB Derion Gullette (FR) from Texas; LB Jalen Smith (RFR) from Tennessee

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); EDGE Jaylen Brown (FR) to South Carolina; CB Kevin Coleman (JR) from Mississippi State; EDGE Williams Nwaneri (FR) to Nebraska; QB Aidan Glover (FR); DL Langden Kitchen (SO) from Northwest Missouri State; S Gerald Lacy (SO); RB Kewan Lacy (FR) to Ole Miss; LB Josiah Trotter (RFR) from West Virginia; LB Mikai Gbayor (RJR) from Nebraska; S Santana Banner (RFR) from Northern Illinois; RB Ahmad Hardy (FR) from Louisiana-Monroe; S Mose Phillips (SO) from Virginia Tech

Oklahoma: WR Jaquaize Pettaway (SO); QB Jackson Arnold (SO) to Auburn; RB Kalib Hicks (FR) to Oklahoma State; WR Nic Anderson (SO) to LSU; RB Emeka Megwa (JR); TE Bauer Sharp (JR) to LSU; CB Makari Vickers (SO) to Colorado; RB Chapman McKown (FR); CB Kani Walker (RJR); OG Geirean Hatchett (SR) to Washington; CB Jayden Rowe (SO) to Kansas State; OT Kenny Wermy (RFR); IOL Joshua Bates  (RFR) to SMU; WR JJ Hester (RSR) to Kentucky; WR Jalil Farooq (SR); S Makari Vickers (SO); WR Andrel Anthony (SR) to Duke; TE Josh Fanuiel (RSO); LB Phil Picciotti (RFR); QB Brendan Zurbrugg (FR); WR Brenen Thompson (JR) to Mississippi State; S Dasan McCullough (JR); DL Champ Sanders (RFR); QB John Mateer (RSO) from Washington State; IOL Eugene Brooks (FR) to UCLA ; OT Luke Baklenko (from Stanford; WR Keontez Lewis (SR) from Southern Illinois; WR Javonnie Gibson (RSO) from Arkansas-Pine Bluff; OT Derek Simmons (SR) from Western Carolina; RB Isaiah Sategna (RSO) from Arkansas

Ole Miss: S Key Lawrence (RSR) to UCLA; QB Walker Howard (RSO) to Louisiana; OT Cam East (RSO); OT Mana Taimani (RSR); OT Jack Mills (SR); LB Rodney Groce Jr. (SR); OT PJ Wilkins (RFR) from Charlotte; EDGE Da’Shawn Womack (SO) from LSU; OG Patrick Kutas (JR) from Arkansas; CB Jaylon Braxton (SO) from Arkansas; TE Luke Haasz (SO) from Arkansas; EDGE Princewill Umanmielen (SO) from Nebraska; CB Antonio Kite (SO) from Auburn; De’Zhaun Stribling (RJR) from Oklahoma State; OT Micah Pettus (RJR) to Texas Tech; RB Kewan Lacy (FR) from Missouri; RB Matt Jones (SR); WR Caleb Odom (FR) from Alabama; CB Ahnad Brown (SO); S Jadon Canady (SR); LB Jaden Yates (SO) from Marshall; IOL Delano Townsend (RFR) from UAB

South Carolina: LB Bangally Kamara (RSR) to Kansas; LB Mohamed Kaba (RSR); WR Tyshawn Russell (SO); TE Connor Cox (SO) to North Carolina; TE Nick Elksnis (RJR); WR CJ Adams (RFR); QB Robby Ashford (RJR); DL Jamaal Whyce (RSO); DL Elijah Davis (SR); EDGE Jaylen Brown (FR) from Missouri; IOL Nick Sharpe (RJR) from Wake Forest; WR Debron Gatling (FR) to Georgia Tech; DL Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy (SO) from Texas A&M; TE Jordan Dingle (RJR) from Kentucky; LB Andrew Jones (RSO) from Grambling; RB Djay Braswell (SO) to Georgia State  

Tennessee: OG Vysen Lang (FR); RB Khalifa Keith (SO); WR Kaleb Webb (SO) to Maryland; CB Jordan Matthews (RFR) to Vanderbilt; LB Jalen Smith (RFR) to Mississippi State; WR Chas Nimrod (SO); QB Ryan Damron (FR); WR Nathan Leacock (FR); TE Luke Shouse (RSR); WR Nate Spillman (RFR); IOL Wendell Moe Jr. (RSO) from Arizona; RB Cameron Seldon (SO)

Texas: WR Johntay Cook II (SO); DL Jaray Bledsoe (RSO); DL Aaron Bryant (SO) to Vanderbilt; LB Derion Gullette (FR) to Mississippi State; EDGE Tausill Akana (FR); DL Tiaoalii Savea (SR); CB Jay’vion Cole (JR) to Arizona; P Jack Bouwmeester (RJR) from Utah; Edge Justice Finkley (JR); DL Cole Brevard (RSR) from Purdue; DL Sydir Mitchell (SO); EDGE Justice Finkley (JR); EDGE Brad Spence (SO) from Arkansas

Texas A&M: DL Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy (SO) to South Carolina; QB Conner Weigman (RSO) to Houston; WR Cyrus Allen (JR) to Cincinnati; TE Jaden Platt (FR) to Arkansas; 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) to Texas State; OG Cam Dewberry (JR); EDGE Josh Celiscar (RSR) to South Florida; QB Jacob Zeno (RSR) from UAB; WR Jake Bostick (RSO); CB Donovan Saunders (JR) to Utah; EDGE Enai White (JR); WR Jacob Bostick (RSO); DL Samu Taumanupepe (RFR) to Baylor;  CB Julian Humphrey (SO) from Georgia; WR Mario Craver (FR) from Mississippi State; WR Micah Tease (SO) to Tulsa; WR Micah Hudson (FR) from Texas Tech; TE Nate Boerkircher (RJR) from Nebraska

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) to Florida State; 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); LB Keanu Koht (RJR) from Alabama; P Nick Haberer (RJR) from Washington State; DL Aaron Bryant (SO) from Texas; OL Gunner Givens (RSO) from Virginia Tech; WR Chance Fitzgerald (RFR) from Virginia Tech; OT Isaia Glass (RJR) from Oklahoma State; IOL Jordan White (SR) from Liberty; CB Jordan Matthews (RFR) from Tennessee; S CJ Heard (FR) from Florida Atlantic