Florida Gators Gear Up for Season with Speedy New Addition

Florida’s offense enters the upcoming season with a largely stable roster, retaining key players across all positions. The coaching staff has made minor adjustments by adding just two scholarship offensive talents through the transfer portal, one of whom is wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant.

Sturdivant, measuring 6’3″ and 213 pounds, began his collegiate career at California, where he had a standout season in 2022, recording 65 receptions for 755 yards and seven touchdowns, earning First Team Freshman All-American honors from multiple publications. However, his production saw a decline during his time at UCLA, culminating in a career-low 315 yards and two touchdowns in 2024. After entering the transfer portal again, he chose Florida, drawn by the Gators’ successful history with transfer receivers such as Elijhah Badger and Ricky Pearsall.

Expressing his enthusiasm about joining the Gators, Sturdivant noted the effectiveness of Florida’s coaching staff, including head coach Billy Napier and wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales. “I trust Billy G and Coach Napier with everything. So I came here with a lot of belief, a lot of trust, and I’m excited to go out and play,” he shared.

Sturdivant has primarily played as an outside receiver and he aligns well with sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway’s exceptional deep-ball accuracy, but what truly sets him apart is his impressive speed; he clocked in at 23 MPH during the offseason. “It’s been a blessing to be blessed with that speed… it’s something that I take a lot of pride in,” he mentioned.

His ability to excel in deep route situations is highlighted by his impressive performance metrics, including a route running grade of 94.7 on deep passes from Pro Football Focus in 2023. Sturdivant feels optimistic about his potential synergy with Lagway, stating, “He’s got a great deep ball, and I got a lot of speed… so I feel like that’s like a match made in heaven.”

The Gators will benefit from Sturdivant’s skills, particularly as they look to fill the gap left by Badger’s departure. His combination of athleticism and speed presents a promising opportunity for Florida to enhance their explosive play capability in the approaching season. This addition could very well elevate the Gators’ offense as they aim for greater success.

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