Florida football: Gators could go after former WR target in transfer portal

Florida football is going to be very active in the transfer portal this offseason as they look for reliable talent to help get them back up near the top of the SEC.

In order to do that, you need to land talented veteran players who can not only contribute to your team but help to lead the younger guys around them.

One player who put his name in the portal yesterday fits both of those criteria and is a guy that the Gators may have some interest in.

Chris Tyree, who is transferring away from Notre Dame, is a player that Billy Napier and his staff may take a look at this cycle.

Florida football: Hello, old friend

If Tyree’s name sounds familiar, it’s because the Gators were recruiting him pretty hard in the class of 2020. He was ranked as the 138th-best player in the country, and the second-best all-purpose back in his class.

With the Irish, Chris took on both rushing and pass-catching roles but turned into a bit more of just a WR this season.

In his first three seasons when he was a little more involved in the ground game, he ran for 1,162 yards and eight touchdowns.

This past season has been his best so far as a receiver. He caught 26 passes for 484 yards and three touchdowns, with his longest reception being 76 yards.

Tyree is an explosive athlete in space, which he showed last season when he returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown in Notre Dame’s bowl game two years ago, and he’s a constant threat on special teams.

The Gators have a need for a veteran presence in the wide receiver room. Ricky Pearsall is moving on, and the rest of the room is filled with youth.

Adding a guy like Tyree would help out the young guys a lot, and give another proven commodity to whoever Florida’s QB ends up being next year.