As Florida Football prepares for the Gasparilla Bowl, they are still kicking the tires to fill positions of need in the transfer portal.
After grabbing a wide receiver last night, the Gators are still in the market for a safety and have one coming to town for a visit this weekend.
Florida Football: Safety Valve
Adrian Maddox is listed at 6'3" and took 393 snaps for UAB this past season. Maddox came to UAB after two seasons with Alabama State.
Even though he took over 200 fewer snaps in 2024 with UAB compared to 2023 with Alabama State, his overall production remained similar. This year, he had 44 total tackles and four pass breakups. He also had a 99-yard interception returned for a touchdown.
He was targeted 28 times for 18 receptions but didn't give up any touchdowns.
Maddox is considered a decent coverage safety, which was sometimes a liability for Florida in 2024.
He isn't among any of the higher-rated safeties, and for all the success Billy Napier and crew have had at turning wide receivers into productive players, this was not the case at safety last year. Florida brought in Asa Turner, DJ Douglas, and Trikweze Bridges out of the portal to help address safety.
Turner was hurt against Miami and never seen again, Douglas struggled, and Bridges was solid when he was finally inserted but was also moved to corner due to injuries in Florida's secondary.
The Gators were exploring Zechariah Poyser out of Jacksonville State, but he has since signed with Miami.
As it stands, Florida has Gregory Smith, Bryce Thornton, and Jordan Castell as the primary options at safety for 2025 with Aaron Gates and
Sharif Denson having taking a handful of snaps at safety in 2024.
Maddox would have one year of eligibility left, and according to Swamp247 he is slated to take a visit to Gainesville this weekend.