The Florida Gators and head coach Jon Sumrall have landed a massive commitment from a former FBS standout defensive tackle in the transfer portal.
With the transfer portal slowly beginning to die down, the Florida Gators and head coach Jon Sumrall continue to make moves this offseason.
According to On3Sports’ Hayes Fawcett on Sunday, former Southern Miss defensive lineman Mason Clinton has committed to the Gators shortly after entering the transfer portal.
Clinton, who began his college career in JUCO at East Mississippi Community College, was a three-star prospect in the 2024 JUCO cycle.
During his first season with the Lions, the talented defender racked up 27 tackles, four tackles for losses, and two sacks. Clinton would go on to receive multiple FBS offers, but would ultimately land with the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
However, Clinton’s time with the Bulldogs would be short-lived, as he would soon enter the transfer portal during the spring window. This led him to quickly commit to the Southern Miss Golden Eagles for the 2025 season.
Last year, Clinton played a total of 12 games with the Golden Eagles, while becoming a key piece of the program’s defensive front four unit. The Mississippi native would go on to record 16 tackles and 1.5 tackles for losses under the likes of former head coach Charles Huff.
With Clinton joining the Gators’ newest regime under Sumerall, Florida has now managed to land 23 transfers in the portal after losing 34 players this offseason.
Clinton is one of three defensive linemen who signed with the Gators this offseason, including Baylor’s DK Kalu and Jacksonville State’s Emmanuel Oyebadejo. Adding the trio of playmakers will help aid in the departure of Tarvorise Brown and Michai Boireau.
In addition to landing multiple defensive linemen, Sumrall did an excellent job of using the transfer portal this offseason to rebuild the Gators’ roster for the 2026 season.
To replace former quarterback DJ Lagway, Florida landed former Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets’ backup Aaron Philo, while also managing to nab Auburn star receiver Eric Singleton Jr. Both players played for newly-hired offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, which will give him some familiarity heading into next season.
Faulkner also brought in tight end Luke Harpring and interior offensive lineman Harrison Moore from Georgia Tech, providing him with extra strength in 2026.
Gators Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Florida Gators. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.