Florida Gators Linebacker Enters Transfer Portal

The Florida Gators lost its first departure by way of the NCAA transfer portal during the post-spring transfer window.

Florida Gators Linebacker Mannie Nunnery / Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun / USA

The Florida Gators lost its first departure by way of the NCAA transfer portal during the post-spring transfer window. 

Linebacker Mannie Nunnery will enter the portal after one season with the program, per a report by 247Sports’ Jacob Rudner. Nunnery has one year of eligibility remaining after redshirting in 2019 and retaining another-free year in 2020 post-COVID. 

Nunnery began his career at Houston before transferring to Florida last season. In four years with the Cougars, he recorded 81 tackles and seven tackles-for-loss. He also was an impactful special teams player with three blocked kicks in his time at Houston. 

READ MORE: Pair of Former Gators Enter Transfer Portal

He joined Florida last season to help boost depth in the linebacker room and to help impact the special teams group. He recorded 28 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss and half a sack while recording three starts. 

Nunnery previously entered the transfer portal during the winter window after Florida’s 5-7 finish, but withdrew from the portal in the middle of spring camp. With injuries in the room, Nunnery spent most of spring camp as the de-facto starter. However, he played with the second team in the spring game and recorded an interception. 

Florida’s scholarship linebacker room currently consists of veterans Shemar James and Derek Wingo, reserves RJ Moten and Deuce Spurlock II; sophomores Jaden Robinson and Grayson “Pup” Howard; and early enrollee freshman Myles Graham. 

Class of 2024 signee Aaron Chiles is set to enroll in the summer. Chiles was a top-100 recruit according to 247spots.

With his planned transfer, Florida is now at the 85-man scholarship limit. The transfer portal opened on Tuesday and will close on Tuesday, April 30.