Florida’s gymnastics roster took a sudden hit this week, and the fallout has only grown louder because nobody inside the program is offering much clarity.
The Florida Gators confirmed the removal of Leanne Wong, Kaylee Bluffstone, and Taylor Clark from the active team, but there was no public explanation attached to the move. Head coach Jenny Rowland did not provide details during her recent media availability, and the athletic department’s response was limited to a brief statement saying the athletes were no longer part of the program.
As the speculation spread online, senior Skylar Draser stepped in and made it clear she wanted no part of the rumor cycle. In a social media statement, she addressed the attention swirling around her and teammates Ly Bui and Lily Bruce, and said the online chatter had become deeply painful during her final season.
“”I never imagined that stepping away from Florida in the middle of my final year would mean seeing my name circulating online attached to so many hurtful, and disturbing false narratives,” Draser shared on Instagram.”
“It is heartbreaking to see people create stories about situations they know nothing about.”
Draser also said she knows who she is despite the noise, and added that she plans to graduate in December and then enter the NCAA transfer portal so she can keep competing elsewhere.
On the floor and apparatus side, Draser was a regular starter for Florida on vault and beam during the 2026 season. She posted a career-high 9.95 on both events during her junior year.
Her résumé off the mat is just as strong. Draser was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2025 and 2026, earned SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll recognition in 2024, and was a WCGA Scholastic All-American in 2026.
In Other News...
Florida Suddenly Have Two Roster Situations Fans Will Be Watching Closely
Floridas attention this week is split between the field, the mat and the hardwood, with a couple of roster situations suddenly worth monitoring. On the football side, Vernell Brown III is listed as questionable because of a knee injury ahead of the next game, while other updated injury statuses are also in the mix as the Gators prepare to play.
Across campus, gymnastics coach Jenny Rowland confirmed that three team members have been dismissed from the program, though no reasons were given. And for fans already looking ahead, the SEC has set the official TV schedule for Florida mens basketball in 2027, giving the Gators a clearer picture of some notable matchups and tip times down the road. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Recruiting Target DJ Jones Faces Far More Serious Health Battle
Missouri freshman offensive tackle Johnnie DJ Jones has been dealing with a far more serious situation than football, with the school confirming that he recently underwent a successful heart transplant and is now recovering. The issue was first flagged during freshman intake testing before additional evaluation at the Mayo Clinic showed the condition was more serious, and the Tigers have continued to keep his status updated since coach Eli Drinkwitz publicly acknowledged the matter.
For Florida fans keeping an eye on Jones as a recruiting target, the larger picture now has nothing to do with the field and everything to do with his health. His football future is naturally secondary to the recovery ahead, and while Missouris statement offered a positive update, the path from surgery to a return to everyday life is still the story that matters most right now. [Read more 🡒]
Floridas Offense Has Three Problems To Fix Before South Carolina
After the loss to Missouri, Florida heads into the South Carolina matchup with a few clear offensive fixes to sort through. The Gators want more from the run game, and Jadan Baugh stands out as a player who needs a bigger role if the offense is going to find a steadier rhythm. There is also room for the quarterback room to become a more active part of the ground attack, giving the unit another way to stress a defense and keep drives alive.
The other issue is less about scheme and more about discipline. Florida has to clean up the penalties that kept snapping momentum and making routine possessions feel harder than they should have been. Against South Carolina, those small mistakes could be the difference between an offense that settles in and one that keeps fighting uphill, so this is the kind of week where execution matters as much as play-calling. [Read more 🡒]