UF football transfer tracker: Washington safety Asa Turner joins Gators

GAINESVILLE — Florida’s signing of Washington transfer safety Asa Turner capped a week of potential. improvements for Gators’ struggling defense.

Turner is a veteran of 43 starts who brings experience to the back end of a defense victimized by big plays and breakdowns in 2023 while relying on true freshmen Jordan Castell and Bryce Thornton, along with sophomore Miguel Mitchell, who has since transferred to Arkansas.

Florida’s signed Tulane transfer safety DJ Douglas with one year of eligibility remaining following a breakout 2023 season. He and Turner each will be sixth-year players, having exercised the NCAA COVID-19 waiver for athletes impacted in 2020 by the pandemic.

UF also signed first-year freshman transfers in Tampa 4-star cornerback Jameer Grimsley, who left Alabama when Nick Saban retired, and former Orlando Jones defensive tackle D’antre Robinson, whom Texas released from his scholarship papers.

Defense has been the Gators’ focus in the transfer portal after Billy Napier’s team closed on a five-game losing streak while yielding an average of 38.2 points. UF’s secondary was a major culprit.

Florida allowed 20 pass plays of 40 longer, more than any team but UNLV, and managed just 3 interceptions, tied with Temple for fewest in the nation.

Linebacker Grayson “Pup” Howard of South Carolina returned to his home state looking to improve one of the SEC’s worst defenses in 2023. Meanwhile, Northern Illinois edge rusher George Gumbs Jr. signed with UF after he initially committed to transfer to Cincinnati following a breakout season in 2023.

Howard, a Jacksonville native, announced his decision on social media days after starting linebacker Scooby Williams became the 20th scholarship player to seek other opportunities following the Gators’ 5-7 finish and subsequent roster overhaul entering Billy…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/uf-football-transfer-tracker-washington-000000833.html

Author : Orlando Sentinel

Publish date : 2024-01-27 00:00:00

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