The Florida Gators are closing out the transfer portal window with a little extra firepower - and it comes in the form of one of the fastest players in college football. Former Oklahoma State wide receiver Jaylen Lloyd is headed to Gainesville, giving head coach Jon Sumrall and offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner a new toy to work with in 2026.
For Lloyd, it’s a bit of a full-circle moment. Coming out of Omaha Westside High School, the Nebraska native was a three-star recruit in the 2023 class who had college scouts buzzing - not just for his football skills, but for his elite speed.
We're talking track-star speed. Lloyd won the Nebraska Class A state title in the 100 meters as a junior, and his explosiveness on the track quickly translated to interest on the gridiron.
Florida originally recruited him for track, but he chose to stay closer to home and signed with Nebraska to play football.
It didn’t take long for Lloyd to flash his big-play potential in the Big Ten. As a freshman in 2023, he made the most of limited opportunities - just six catches, but he turned them into 237 yards and three touchdowns.
That’s nearly 40 yards per catch. Not a typo.
The guy was a walking highlight reel anytime he touched the ball.
He saw a bit more action in his sophomore season, hauling in 13 passes for 255 yards. One of his more consistent performances came against Indiana, where he posted three catches for 36 yards. While those numbers might not jump off the page, they showed growth in his route running and usage within the offense.
After two seasons with the Cornhuskers, Lloyd entered the transfer portal and landed at Oklahoma State. But things didn’t click in Stillwater.
He logged just one rushing attempt in 2025 and didn’t factor into the Cowboys’ passing game. Now, he’s headed back to the SEC - this time for football - and the Gators could be getting a serious vertical threat with something to prove.
Lloyd joins a Florida wide receiver room that’s already got some exciting young talent. Rising sophomores Dallas Wilson and Vernell Brown III made strong first impressions last season, combining for 686 receiving yards and three touchdowns. With Lloyd in the mix, the Gators are adding a dynamic element to their offense - a burner who can stretch the field and open up space underneath for the rest of the unit.
For Sumrall and Faulkner, this is a low-risk, high-upside addition. Lloyd has shown he can be a home-run hitter when given the chance. If Florida can tap into that potential and get him involved early, this could be one of those under-the-radar portal pickups that pays big dividends come fall.