Envisioning Roles for Florida's 2024 Transfers: EDGE George Gumbs Jr.

How might transfer edge rusher George Gumbs Jr. make an impact for the Florida Gators in 2024, and perhaps beyond?

Photo: Billy Napier and the Florida Gators; Credit: Alex Shepherd 

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida leaned into the winter transfer portal to upgrade its roster for the second offseason in a row, securing a dozen college football veterans to bolster the Gators' roster entering the 2024 offseason.

All Gators is projecting roles for each transfer acquisition. Our final prospect analysis from the defensive trenches, former Northern Illinois edge rusher George Gumbs Jr. is up next.

A consensus three-star wide receiver prospect from Chicago (Ill.) Simeon in the class of 2021, Gumbs enrolled at NIU as a 6-foot-4, 210-pound walk-on and was originally placed on a developmental track at tight end. 

After redshirting his freshman year and earning a scholarship, Gumbs bulked up to 230 pounds and cracked the rotation at his new position in 2022, posting four receptions for 44 yards over eight appearances. 

Up another 12 pounds entering the 2023 campaign, Gumbs flipped sides of the ball to play defensive end. The move reaped immediate rewards. 

Gumbs averaged 32 snaps per game in a rotational role over the first five weeks of the season, and after accumulating 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss with those opportunities, he seized the starting gig at defensive end and held onto it through the year's conclusion.

Over 12 games, Gumbs tallied 32 tackles with 6.5 for loss, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and 17 quarterback pressures, the latter stat provided by Pro Football Focus. 

Freshly removed from his college football breakthrough, Gumbs realized the opportunity for increased exposure and an upgrade in competition. Accordingly, he entered the NCAA transfer portal on Dec. 12, 2023, and following a brief commitment to Cincinnati, Gumbs flipped his transfer pledge to Florida on Jan. 4.

He joined the Gators with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

"We’re getting a two-year player that’s got some traits there, maybe could help us on third down," Florida head coach Billy Napier said about Gumbs on Wednesday. "I think his best football in terms of being a defensive football player is in front of him."

Gumbs profiles as a "JACK" in Florida's defensive scheme, traditionally the weak-side edge rusher which often aligns in a two-point stance and occasionally drops into coverage. 

It's a position in need of serious reinforcement following the transfer of 2023 starting JACK, Princely Umanmielen, to Ole Miss. Fortunately for Florida, Gumbs is one of several high-upside rushers who will attempt to proverbially fill in Umanmielen's vacated cleats. 

Perhaps most notably, sophomores TJ Searcy and Kelby Collins aim to build upon strong freshman debuts in 2023, when the tandem combined for 49 tackles including five for loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles and 28 quarterback pressures off the edge.

The 6-foot-5, 244-pound Searcy presents an ideal build and the athleticism required of a full-time weak-side edge; Collins' 6-foot-4, 272-pound frame lends itself well to the "F," strong-side defensive end position, although his ability to turn speed to power and generate pressure makes him a candidate to align at JACK, too.

Junior Jack Pyburn returns to the JACK group in 2024 after his 2023 campaign, in which he posted 17 tackles with one for loss, ended prematurely due to a torn ACL. So does former junior college transfer and junior Quincy Ivory, who primarily contributed on special teams last year. 

Sixth-year senior and special teams ace Ja'Markis Weston also recently moved to JACK following stints at off-ball linebacker, safety and wide receiver. 

Considering the talent that surrounds him on Florida's edges and his need to adjust to the speed and physicality of SEC football, expect Gumbs to compete for playing time in third-down pass-rushing packages, as Napier suggested, with the potential to develop into more than a personnel grouping-specific role player for the Gators over the next two years. 

Find All Gators' previous transfer role projections, for defensive back Trikweze Bridges, defensive lineman Joey Slackman, offensive lineman Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, wide receiver Chimere Dike, "F" edge rusher Brien Taylor Jr., quarterback Clay Millen, linebacker Grayson Howard and defensive back DJ Douglas, below. 

Envisioning Roles for Florida's 2024 Transfers: DB Trikweze Bridges

Envisioning Roles for Florida's 2024 Transfers: DL Joey Slackman

Envisioning Roles for Florida's 2024 Transfers: OL Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson

Envisioning Roles for Florida's 2024 Transfers: WR Chimere Dike

Envisioning Roles for Florida's 2024 Transfers: EDGE Brien Taylor Jr.

Envisioning Roles for Florida's 2024 Transfers: QB Clay Millen

Envisioning Roles for Florida's 2024 Transfers: LB Grayson 'Pup' Howard

Envisioning Roles for Florida's 2024 Transfers: DB DJ Douglas

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