![Florida Gators defensive back Gregory Smith III (30) runs a drill during spring football practice at Heavener Football Complex at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_4017,h_2259/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/213/01jrfwnsez3bgsgbmk1n.jpg "Florida Gators defensive back Gregory Smith III (30) runs a drill during spring football practice at Heavener Football Complex at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]")
One of the potential weak points for Florida Football heading into the 2025 season is at safety. The Gators do return Jordan Castell and Bryce Thornton. Castell is coming off a down season, while Thornton was serviceable at times for the Gators in 2024.
The depth behind them is inexperienced, and one potential candidate who, on paper, was going to push for playing time in 2025 is instead hitting the transfer portal after just one season with Florida.
Florida Football: Sail Away
Gregory Smith III is off to the transfer portal, according to multiple reports. Smith came to Florida late in the cycle for the class of 2024 and was a lower-rated four-star out of Sumner High School in the Tampa Bay area.
Smith didn't play for most of 2024, though he did step in and take 49 snaps against FSU and had two tackles.
BREAKING: Florida Safety Gregory Smith III plans to enter the Transfer Portal, he tells @on3sports
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 9, 2025
The 6’4 217 S will have 4 years of eligibility remaining
Four-Star Recruit & held 28 Offers coming out of High Schoolhttps://t.co/q3G8OWfM4Z pic.twitter.com/fV6CgHRnOd
Thornton has been out for a good chunk of spring practice, so Smith had been getting 1st team reps throughout the spring, making Smith's departure a bit surprising.
Whatever the reasons is for him leaving town, the reality is that it leaves the Gators thin at safety behind Castell and Thornton. Josiah Davis has also been getting reps, but what appears to be the case for Florida is the hope their two freshmen from the class of 2025 are ready to step up.
In the last recruiting cycle, Hylton Stubbs and Lagonza Hayward were two of the bigger gets for Napier.
When Stubbs signed with Florida, we said:
"On film, he lives up to his billing as Stubbs can fit into almost any playstyle you need him to. Need a ballhawk? He does that. Need someone physical to come downhill to make a play? He does that too. His willingness as a tackler should play well in Florida's defensive scheme, and he is a great pickup for the program.'
Hayward fits a similar profile, and the real question is whether or not they will be ready to step up as freshmen because, given the state of the safety room right now, odds are they are going to see early snaps in 2025.