The 2025 season was a tough pill to swallow for Florida football, but it also served as a wake-up call - a reset button, if you will. The Gators showed flashes of defensive grit, often standing tall against some of the SEC’s most potent offenses.
But the other side of the ball told a different story. Florida struggled to sustain drives, control the clock, or put points on the board consistently.
That imbalance left the defense gassed and overwhelmed, and ultimately, it led to a midseason coaching change.
Now, with Jon Sumrall at the helm and a new staff in place, the Gators are taking a hard-nosed approach to retooling their roster, especially on defense. Florida lost 10 players on that side of the ball to the transfer portal - including six defensive backs - but they didn’t sit back. Instead, Sumrall and his staff hit the portal hard, bringing in eight new defensive players to plug holes and build depth.
Here’s a closer look at five of the most important defensive additions Florida made during the 2026 transfer cycle - players who could help shape the identity of this new-look Gators defense.
DL Emmanuel Oyebadejo
Standing at 6-foot-7 with a frame that makes offensive linemen think twice, Emmanuel Oyebadejo is a redshirt junior who made his mark at Jacksonville State. Originally from Manchester, England, he racked up 41 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and five pass deflections during a nine-win campaign for the Gamecocks.
Ranked as the No. 25 defensive lineman in the transfer portal by 247Sports, Oyebadejo brings size, length, and an active motor to Florida’s front. He’ll work under D-line coach Gerald Chatman and join a rotation that includes Brendan Bett, Jeramiah McCloud, Joseph Mbatchou, and Jamari Lyons.
If he lines up on the edge - which seems likely under new defensive coordinator Brad White - he’ll be competing for snaps with a talented group that features Jayden Woods, LJ McCray, Kofi Asare, and Kamran James. That’s a deep and versatile group, and Oyebadejo has the tools to carve out a role.
S DJ Coleman
The first transfer to commit under Sumrall, DJ Coleman is more than just a solid pickup - he’s a potential tone-setter for Florida’s revamped secondary. The junior safety comes over from Baylor, where he tallied 84 tackles (59 solo), eight tackles for loss, nine pass breakups, two interceptions, and a forced fumble across three seasons - with most of that production coming in 2025.
Coleman’s experience and steady development make him a plug-and-play option in a safety room that lost both Aaron Gates and Jordan Castell. Ranked as the No. 73 safety in the portal, he’s expected to compete for a starting role alongside Bryce Thornton and Alfonzo Allen Jr.
With SEC offenses leaning heavily on vertical passing attacks, Coleman’s ability to cover ground and make plays in space will be key. His presence gives Florida a much-needed veteran presence on the back end.
S Cam Dooley
Another safety with SEC experience, Cam Dooley arrives from Kentucky and brings with him both production and familiarity. He played in 24 games over two seasons in Lexington, and while his freshman year was quiet, he broke out in 2025 with 29 tackles, a forced fumble, and an interception.
Dooley, ranked just one spot behind Coleman among transfer safeties, is a rising junior with a skillset that fits what Florida needs: a rangy, physical safety who can help shore up a unit that gave up 8 yards per pass attempt last season.
What makes Dooley’s transition even smoother is his connection with safeties coach Chris Collins, who coached him at Kentucky. That built-in familiarity could help accelerate his integration into the scheme and give Florida a leg up in developing chemistry within the secondary.
DB Jordy Lowery
Jordy Lowery might not be the flashiest name in the portal, but he could prove to be one of the most important. The redshirt junior cornerback comes to Gainesville after a season at East Carolina, where he posted 27 tackles and forced and recovered a fumble. But it was his 2024 season at Western Carolina - where he recorded 48 tackles and six interceptions - that really turned heads.
With Florida losing three corners - Sharif Denson, Jamroc Grimsley, and Teddy Foster - Lowery brings experience and playmaking ability to a room that needs both. He’ll likely slot in behind projected starters Dijon Johnson and Cormani McClain, but his ball-hawking instincts and veteran savvy make him a valuable rotational piece.
If he can mentor younger players like freshmen Ben Hanks III and J’Vari Flowers under the guidance of cornerbacks coach Brandon Harris, Lowery could be a key figure in transforming Florida’s pass defense from a weakness into a strength.
DL Mason Clinton
At 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds, Mason Clinton brings size and raw power to a Gators defensive line that struggled to stop the run in 2025, allowing 154 rushing yards per game. Clinton comes in as a redshirt sophomore from Southern Miss, where he logged 16 tackles last season.
While he may not be a headline-grabber just yet, Clinton’s presence gives Florida more flexibility up front. He’s expected to rotate with Bett, McCloud, Mbatchou, and Lyons, providing the kind of depth that’s essential in the grind of an SEC schedule.
If Florida can build a healthy five-man rotation on the line, Clinton’s physicality and interior presence could help anchor a unit that’s looking to get tougher and more disruptive in the trenches.
Looking Ahead
With Jon Sumrall leading the charge and a retooled defensive staff in place, Florida is clearly prioritizing toughness, depth, and experience on the defensive side of the ball. These five transfers - each bringing their own unique skillset - are part of a broader plan to restore balance and identity to a program that’s aiming to climb back into SEC contention.
We’ll get our first real look at how these pieces fit together on April 11, when the Gators take the field for their annual Orange & Blue Spring Game. It’ll be the first glimpse of the Sumrall era - and a chance to see how Florida’s new defensive weapons mesh with returning talent. If things click, this could be the start of something special in Gainesville.