Reports: Several Florida Gators Snubbed on ESPN’s Top 100 Newcomers List
A pair of former Florida Gators made ESPN’s Top 100 newcomers, but there were a couple of notable omissions of current Gators.
As Week 1 of the college football season kicks off Thursday, the new era of expanded playoffs will be in full swing by the end of the week. Before many teams take the field, however, numerous newcomers are set to make an impact on top programs nationwide.
According to ESPN’s Max Olson and Eli Lederman, the Florida Gators may have lost more talent than they gained in the offseason.
In their article on ESPN+, they noted that only one new Gator, edge rusher LJ McCray, made the Top-100 Newcomers list. McCray, who hails from Mainland High School, ranked as Florida’s second-best recruit, following freshman quarterback DJ Lagway.
Lagway is expected to back up starter Graham Mertz, while McCray might see significant playing time early on. 247 Sports listed McCray as the No. 4 prospect nationally, regardless of position.
ESPN+ highlighted McCray’s early arrival at Florida, where he gained size and strength over the past seven months. At 6-foot-3 and 264 pounds, he brings the explosive pass-rushing ability that Florida has lacked in recent seasons. This need, combined with his knack for disrupting plays, positions McCray to join the Gators’ rotation quickly as coach Billy Napier enters a crucial third year.
McCray was featured in the “Freshmen to Watch” category and is poised to make an impact on Florida’s already talented defense.
Two former Gators also made the newcomer list: Trevor Etienne, now at Georgia, and Princely Umanmielen, who transferred to Ole Miss. Etienne was the No. 5 player on the list, boasting 1,472 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns during his time in Florida, often sharing carries with Montrell Johnson Jr. He is expected to be a key player for the top-ranked Bulldogs.
Umanmielen, who spent four years with the Gators, was recognized as one of the top “Big men” newcomers at Ole Miss after compiling 99 tackles and 15 sacks during his time in Gainesville.
Several UF transfers, including wide receivers Elijhah Badger and Chimere Dike, and defensive end Joey Slackman, were notably absent from the list, though they are expected to play significant roles this season.
Slackman, named Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year at the University of Pennsylvania, recorded 50 tackles, 12.5 tackles-for-loss, and four sacks last season. He was ranked as the No. 2 FCS transfer in the country by 247 Sports.
Badger, a standout wide receiver from Arizona State, could become one of Graham Mertz’s primary targets this season. Over the past two years, he made 135 catches for 1,579 yards and scored 15 touchdowns. Along with sophomore receiver Eugene Wilson III and Dike, Mertz will have plenty of options to throw to.
Dike joins Florida after four years at Wisconsin, where he had a lackluster 2023 season but enjoyed a strong 2022, notching six touchdowns and 689 receiving yards during Mertz’s last year with the Badgers. While he may not be Florida’s top receiver, Dike offers a familiar target for Mertz as the Gators prepare to face Miami.
As the saying goes, it’s not where they start, but where they finish. The new Florida Gators have plenty of chances to establish themselves on postseason lists starting Saturday.
Kickoff against the Hurricanes is set for 3:30 p.m. in The Swamp, and the game will be broadcast on ABC.