Florida Gators Coach Assesses First Transfer Portal Haul

Jon Sumrall discusses adding 30 transfers to the 2026 roster, including top-ranked wide receiver and quarterback

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall met with reporters on National Signing Day to discuss his first transfer portal haul, which included 30 players out of a total of 50 new additions to the 2026 roster. Sumrall highlighted some of the top transfers, including wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr., quarterback Aaron Philo, and defensive lineman Emmanuel Oyebadejo. He also addressed the team's needs and challenges in navigating the transfer portal within their budget constraints.

Why it matters

The Gators lost a significant number of players to the transfer portal and graduation, so Sumrall's first transfer class was crucial to rebuilding the roster. The ability to quickly add high-impact transfers is becoming increasingly important in college football, as teams look to fill roster gaps and bring in experienced talent.

The details

Sumrall and his staff signed the No. 13 transfer class in the On3 Industry rankings after inking a top-15 recruiting class. Their top additions include wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr., ranked No. 31 nationally, quarterback Aaron Philo, the nation's No. 20 QB, and defensive lineman Emmanuel Oyebadejo, the No. 16 DL in the portal. The Gators also added several other transfers at key positions like running back and defensive back. While Sumrall was able to address most of the team's major needs, he acknowledged they would have liked to add more depth on the offensive and defensive lines.

  • On National Signing Day, February 4, 2026, Sumrall met with reporters to discuss Florida's 2026 recruiting class.

The players

Jon Sumrall

The head coach of the Florida Gators football team.

Eric Singleton Jr.

A wide receiver transfer ranked No. 31 nationally, who is expected to provide a top-end speed threat for the Gators' offense.

Aaron Philo

A quarterback transfer who is the nation's No. 20 QB and Georgia high school football's all-time leader in passing yards.

Emmanuel Oyebadejo

A defensive lineman transfer who is ranked the No. 16 DL in the portal and stands out with his impressive physical attributes.

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What they’re saying

“Early in the process, we knew we wanted to retain VB3 and Dallas. Those were priorities for us. We maybe wanted to try to add one more big-play threat on the perimeter. We felt like let's go get another guy that maybe has top-end juice.”

— Jon Sumrall, Head Coach (on3.com)

“Buster is very confident in Philo and his readiness to be a high-level player. That made me more confident because he saw him every day for the last couple years, so that was a huge part.”

— Jon Sumrall, Head Coach (on3.com)

What’s next

The Gators will continue to evaluate their roster and may look to add additional transfers before the start of the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Sumrall's first transfer portal haul demonstrates the importance of quickly rebuilding a roster through the portal, as Florida looks to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 season. While the Gators were able to address many of their needs, the challenges of navigating the portal's financial constraints highlight the complexities modern college football programs face in roster management.