Florida DB Sharif Denson to Enter Transfer Portal: SEC Starter Brings Toughness, Experience
Florida defensive back Sharif Denson is officially heading to the transfer portal when the winter window opens on January 2, and he's already generating plenty of buzz - and for good reason.
Denson, a two-year contributor and 2025 starter for the Gators, brings a valuable combination of SEC experience, physicality, and production to the table. He’s not just another name hitting the portal; he’s a proven asset in one of college football’s toughest conferences. Over the past two seasons, Denson earned a strong 79.0 run-defense grade from Pro Football Focus - a mark he hit in back-to-back years - highlighting his consistency as a reliable tackler and run-stopper on the back end.
At 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds, Denson has the frame and physicality to hold up at the next level, and his on-field résumé backs it up. In 2025, he started 11 of 12 games for the Gators, finishing with 53 total tackles, including 39 solo stops, two tackles for loss, and a pass breakup. That followed a solid 2024 campaign where he appeared in six games as a starter, collecting 37 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, two pass breakups, an interception, and a forced fumble.
All told, his Florida career adds up to 95 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three pass breakups, one interception, and one forced fumble - a stat line that shows he’s not just a coverage guy or a box safety, but a versatile defender who can impact the game in multiple ways.
A Jacksonville native and former four-star recruit out of Bartram Trail High School, Denson was a highly sought-after prospect in the 2023 class. He chose Florida over a who’s-who list of powerhouse programs that included Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, and Ohio State. That Miami connection, in particular, has fans of The U paying close attention - even though there’s been no official word linking him to the Hurricanes since his portal announcement.
And it’s not hard to see why Miami fans are watching closely. The Hurricanes could be facing significant turnover in the secondary this offseason, with several veteran defensive backs likely moving on. That list includes Keionte Scott, Jakobe Thomas, Charles Brantley, Isaiah Taylor, Jadais Richard, and Briton Allen - all upperclassmen who may have played their final snaps in Coral Gables.
Last offseason, Miami dipped heavily into the portal to reload its defensive backfield, adding talent from across the country: Xavier Lucas (Wisconsin), Ethan O’Connor (Washington State), Zechariah Poyser (Jacksonville State), Jakobe Thomas (Tennessee/Middle Tennessee), Keionte Scott (Auburn), and Briton Allen (Utah/USC). With that much experience possibly heading out the door, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Hurricanes - or any number of other programs - make a strong push for a player like Denson.
Wherever he lands, Denson brings more than just stats. He brings SEC-tested toughness, positional versatility, and a track record of production. In today’s college football landscape, that’s the kind of profile that doesn’t stay on the market long.