Delayed transfer portal entry becomes reality for Florida Gators' depth player

There had been some back and forth between the Florida Gators and Gregory Smith III as to wether or not Smith was actually going to hit the transfer portal or if he was going to stay in Gainesville. News had broke last week prior to Florida's spring game that Smith was going to hit the portal and he did not play in the game.

But when the portal officially opened for shop on Wednesday, Smith's name was not among the players who had formally put his name in, and there were reports of Billy Napier and crew attempting to negotiate with Smith to keep him aboard.

Those attempts ultimately went nowhere, and Smith will not be with the Gators in 2025.

Depth for Florida Football to be tested at safety

Swamp247 and On3, among others, confirmed that Smith could not reach an agreement with Florida and he would enter the portal.

Smith came to Florida as a late addition to the class of 2024 and was recruited to Gainesville by then-DB coach Will Harris, who is now in Miami. Smith is an athletic but raw safety who placed in the top eight multiple times at the 4A state track and field meet in the triple jump.

He saw minimal playing time in 2024, though he did see extended action in the regular season finale against FSU.

With injuries in the secondary during spring practice, Smith was getting plenty of work with the first team members, and most projections figured he would be a rotational backup at worst to Bryce Thornton once the season began.

Whether it was playing time or NIL money, Smith and Florida never reached an agreement for 2025.

On paper, this leaves Florida with Jordan Castell and Thornton as the starting safeties for 2025. Behind them are two freshmen, Drake Stubbs and Lagonza Hayward. According to On3, Florida is slated to get a visit from Miami safety Zaquan Patterson, who hit the portal himself earlier this week.