The Florida Gators are making serious noise in the transfer portal this offseason, and new head coach Jon Sumrall isn’t wasting any time reshaping the roster in his image. With the 2026 season on the horizon, Sumrall and his staff are building a team that looks ready to compete - and they’re doing it with a blend of high school talent and a major influx of experienced players from across the country.
Let’s start with the foundation: Sumrall managed to hold onto 18 signees in Florida’s 2026 recruiting class, including 14 four-star prospects, according to 247Sports Composite rankings. That’s no small feat for a coach entering his first year in Gainesville. Keeping a top-20 class intact while navigating a coaching transition speaks volumes about the staff’s ability to connect with recruits and sell the future of the program.
But it’s the transfer portal where Florida has really flexed its muscles. The Gators have brought in 26 players through the portal - a staggering number that reflects both the urgency and the strategy behind Sumrall’s approach. He’s not just filling holes; he’s building depth, competition, and experience at key positions.
Among the headliners are former Georgia Tech quarterback Aaron Philo and ex-Auburn wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. Philo, a backup at Tech, brings a fresh arm and the potential to push for reps in a quarterback room that’s still searching for answers after a lackluster 2025 campaign. Singleton Jr., on the other hand, adds immediate speed and playmaking ability to a receiving corps that struggled to generate explosive plays last season.
And the reinforcements keep coming.
On Monday, the Gators added another intriguing piece to the offensive puzzle: former Indiana wide receiver Ace Ciongoil. His name might not have been on many radars coming out of high school - he didn’t carry a star rating in the 2025 class - but his journey is one that deserves attention.
Ciongoil, a native of Needham, Massachusetts, had several walk-on opportunities but ultimately chose Indiana, where he was part of the Hoosiers’ national championship squad this past season. While he didn’t see the field in year one, he brings with him the experience of being in a championship-level program - something that can’t be taught and often proves invaluable in the locker room.
Ciongoil becomes the fifth wide receiver Florida has added through the portal this cycle. He joins a group of new faces that includes Oklahoma State burner Jaylen Lloyd and Wake Forest’s Micah Mays Jr., both of whom bring different skill sets to the table. Lloyd is a vertical threat with track speed, while Mays offers size and versatility.
That group won’t be alone. Florida’s young core of Dallas Wilson, TJ Abrams, and Vernell Brown III is still in place, giving new offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner a deep and dynamic group to work with. Faulkner, known for his creative schemes and ability to maximize talent, now has a receiver room that blends youth, speed, and experience - a recipe for a much-needed offensive resurgence.
The Gators’ offense sputtered in 2025, but with Sumrall’s aggressive portal strategy and a new play-caller at the helm, the pieces are starting to come together. It’s clear that Florida isn’t just trying to rebuild - they’re aiming to reload. And with the kind of talent they’re bringing in, the rest of the SEC should be paying close attention.