Tracking every transfer/dismissal from the 2022 Florida Gators football team

Florida head coach Billy Napier expected a decent amount of attrition in his first year as the head coach of the Gators, and the dominoes are beginning to fall.

As the list of departures and potential transfers from the team grows, Gators Wire will keep track of all the movement moving forward in this list. The window for players to officially enter the transfer portal begins on Dec. 5 and lasts for 45 days. Those who have already graduated from the University of Florida are eligible to enter the portal immediately.

While most of the early news will be about those departing the program, Florida is bound to be an active player in the transfer portal market once the national pool is set. The Gators struck gold by bringing in right guard O'Cyrus Torrence and running back Montrell Johnson Jr., and Napier has isn’t blind to the ever-changing landscape of college football.

The transfer portal is the college equivalent to the NFL’s free agency period, and the Gators should be an attractive destination for many heading into 2023.

Here’s a look at every move made by the program and players so far.

OL Josh Braun

Offensive lineman [autotag]Josh Braun[/autotag] announced his intention to transfer from the University of Florida upon completing his degree on Oct. 18. Since then, Braun has been spotted visiting in-state rival Florida State and has received offers from Penn State and UCF, which will join the Big 12 next season, among others.

Braun leaves Florida with 26 career appearances, including seven starts in 2021. He’ll be able to redshirt this year after only playing in two games and should have three more years of eligibility wherever he lands.

LS Marco Ortiz

Long snapper [autotag]Marco Ortiz[/autotag] was the next domino to fall for Florida, announcing his intent to transfer on Oct. 30, but he is still with the team despite dealing with an injury that’s kept him sidelined for all but one game this season. He’ll likely apply for a medical redshirt and will have two years of eligibility remaining after this season.

He’s already graduated from the university, which means Ortiz is eligible to enter the portal immediately, but it appears he’ll wait until he officially leaves the team. Players who enter the transfer portal don’t have to leave the university if they decide they want to return to a program willing to keep them.

OLB Brenton Cox Jr.

JACK linebacker [autotag]Brenton Cox Jr[/autotag]. was dismissed from the team following the Gators’ loss to the Georgia Bulldogs. He entered the season with hopes of setting a new sack record for Florida but finished the season with just two sacks and eight total tackles for a loss. Although Cox could have transferred and played one more year at the collegiate level, he has opted to declare to for the 2023 NFL draft.

On Nov. 15, the East-West Shrine Bowl announced that Cox had accepted an invite to play in the game. That will be the scouts’ last look at him in game action before the draft.

DB Kamar Wilcoxson

Defensive back [autotag]Kamar Wilcoxson[/autotag] left the team following the Texas A&M game after not being listed on the team’s depth chart. On3 reported that Wilcoxson didn’t attend meetings or practice on the Wednesday of that week, which is the reason for his removal from the depth chart.

He announced on Nov. 3 that he was planning to enter the transfer portal after three seasons with the team. Orginally a memeber of the class of 2021, Wilcoxosn reclassified and joined the team late in the 2020 cycle. Injuries sidelined him for the entirety of his second year at UF, but the COVID year granted to each player kept him as a redshirt freshman heading into 2022.

WR Trent Whittemore

Wide receiver [autotag]Trent Whittemore[/autotag] left the team on Nov. 14 and announced his plans to enter the transfer portal. As a graduate, Whittemore doesn’t have to wait for Dec. 5 to roll around and can start talking with other programs right away.

Whittemore’s departure was unsurprising considering the decrease in usage he’s suffered under Billy Napier’s staff. His brother, [autotag]Creed Whittemore[/autotag], backed off his commitment to UF recently and flipped to Mississippi State soon after.

Whittemore finishes his Florida career with 33 total receptions for 425 yards and two touchdowns across four years. He’ll have two years of eligibility remaining wherever he lands.

TE Nick Elksnis

Redshirt freshman tight end [autotag]Nick Elksnis[/autotag] announced his departure from the program on Nov. 15; however, he cannot enter the portal until Dec. 5.

In his first year with the Gators, Elksnis played in the maximum four games allowed before taking a redshirt. He dealt with an injury in the spring that affected his position on the depth chart and only played in four games this year as well.

TE Griffin McDowell

Tight end [autotag]Griffin McDowell[/autotag] was the third Gator to leave the program in as many days when he announced his intention to transfer on Nov. 16.

McDowell was signed to play on the offensive line for Florida in 2018, but he’d move to the defensive line after serving as a reserve. Once Billy Napier’s staff took over in Gainesville and a need for more depth at the tight end spot arose, McDowell stepped up and changed positions.

As a graduate, he can enter the portal immediately and has one year left of eligibility remaining.

LB Diwun Black

Linebacker [autotag]Diwun Black[/autotag] was dismissed from the team on Nov. 16 and quickly tweeted out his plans to enter the transfer portal. That tweet has now been deleted, so this could be one to keep an eye on.

Napier said that Black needed to focus on academics when asked about the dismissal but didn’t give further details. Black had to spend time at the junior college level before finally making it to Gainesville and has one year of eligibility left after taking a redshirt this season.

Story originally appeared on Gators Wire