NFL preseason is down to the wire, and for a couple of former Gators, Friday was all about making one last statement before roster cuts hit.
J. Michael Sturdivant and Dameon Pierce both entered the weekend with their futures hanging in the balance, and both turned in performances that could help them survive the final round of NFL trimming.
Sturdivant, an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers, came into the week with his roster spot looking shaky. ESPN had him seventh on Green Bay’s wide receiver depth chart, so the math was simple: if the Packers kept six receivers, he was probably out; if they kept seven, he had a real shot.
He answered with a strong showing, catching six passes for 112 yards and scoring on a 39-yard touchdown.
87 IN THE END ZONE
📺: Packers TV Network pic.twitter.com/6CySkXkrho
- Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 29, 2026
Sturdivant arrived at Florida after two seasons at UCLA, and before that, two years at Cal. Speed was always part of the selling point, but whether he could consistently separate and finish plays was the question. He closed the 2025 season with 411 receiving yards on 27 catches.
His 4.40-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine only adds to the intrigue. There’s a path where a different offensive coordinator could get even more out of him.
Pierce is further along in his NFL journey, but his place with the Philadelphia Eagles is also far from secure. Injuries have dogged him since his rookie season, and a hamstring issue limited him again this preseason.
Friday marked his first action of 2026, and he made it count despite only getting four carries. Pierce ran for 44 yards and delivered a bruising first-down run where he dragged multiple defenders with him.
At Florida, he was underused by Dan Mullen before the Houston Texans took him in the fourth round in 2022. He spent a brief stop with Kansas City last year before landing with the Eagles this season.
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The practical issue, of course, is that every addition would come at the expense of someone already in the room, and Sumrall made clear that is not a path he wants to take. He also indicated he is not interested in squeezing out current players to make room for NFL signees looking for one more year of college football, leaving Floridas roster plan as much about restraint as it is about opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Fans Have Another Reason To Feel Great About Maxwell Hiller
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Hillers appeal goes beyond the star ranking next to his name. He is listed by 247Sports as the No. 2 player nationally, and his versatility and physical tools make him the kind of lineman college staffs dream about developing. For Florida, the encouraging part is not just that he is committed, but that he keeps looking the part of an elite prospect every time evaluators get a closer look. [Read more 🡒]
Jadan Baugh Is Giving Florida Fans Real Reason To Dream
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What makes Baugh especially important for the Gators is the choice he made to stay put after the coaching change, giving Florida a foundational piece to build around as the offense takes shape under a new coordinator. If that new structure can unlock even more of what Baugh already showed last season, the conversation around Floridas attack changes quickly. For now, he looks like the kind of player who can turn preseason optimism into something a lot more tangible. [Read more 🡒]