Florida continues to revamp its special teams unit through the transfer portal, and the latest addition brings both promise and local ties. Liam Padron, a kicker transferring from Texas A&M, has committed to the Gators with three seasons of eligibility remaining.
The St. Augustine native made his announcement on social media, bringing his journey back to the Sunshine State after a brief stint in College Station.
Padron was part of Texas A&M’s 2024 recruiting class, choosing the Aggies over offers from Syracuse and Appalachian State. While his on-field action in 2025 was limited, it showed flashes of potential.
He debuted in a win over McNeese, logging a 58-yard kickoff, and followed that up with appearances against Utah State and Samford. Against Utah State, he boomed a 62-yarder, and in the Samford matchup, he handled four kickoffs totaling 238 yards.
He becomes the sixth specialist to join Florida via the portal this cycle, part of a deliberate and focused effort by new head coach Jon Sumrall to solidify the Gators’ special teams. Padron joins a group that includes two former Tulane players-kicker Patrick Durkin and punter Alec Clark-along with long snappers Carter Milliron (Louisiana) and Hunter Solwold (Washington), and UT-Martin punter Miller Fealy.
Durkin, in particular, brings a proven track record. He served as Tulane’s primary kicker throughout 2025 and handled duties for five games in 2024.
Under Sumrall’s guidance, he connected on 27 of 32 field goal attempts, including four from beyond 50 yards, and was nearly automatic on extra points, going 57-for-58. Durkin also took over kickoff responsibilities in 2025, averaging 63.9 yards per attempt with 69 touchbacks-numbers that speak to both consistency and leg strength.
Clark, meanwhile, handled punting duties for Tulane last season after transferring from Southern Miss. He previously played at Marshall, where he started in 2024 as a redshirt freshman.
Across his career, Clark has averaged 44.1 yards on 110 punts. His 2025 campaign was his best yet-48 punts at a 46.5-yard average, including a booming 70-yarder that set a new personal best.
Florida also added experience at long snapper with Milliron, who held down the role at Louisiana from his freshman year in 2022 through the end of the 2025 season. He’s got one year of eligibility left and brings over 30 games of starting experience to Gainesville.
Backing him up-or potentially pushing for the job-is Hunter Solwold, a redshirt freshman out of Fallston, Maryland. Solwold came to Washington as one of the top long snappers in the 2025 class, ranked No. 5 nationally by Kohl’s Kicking Camps. He appeared in just one game for the Huskies last season, preserving his redshirt, but his high school résumé includes an appearance in the Under Armour Next All-American Game.
Then there’s Fealy, the Australian punter with a big leg and a knack for flipping field position. The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder spent 2025 at UT-Martin after transferring from Southwestern Oklahoma State, where he made an immediate impact. As a freshman, he set a school record by averaging 47.4 yards per punt and earned All-Great American Conference honors.
Florida’s aggressive approach to building out its special teams through the portal reflects a clear strategy: stack the roster with specialists who have both experience and upside. With Padron now in the fold, the Gators are adding depth and competition to a unit that’s shaping up to be one of the most overhauled in the SEC.