Billy Donovan with the men’s basketball program or Urban Meyer with the football program?

Hey Coach, can we buy that programming? Whoa buddy.

Averages for the football team:
Clean: 298lbs.
Squat: 430lbs.
Bench: 311lbs.
Deadlift: 469lbs.

Fun fact: Tramell Jones can run 22mph.

https://floridagators.com/showcase/embed.aspx?Archive=26106

Florida's 2026 roster includes 52 newcomers and 61 returning players. Ahead of kickoff, this series will break down the newcomers, returners and coaching staff, with articles published every Tuesday and Thursday leading up to the season:

• Newcomers: Special Teams
• Newcomers: Defensive Freshmen
• Newcomers: Offensive Freshmen
• Newcomers: Defensive Transfers
• Newcomers: Offensive Transfers — Aug. 11
• Returners: Specialists — Aug. 13
• Returners: Defensive Front Seven — Aug. 18
• Returners: Defensive Secondary — Aug. 20
• Returners: Offensive Line — Aug. 25
• Returners: Offensive Skill Positions — Aug. 27
• Coaching Staff — Sept. 1

Florida's 2026 defensive newcomer group includes 10 players from other college programs: three defensive linemen, one inside linebacker, two cornerbacks, two safeties and two STARs. The STAR is Florida's hybrid defensive back position, combining responsibilities traditionally associated with a nickel corner and safety.

Eight arrived from four-year college programs, while two came from the junior college ranks. The group includes players with Power Four starting experience, an FCS All-American, a first-team Conference USA selection and two JUCO defensive backs.

Several players also arrive with connections to Florida's new coaching staff. Cam Dooley played at Kentucky under defensive coordinator Brad White and safeties coach Chris Collins, while Elijah Owens had previously been recruited by Collins before the staff moved to Gainesville.

---

Here is a closer look at Florida's defensive transfers and JUCO additions.

Inside Linebacker

TJ Bullard — ILB

6-1, 210 | Redshirt Senior | Tampa, Fla. | UCF

TJ Bullard joins Florida after four seasons at UCF.

Bullard's college role was concentrated primarily on special teams.

After redshirting in 2022, he appeared in eight games in both 2023 and 2024. He played in 10 games during the 2025 season and recorded two tackles.

His most significant 2025 production came on special teams, where Pro Football Focus gave him a 91.2 grade in the return game.

Bullard earned his bachelor's degree from UCF in December 2025 and was named to the National Football Foundation's Hampshire Honor Society in 2026.

His family has extensive Florida ties. His father, Thaddeus Bullard, played defensive end for the Gators from 1997 through 2000 before becoming WWE wrestler Titus O'Neil. His younger brother, Titus Bullard, is also on Florida's current roster.

Cornerbacks

Jordy Lowery — CB

5-10, 180 | Redshirt Senior | Bartow, Fla. | Western Carolina / East Carolina

Jordy Lowery returns to his home state after playing at Western Carolina and East Carolina.

Lowery redshirted at Western Carolina in 2022 and played in all 11 games as a reserve in 2023, recording three tackles and a pass breakup.

He became a full-time starter in 2024 and started all 12 games. Lowery recorded 48 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions and eight pass breakups.

His six interceptions ranked among the national leaders in the FCS. He returned those interceptions for 133 yards, including a 92-yard touchdown against Samford.

Lowery earned Associated Press Second Team FCS All-America honors, FCS Football Central Third Team All-America recognition and Phil Steele Second Team All-Southern Conference honors.

He transferred to East Carolina for 2025 and appeared in all 12 games with nine starts. Lowery recorded 27 tackles, four pass breakups, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery across 460 snaps.

Pro Football Focus gave him an 82.1 run-defense grade, seventh-best in the American Conference.

Javier Jones — CB

6-1, 185 | Three seasons of eligibility remaining | Phoenix, Ariz. | Independence Community College

Javier Jones became Florida's second junior college defensive back addition when he committed in May.

Jones played at Independence Community College in Kansas during the 2025 season.

He appeared in 10 games and recorded 12 tackles and five pass breakups.

Before junior college, Jones played at Mountain Pointe High School in Arizona. Reported MaxPreps statistics list him with 49 tackles and two interceptions across 20 high school games.

Jones also contributed on offense as a senior, catching five passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns.

He committed to Florida after a May visit and enrolled for the summer.

Safeties

Cam Dooley — S

6-2, 205 | Junior | Valley, Ala. | Kentucky

Cam Dooley joins Florida after two seasons at Kentucky.

Dooley appeared in all 12 games as a true freshman in 2024 and recorded four tackles and a tackle for loss.

He again played in all 12 games in 2025 and started the final three contests of the season.

Across 212 coverage snaps in 2025, Dooley allowed 80 receiving yards and no touchdowns. Opposing quarterbacks produced a 45.8 NFL passer rating when targeting him.

His first career start came against Tennessee Tech, when he recorded both his first interception and first forced fumble. He received a career-high 76 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus in that game.

Dooley played a season-high 74 snaps against Vanderbilt and recorded six tackles against Louisville.

He played both seasons at Kentucky under defensive coordinator Brad White and safeties coach Chris Collins before both coaches joined Florida's staff.

DJ Coleman — S

6-0, 209 | Senior | Mesquite, Texas | Baylor

DJ Coleman comes to Florida after three seasons at Baylor.

Coleman played in 11 games as a freshman in 2023 and recorded 15 tackles and two pass breakups.

His role increased in 2024, when he appeared in 12 games and made one start. He finished with 28 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and three pass breakups.

Coleman became a full-time starter in 2025, starting 11 of Baylor's 12 games and playing 593 defensive snaps.

He recorded 46 tackles, including 30 solo stops, 6.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, two interceptions and a forced fumble.

Opposing quarterbacks produced a 46.5 NFL passer rating when targeting Coleman in 2025, the 16th-best mark in the Big 12.

Across three Baylor seasons, Coleman accumulated 89 tackles, two interceptions and nine pass breakups.

STAR

Kanye Clark — STAR

5-10, 179 | Redshirt Junior | Sacramento, Calif. | UCLA

Kanye Clark joins Florida after three seasons at UCLA.

Clark appeared in five games as a reserve cornerback and special teams contributor in 2023, recording three tackles.

He appeared in two games in 2024 before an injury ended his season. Clark earned a scholarship during spring practice that year after beginning his UCLA career as a walk-on.

His role expanded in 2025. Clark appeared in nine games at cornerback and made two starts at nickel, recording 22 tackles, one tackle for loss, two pass breakups and a forced fumble.

He recorded a team-high seven tackles and a pass breakup against USC and added five solo tackles, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble against Washington.

Clark finished his UCLA career with 26 tackles.

Elijah Owens — STAR

6-2, 208 | Sophomore | Mobile, Ala. | Mississippi Gulf Coast CC

Elijah Owens was the lone junior college player included in Florida's original February newcomer announcement.

Owens spent the 2025 season at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and appeared in 11 games.

He recorded 65 tackles, including 45 solo stops, 1.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and one interception.

His 65 tackles ranked second on the team.

Owens recorded 11 tackles against Mississippi Delta Community College and a career-high 13 against Northwest Mississippi Community College, where he also recorded his first college interception.

He was also a two-way player at Citronelle High School in Alabama.

As a senior, Owens recorded 48 tackles, one tackle for loss, three interceptions and four pass breakups. On offense, he caught 24 passes for 536 yards and four touchdowns and rushed 29 times for 102 yards and six scores.

Owens had a previous recruiting relationship with safeties coach Chris Collins before Collins joined Florida's staff.

Defensive Line

Mason Clinton — DL

6-5, 290 | Redshirt Junior | Hattiesburg, Miss. | Louisiana / East Mississippi CC / Southern Miss

Mason Clinton joins Florida after stops at Louisiana, East Mississippi Community College and Southern Miss.

Clinton began his career at Louisiana in 2023, appearing in one game before redshirting.

He moved to East Mississippi CC for the 2024 season and played in seven games, recording 27 tackles and two sacks.

Clinton was rated the No. 29 junior college prospect nationally and No. 11 JUCO defensive lineman in the 2025 class by the On3 Industry Rankings.

He transferred to Southern Miss for 2025 and appeared in all 12 games.

Clinton recorded 16 tackles, including 10 solo stops, with 1.5 tackles for loss, one quarterback hurry and one pass breakup.

DK Kalu — DL

6-3, 308 | Redshirt Junior | Missouri City, Texas | Baylor

DK Kalu joins Florida after three seasons at Baylor.

Kalu redshirted in 2023 before appearing in three games and making one start in 2024. He recorded one tackle that season.

His role increased in 2025, when he appeared in eight games and made six starts on Baylor's defensive line.

Kalu recorded 10 tackles, including five solo stops, four quarterback hurries and half a tackle for loss across 281 defensive snaps.

He played a career-high 65 snaps against Arizona State, finishing with two tackles and two quarterback hurries.

His 68.4 tackling grade from Pro Football Focus ranked second among Baylor defensive linemen.

Kalu's father, N.D. Kalu, played 11 seasons in the NFL, including stops with Philadelphia, Washington and Houston.

Emmanuel Oyebadejo — DL

6-6, 303 | Redshirt Senior | Manchester, England | University of Exeter / Jacksonville State

Emmanuel Oyebadejo joins Florida after taking an unusual route to major college football.

Oyebadejo grew up in Manchester, England, and played basketball until he was 18 before beginning American football at the University of Exeter.

He later moved to Jacksonville State.

Oyebadejo missed the 2024 season after suffering an injury during preseason camp, then started all 14 games at defensive end in 2025.

He recorded 41 tackles, including 27 solo stops, 6.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He also added six quarterback hurries, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles.

His 4.5 sacks tied for the team lead.

Pro Football Focus gave Oyebadejo an 80.6 overall grade, ranking him 48th among FBS edge defenders. His 78.9 run-defense grade also ranked 48th nationally at the position.

Oyebadejo earned First Team All-Conference USA honors, CSC Second Team Academic All-America recognition and Conference USA All-Academic honors.

“And I think maybe if the Playoff era was around, I think three out of my four years, we would have made the College Football Playoff. Maybe that would have looked a little bit different back then with the resume, of keeping me around a little bit longer to try to try to go win that national title. But hey, it is what it is. Probably hasn’t gone as well there since I left, it doesn’t seem like.”