TAMPA — In a time when NIL dollars can be easily chased in the transfer portal, a pair of Florida football players weren’t easily swayed by the new common decision factor.
The Gators are no exception to roster movement as the program added 30 players from the portal.
However, Florida was fortunate that two of its star players also happened to be legacies, which played a factor in retaining them as well as one other star player.
Florida leading receiver Vernell Brown III, who hauled in 40 catches for 512 yards in his freshman year, wasn’t fueled by money. His father player at UF in the 2000s, and grandfather in the 1980s.
“NIL money is good, and obviously it’s a factor, but it should never be a driving factor,” Brown said. “I’m not necessarily a mercenary for hire, so I don’t go to the highest bidder. Always having already established myself at the University of Florida on top of that family history and being from Gainesville. I think that was ice on top of the cake.”
Linebacker Myles Graham, who led UF with 76 tackles last year, said that his family’s history with the program made staying an easy decision. His father, Earnest, also played in the 2000s at Florida.
“It was a really big factor honestly,” Graham said. “Everything I built here, I didn’t want to leave it. All of the relationships, the great people, I didn’t want to leave any part of it. It’s my home. I couldn’t see myself anywhere else.”
Florida running back Jaden Baugh said conversations with Graham and fellow teammate Jaylen Woods reinforced his decision to remain in Gainesville.
“My dad and my mom, everybody was preaching (legacy) to me,” Graham said. “Myles Graham called me, and if he didn’t call me, Myles and Jaylen Woods. If those two told me they were leaving, I would have been sick. Those two guys mean so much to me. With them calling and we sat down and having that conversation, I just knew for a fact that’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a Gator with them.”
Reach Florida Gators writer Andrew Abadie at AAbadie@usatodayco.com or on X (formerly Twitter) at @AndrewAbadie. You can also find him on Facebook at Andrew Abadie Sports Reporter or on Instagram @andrewabadie_sports.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: How legacy helped Florida football keep its biggest stars home
Reporting by Andrew Abadie, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Andrew Abadie, Gainesville Sun | USA TODAY Network
