UF targets Sumrall to strengthen 2026 football roster.
The University of Florida hired former Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall in late‑2025 after the Gators finished a 4‑8 season, their fourth losing record in five years. Sumrall and his staff are preparing for the transfer portal window that opens January 2‑16, 2026, with the aim of keeping key talent from the 2025 roster and adding newcomers from other programs.
Among the declared players is quarterback DJ Lagway, a 6‑3, 247‑pound former five‑star recruit from Willis High School. Lagway, who led Florida to a Gatorade National Player‑of‑The‑Year award in 2023, will exit the program, leaving three scholarship quarterbacks on the roster. Wide‑receiver Aidan Mizell, 6‑1 ½ and 185 pounds, is another departing player; he was ranked No. 13 in the 2023 Central Florida Super 60 list but has been limited by injuries.
Other announced departures include cornerback S Jordan Castell, defensive tackle Michai Boireau, tight end Hayden Hansen, and several other players across offense, defense, and special teams. Each of these athletes had significant playing time or recruiting recognition in recent seasons.
The coaching staff will seek to fill the resulting gaps by recruiting within the transfer portal and during the fall recruiting season. Official statements confirm that Sumrall’s priority is to rebuild the program’s depth while retaining stability after the four‑loss campaign.