The Florida Gators are making serious moves in the transfer portal, and new head coach Jon Sumrall is wasting no time putting his stamp on the program. With the offseason heating up, Florida continues to bolster its roster-particularly on defense-and the latest addition brings both upside and experience to the secondary.
Former UCLA defensive back Kanye Clark is officially headed to Gainesville after an official visit last weekend. Clark’s path to this point hasn’t exactly followed the traditional script.
Coming out of high school, he was a wide receiver and didn’t generate much buzz in the 2023 recruiting cycle. Still, he earned offers from programs like Fresno State, Washington State, and New Mexico State.
But instead of taking the scholarship route, Clark bet on himself and walked on at UCLA.
That gamble is starting to pay off.
Clark transitioned to the defensive side of the ball with the Bruins and saw limited action in his first two seasons, appearing in three games and recording four tackles and two pass breakups. But in 2025, his role expanded-and that’s when things started to click.
In eight games this past season, Clark registered 23 tackles, two pass deflections, and a forced fumble. His final two games were especially impressive, as he racked up 12 tackles, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble against Washington and USC-two of the biggest stages in the Big Ten. That kind of late-season surge is the sort of momentum that makes a transfer pickup feel like more than just a depth move.
Clark now joins a Florida secondary that’s clearly been a point of emphasis for Sumrall and his staff. Alongside Clark, the Gators have added Kentucky safety Cam Dooley and Baylor safety DJ Coleman-two more defensive backs with Power Five experience. It’s a clear signal that Florida is looking to build a deeper, more versatile back end on defense heading into 2026.
With Clark’s commitment, Florida now sits at 20 transfer additions this offseason-a number that speaks volumes about Sumrall’s aggressive approach to reshaping the roster. Among those 20 is Georgia Tech quarterback Aaron Philo, who reunites with offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner. The two have history together, and that familiarity could pay dividends as Florida looks to stabilize the quarterback position.
Philo won’t be the only familiar face in Gainesville. Former Auburn wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. is also making the move to Florida.
Singleton brings veteran savvy and proven production, having recorded 1,468 receiving yards and nine touchdowns over two seasons with Faulkner at Georgia Tech. His presence adds a reliable target for Philo and a boost to a receiving corps that needed a shot of experience.
All told, Sumrall isn’t just collecting names-he’s building a roster with intention. Clark’s arrival adds another intriguing piece to a defense that’s being retooled from the ground up.
And with the portal still open and the offseason far from over, don’t be surprised if Florida keeps adding to the puzzle. The Gators are clearly on the move, and under Sumrall, they’re not wasting any time.