Florida waited until the final stretch of the transfer portal signing window to make its loudest statement — and it was worth the wait. The Gators landed 10 transfers in the final week, bolstering an already deep class and shoring up key positions across the board. While the overall finish at 18th nationally came in lower than preseason expectations, there’s no denying the late-week haul added explosiveness, length, and immediate contributors to a roster that needed reinforcements.
Below is a breakdown of the newest additions and what they bring to Gainesville.
Major Additions Across the Defense
If there was one theme from Florida’s final-week portal strategy, it was clear: add speed, length, and disruptiveness on defense.
Ramon Silvestro – EDGE – 6’6 – Fort Lauderdale, FL
Silvestro headlines the group as a long, rangy, high-upside edge rusher who fits Florida’s mold of building their defensive front around athleticism. At 6’6, he brings natural leverage and a strong first step, making him a prime candidate for early snaps in pass-rush packages. Florida wanted more depth and twitch on the edge — Silvestro checks those boxes immediately.
Adam Kissayi – EDGE – 6’8 – Palm Beach, FL
If Silvestro brings length, Kissayi doubles it. At 6’8, he’s a rare physical specimen with massive wingspan and red-zone pass-deflecting potential. He’s raw, but his upside is arguably the highest in this defensive class. Florida envisions him as a nightmare matchup for opposing tackles once he refines his technique.
Elijah Groves – MLB – 6’4 – Cross Plains, TN
Groves adds size and physicality right down the spine of the defense. His frame and instincts make him a perfect fit for Florida’s run-focused middle linebacker role. Expect him to push for early rotational work with the chance to become a full-time starter by midseason.
Mantrez Walker – OLB – 6’1 – Buford, GA
Walker brings SEC-ready toughness from a powerhouse high school program. His closing speed and versatility in space make him valuable in an era where linebackers must cover as well as they tackle. The staff is high on his ability to contribute immediately on special teams and nickel packages.
Seonta Stewart – S – 6’1 – Cincinnati, OH
A rangy safety who plays downhill with confidence, Stewart adds another weapon to a secondary that needed depth. His physicality should earn him early playing time in run-support packages, and there’s a clear path for him to carve out a meaningful role in year one.
Offensive Additions Built Around Speed and Playmaking
The offensive portal additions may not have the star power of the defensive recruits, but they bring something the coaching staff desperately wanted: speed, depth, and versatility.
Sidney Cameron – RB – 5’11 – Fort Pierce, FL
Cameron is a smooth runner with excellent balance and clean cutback ability. He projects as a rotational back early on with the potential to develop into a reliable No. 2 option.
Jaquez Smith – RB – 5’8 – Tampa, FL
A compact, explosive back, Smith brings a burst that Florida’s offense currently lacks. He’s a natural change-of-pace weapon and could see early touches in creative packages or as a receiving option out of the backfield.
Early-Impact Class Despite Lower Ranking
Florida’s final class tally stands at 23 total recruits:
- 2 Five-stars
- 6 Four-stars
- 15 Three-stars
It’s a solid haul statistically — but it didn’t reach the top-10 finish that many expected entering the offseason. Finishing 18th nationally will be seen by many fans as underwhelming, especially considering Florida’s strong early momentum and the program’s need for top-end talent to keep pace in the SEC arms race.
Still, the Gators accomplished two important things:
- They filled nearly every position group with contributors.
- They kept the class balanced with both depth and upside.
The staff believes that nearly all 10 late-week portal additions will play meaningful roles early, which is something the ranking system can’t fully capture.
Looking Ahead: The Path to a Top-10 Class
If Florida wants to crack the top 10 next offseason — and contend for the playoff in the near future — the blueprint is clear:
- Land more elite blue-chip talent.
- Increase the number of four- and five-star players.
- Continue to attack the transfer portal aggressively and early.
With 23 recruits in the bag and a roster now reinforced at key spots, Florida enters next season stronger than it began this one. But expectations in Gainesville are always high, and next offseason’s recruiting cycle will determine whether this staff can make the jump from “solid class” to “championship-caliber class.”
For now, the Gators have an influx of athleticism, versatility, and depth — the foundational pieces of a program looking to rise quickly in the evolving PCFB landscape.
