Florida Announces Transfer Acquisition of DL Joey Slackman

2023 Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year Joey Slackman has signed with the Florida Gators.
Florida Announces Transfer Acquisition of DL Joey Slackman
Florida Announces Transfer Acquisition of DL Joey Slackman /
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Photo: Billy Napier and the Florida Gators; Credit: Zach Goodall

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida announced its transfer acquisition of former Pennsylvania defensive lineman and 2023 Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year, defensive lineman Joey Slackman, on Wednesday during the Early Signing Period. 

Slackman pledged to Florida on Dec. 17, one week removed from his official visit to the program.

"The brand of the Gators is unlike a lot of other places. The coaches did a really good job of explaining the plan that they have moving forward to turn this thing around and where they see me fitting in their defense and being a part of this thing," Slackman told All Gators after his trip to Gainesville.

Slackman namely picked Florida over Michigan, North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin, among the dozens of schools that entered his transfer recruitment this postseason. 

As a three-year contributor on Pennsylvania's defensive front, Slackman accounted for 115 tackles including 25 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles, eight quarterback hits and one blocked kick. He set single-season career highs in total tackles (50) and tackles for loss (12) during his First-Team All-Ivy League 2023 campaign.

Slackman is the second defensive line transfer acquisition Florida has announced during the Early Signing Period, following that of Brien Taylor Jr. from Blinn College (JUCO). The Gators also possess commitments from three high school defensive line prospects: LJ McCray of Daytona Beach (Fla.) Mainland, Amaris Williams of Clinton (N.C.) High and Michai Boireau of Hampton (Ga.) Creekside.

Stay tuned to All Gators for continuous coverage of Florida Gators football, basketball and recruiting. Follow along on social media at @AllGatorsOnFN on Twitter and All Gators on FanNation-Sports Illustrated on Facebook.


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Zach Goodall
ZACH GOODALL

Zach Goodall is the publisher of AllGators.com on FanNation-Sports Illustrated, serving as a beat reporter covering football, recruiting, and occasionally other sports since 2019.  Before moving to Gainesville, Zach spent four years covering the Jacksonville Jaguars for SB Nation (2015-18) and Locked On Podcast Network (2017-19), originally launching his sports journalism career as a junior in high school. He also covered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for FanNation-Sports Illustrated (2020-22). In addition to writing and reporting, Zach is a sports photographer and videographer who primarily shoots football and basketball games, practices and related events. When time permits in the 24/7 media realm, Zach enjoys road trips, concerts, golf and microbreweries.