Former Florida OT David Conner Transferring to Colorado

Deion Sanders plucks former Florida offensive tackle David Conner from the transfer portal.

Former Florida offensive tackle David Conner plans to transfer to Colorado, he announced via Instagram on Saturday. 

Conner, a rising redshirt freshman, left the Florida football program before the conclusion of spring training camp in April to enter the NCAA transfer portal, as All Gators first reported. He officially did so on Apr. 20. 

“I feel like every coach at this program is real and gives true in-depth evaluations of players," Conner told On3 Sports in regard to his commitment to Colorado. "I think every school in the country is good salesmen. But it feels way different here, it’s real.” 

At press time, Conner the latest portal talent to link with head coach Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes as Colorado aims to replace at least 45 scholarship members of its 2022 roster that have transferred elsewhere this offseason. Former Alabama defensive back Jahquez Robinson committed to CU hours before Conner did the same on Saturday. 

A native of the Atlanta area, Conner transferred from Decatur (Ga.) Martin Luther King to Deerfield Beach (Fla.) High prior to his senior season of prep ball. He proceeded to pick up offers from the likes of Maryland, Syracuse, Arizona, Florida Atlantic and eventually Florida that summer. 

Conner committed to the Gators in Aug. 2021 and signed with the program that December, despite its head coaching change from Dan Mullen to Billy Napier. 

However, the 6-foot-5, 295-pound Conner wound up redshirting his freshman campaign and did not appear in a game before leaving the team. He was sidelined with a thumb injury that required surgery during Florida's 2022 fall camp. 

Redshirt sophomores Austin Barber, Damieon George Jr. and Jordan Herman, sophomore Kiyaunta Goodwin and freshman Bryce Lovett make up Florida's available offensive tackle depth entering the 2023 season, following Conner's departure. Redshirt sophomore tackle/guard Kamryn Waites is currently nursing an offseason Achilles injury with an unclear recovery timeline. 

Barber is expected to start at left tackle for the Gators in 2023, while George and Herman — offseason transfers from Alabama and Kentucky, respectively — are battling for the first-team role at right tackle. 

Additionally, Florida anticipates the enrollment of New Orleans (La.) De La Salle 2023 offensive tackle Caden Jones this summer.

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