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EDGE's departure from Florida Football to transfer portal raises eyebrows among fans

Jack Pyburn hit the transfer portal and his reported reasons are not sitting well with fans

By Benjamin Henderson

Oct 5, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators defensive end Jack Pyburn (44) walks on the field during Gator Walk before a game against the UCF Knights at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Oct 5, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators defensive end Jack Pyburn (44) walks on the field during Gator Walk before a game against the UCF Knights at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images / Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
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When news broke yesterday that Jack Pyburn was leaving Florida Football to the transfer portal, Gator fans were left confused because it felt like if there was anyone who was committed to the cause in Gainesville, it was Pyburn.

However, a later report outlined the alleged reasons why he hit the portal, and the consensus among Gator fans was that if those demands were true, then it would be best to move on.

Florida Football: No free lunch

According to Zach Abolverdi of Gators Online, the two main sticking points for Pyburn were money and playing time. The claim is that Pyburn wanted over $500,000 to return, and he wanted guaranteed playing time.

The money component could go a ton of different directions. Since there is little public data available on who is actually getting paid what, it is hard to state what the market officially is for a rotational member along the defensive line with one career sack, but he does provide value in stopping the run.

And frankly, in the age of NIL, everyone is trying to get paid these days. $500,000 sounds insane, but when you consider the minimum salary in the NFL is $800,000, and 93,000 people show up at The Swamp every weekend with TV ratings through the roof, it's not unfair for a player to look at the money being generated in college football and to want their fair share of the pot, while also acknowledging that the actual pool of money that does go to players in college is far less than in the NFL.

But, what most fans are universally agreeing upon is that if Pyburn genuinely demanded guaranteed playing time, and this is if, then Florida is in the right to let him walk.

Pyburn contributes more than his stats would indicate, but Florida also has Tyreak Sapp, George Gumbs, LJ McCray, and Kamram James coming back, in addition to anyone they may try to pick up in the transfer portal. If Pyburn wants snaps, he needs to earn them like everyone else.

No one, even DJ Lagway, should ever be given a blank check of snaps no matter what. The entire purpose of the upcoming nine months is to earn your spot in the pecking order.

Don't get it twisted; losing Pyburn will have a negative impact on Florida in 2025. But if the reports are true, it is what it is in the new era of college football.

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