Florida OL Richie Leonard IV Transferring to Florida State

After graduating from Florida and starting for the Gators in 2023, offensive lineman Richie Leonard IV is transferring to a UF archrival, Florida State.

Photo: Richie Leonard IV (left) and Graham Mertz (right); Credit: Alex Shepherd

Florida starting offensive lineman Richie Leonard IV is transferring to Florida State, he announced via On3 Sports on Saturday. 

Leonard, a graduate transfer, joins the Seminoles with one season of remaining eligibility. He made his commitment official following a two-day visit to FSU, which ended on Saturday. 

A native of Cocoa, Fla., Leonard signed with Florida as a consensus three-star prospect in the recruiting class of 2020. The 6-foot-2, 310-pound interior lineman earned significant rotational playing time after redshirting his freshman year, accumulating 475 offensive snaps at center, left and right guard between 2021-22.

Leonard took on a full-time starting role at left guard in 2023, grading out as an average run blocker and allowing only two sacks on the year, according to Pro Football Focus. He appeared in every game and logged 775 snaps along the Gators’ offense, the most of any contributor up front. 

"I would like to thank the University of Florida for my time there," Leonard wrote via X upon entering the NCAA transfer portal, on Jan. 5. "Glad I can say I am an alumnus of this great institution."  

By joining Florida State, Leonard becomes one of two former Gators to transfer to an archrival of Florida this offseason. Star running back Trevor Etienne transferred to Georgia in December. 

Leonard is also one of three starting offensive linemen to depart from Florida this offseason, joined by right guard Micah Mazzccua in the transferring elsewhere while center Kingsley Eguakun, whose 2023 campaign was handicapped by a nagging ankle sprain, entered the NFL Draft. 

Mazzccua committed to Nebraska on Wednesday. Backup linemen Jordan Herman (Charlotte) and Jalen Farmer (Kentucky) have transferred out since the end of the season, too. 

The Gators have made two offensive line transfer acquisitions this offseason in an effort to patch up the unit, securing tackles Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson from San Diego State and Devon Manuel from Arkansas. 

Additionally, Florida signed four high school prospects from the class of 2024: Tackles Fletcher Westphal and Mike Williams, hybrid tackle/guard Marcus Mascoll and interior lineman Noel Portnjagin.

Find Florida's full log of transfer portal activity here.

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