The 2026 college football transfer officially opened on Friday, kicking off a two-week de facto free agency period in which players can seek greener pastures — both on the field and in their bank accounts.
The Florida Gators have witnessed a mass exodus after hiring Jon Sumrall to take over the head coaching duties, with 27 players (24 scholarship) planning to exit stage left ahead of what should be a major overhaul of the program. Having finished under .500 in four of the last five years — including three under former skipper Billy Napier — a change in scenery might be best for all parties involved.
Unfortunately, the Orange and Blue will see some of its best talent leave Gainesville, including a pair of players that ESPN has ranked among the top 25 available in the current portal cycle. Take a look below at who made that cut.
No. 10: EDGE Jayden Woods
“The No. 261 overall recruit in last year’s ESPN 300 earned a good role in his true freshman season with the Gators and produced 28 tackles, 13 pressures, 5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks and 1 interception against Ole Miss that he returned 25 yards. Woods showed the ability to play major snaps right away in the SEC — he averaged 36 per game this season — and earned three starts,” Steve Muench offers.
“Woods is a dynamic athlete with an exceptional frame. He was an all-state discus and shot putter in high school and an accomplished wrestler at 230 pounds. He now weighs 248 and is as explosive as any young edge defender in the country. He combines exceptional foot quickness with a powerful base, which is rare given his high-cut body,” he notes in his scouting assessment.
“Woods possesses long arms with quick, strong hands to shed and beat blockers before they are set,” Muench continues. “He bends off the edge without losing balance or momentum, flashing a great closing burst. His long arms disrupt passing windows. Woods is developing moves as a pass rusher but dips and rips effectively with major upside in this facet.”
No. 24: QB DJ Lagway
“Lagway, a former top-10 recruit, went 10-9 as Florida’s QB1 while putting up 4,179 passing yards, 237 rushing yards, 29 total touchdowns and 24 turnovers over the past two seasons. His 14 interceptions in 2025 were the most among all Power 4 passers, and his 59.5 QBR ranked 14th among SEC starters,” Tom Luginbill begins.
“During his two years in college, Lagway has dealt with shoulder, core muscle, groin, hamstring and calf injuries and has missed out on valuable offseason reps and development. Combine those issues with a highly pressurized hot-seat situation, a head coach trying to be the offensive playcaller and injuries at receiver and you get a messy situation and a frustrating 4-8 sophomore season. Lagway is ready for a reset and a fresh start to finish his career,” he concludes.
As for Lunginbill’s scouting assessment, he notes that the physical attributes are fully present for him to be a standout passer.
“Lagway’s rare blend of size, mobility and arm strength translates to a high ceiling. He can drop the ball in the bucket and hit receivers in stride throwing downfield. He’s quick for his size and is tough to tackle when he gets into space, making him more of a threat as a runner and scrambler than the stats would suggest. He has started 19 games with 13 of those starts coming against SEC teams. Lagway might be the most physically gifted player at the position in the portal.”
ESPN’s top 25 college football players in 2026 transfer portal
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Former Florida football players in top 25 transfer portal rankings
Reporting by Adam Dubbin, Gators Wire / Gators Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
