New Florida head coach Jon Sumrall hasn’t even unpacked his bags in Gainesville yet, but the challenge ahead is already taking shape - and it’s a big one. The Gators are watching their roster thin out as the transfer portal continues to churn, and on Thursday, they lost another key piece from the 2025 season.
Sophomore defensive lineman Michai Boireau is the latest to announce his plans to enter the portal. At 6-foot-5 and 349 pounds, Boireau brought serious size and presence to Florida’s defensive front.
The Atlanta native played two seasons in Gainesville, and this past year, he stepped into a starting role, appearing in nine games and notching 20 total tackles, including two sacks. He also showed flashes of versatility and awareness, even grabbing an interception during his time with the Gators.
Boireau’s departure is another hit to a Florida defense that’s already seen its share of turnover. He earned SEC Academic Fall Honor Roll honors in 2024, a nod to his off-field discipline, and saw action in 12 games as a reserve during his freshman campaign in 2023, where he posted 15 total tackles.
Coming out of Creekside High School, Boireau was a highly sought-after recruit. His commitment to Florida came over offers from some of the SEC’s biggest names - Auburn, Georgia, Florida State, Michigan, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Texas A&M were all in the mix. That kind of recruiting pedigree makes his exit all the more significant.
He’s not alone, either. Boireau joins a growing list of Gators expected to hit the portal when it opens on January 2, 2026.
That list includes high-profile names like quarterback DJ Lagway, safety Jordal Castell, running back KD Daniels, and wide receiver Aidan Mizell. In total, Florida could see as many as 15 players enter the portal - a number that underscores just how much roster rebuilding Sumrall will need to take on.
While the Gators’ future is in flux, Sumrall still has one more game to coach before fully turning his attention to Gainesville. He’ll lead 11-seed Tulane into its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance on Saturday, facing off against 6-seed Ole Miss in a first-round showdown in Oxford.
That game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET on TNT.
Once that final whistle blows, though, Sumrall’s focus will shift to a Florida program in transition - one that’s losing talent and searching for stability. Rebuilding a roster in today’s college football landscape means mastering the portal, and for Sumrall, that work starts now.