Florida Announces Transfer Acquisition of DL Joey Slackman

2023 Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year Joey Slackman has signed with the Florida Gators.

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. 

“My teammates can expect someone who is going to come in, put his head down and WORK. Nothing else matters but the task at hand.”

Welcome to The Swamp, @JoeySlackman!#2THESW4MP pic.twitter.com/puQ9CYxo9V

— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) December 20, 2023

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.

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