Florida has been hammered by transfer portal attrition since the end of the regular season, with 17 Gators entering their names. That number is the second-highest in the SEC, behind only Texas A&M (20).

The good news? Of Florida’s 17 transfer portal entrees, only Daejon Reynolds figured to play a key role in 2023, barring what would have been big-time leaps from other entries like linebacker Chief Borders or safety Donovan McMillon.

The Gators do have work to do in the portal, though, especially at linebacker and quarterback. Finding athletes to improve the Gators run defense is a huge priority, as is landing a veteran quarterback who can bridge the gap at quarterback between Anthony Richardson (gone to the NFL) and the 2023 and 2024 blue-chip signees Jaden Rashada and DJ Lagway.

These areas, along with other pressing needs, feature in the list of Florida’s 5 biggest transfer portal needs for 2023.

Quarterback

Anthony Richardson is gone to the NFL, leaving behind a brief legacy shrouded more in “what-ifs” than accomplishments. Days after Richardson’s announcement, Billy Napier landed a potentially program-altering recruit in 5-star quarterback Lagway, the nation’s No. 2 quarterback in the 2024 class. Lagway joins Rashada, the nation’s No. 7 quarterback in the 2023 class, as future Gators, meaning Florida’s future at the position is bright. Who will bridge the gap?

The Gators have been in on Devin Leary of N.C. State, and certainly would be interested (along with everyone else in the country) in Sam Hartman, should he decide to play his COVID-19 year rather than go to the NFL. That said, if those high-tier options miss, Florida could look at someone like Spencer Sanders of Oklahoma State, Jeff Sims of Georgia Tech or even Wisconsin’s Graham Mertz (the highest-rated recruit of that trio) to hold down the fort while Florida gets Rashada and then Lagway on campus and ready to play.

Florida almost certainly will bring a transfer in regardless of how Jack Miller III, the former Ohio State quarterback, plays in the Las Vegas Bowl, where he will make his first start for the team. Max Brown is the lone scholarship quarterback also on the Florida roster, following the dismissal of Jalen Kitna from the program earlier this month.

Tight End

Florida needs to strengthen its tight end group, and that’s true despite the positive things the Gators received from Jonathan Odom down the stretch in 2022. Keon Zipperer should return to play his super senior season as well, giving Florida two quality options at the position. But a game-breaker would be nice, and while Florida State is already set to land the prize of the tight end portal in Jaheim Bell, the Gators should look long and hard at LSU tight end Kole Taylor, whom Napier recruited at Louisiana, or North Carolina tight end Kendall Karr, who has great hands and is a fluid route runner, to bolster the position in 2023.

Wide Receiver

The Gators will lose Justin Shorter (to the NFL Draft), and Daejon Reynolds and Trent Whittemore (to the transfer portal) in 2023. The recruiting class, headlined by top 100 recruit Aiden Mizell, is promising, but once again Florida needs stopgap talent to bridge the gap while Napier develops the players he’s brought to campus. The Gators will be in on Christian Leary of Alabama and Ketron Jackson of Arkansas, two of the bigger names in the portal. Xavier Williams, a former Alabama commit from South Florida, has intriguing upside. Dontae Fleming, whom Napier signed to Louisiana, is another name to watch. Expect the Gators to lean toward production ahead of potential here, unless they bring in a player like Williams who makes sense as a home state fit.

Linebacker

Florida should take multiple players at linebacker, and if possible, at least two inside. Life without Ventrell Miller didn’t go well for Florida in 2021, which he missed the bulk of due to injury, and the Gators were a whopping 1.2 yards a carry worse against the run without Miller than they were with him in 2022. A run-stopper in the middle is the biggest priority for Florida in the portal, at least in the view of this writer. As an insurance policy, Napier and defensive coordinator Patrick Toney need a second. Mason Tufaga of Utah is the best name in the portal at the position and the Gators would be smart to take a serious run at him. If Florida elects to add someone on the outside, it’s hard not to love the game of Dasan McCullough of Indiana, who finished tied for first among all freshman in the country (with LSU’s Harold Perkins Jr.) in tackles for loss in 2022.

Safety

While it’s tempting to list the defensive line here, the reality is Florida hasn’t been good at safety in several seasons. Mining the portal for someone who can help Rashad Torrence II and the Gators play better on the back end in 2023 seems more pressing than finding a dominant pass rusher. The addition of Louisville’s Caleb Banks, who will bolster Florida’s size and run-stopping ability up front, also alleviates their need at defensive line, though a pass rusher would still be nice. I just don’t think it’s as critical as finding another quality safety, even as the Gators wait on highly touted talent like Kamari Wilson to develop and contribute.