The Florida Gators could pull off a stunning move for this quarterback in the transfer portal.
The Florida Gators lost D.J. Lagway to the transfer portal this winter, and while they did bag former Georgia Tech quarterback Aaron Philo, they are still facing massive questions under center.
Let's face it: Philo is far from proven. He threw a grand total of 102 passes over two years with the Yellow Jackets, totaling 938 yards, a couple of touchdowns and three interceptions.
Given the complete lack of depth Florida has at the quarterback position, it's not out of the realm of possibility that head coach Jon Sumrall could pursue another signal-caller in the portal, and a wildly intriguing option could be emerging: Ty Simpson.
Simpson declared for the NFL Draft, but he has yet to hire an agent, so he is fair game to return to the collegiate level for another season. Apparently, some teams are trying to woo the former University of Alabama star with a $6.5 million offer. Could the Gators be one of those squads?
It seems to make perfect sense.
Think about it: Sumrall has just taken over as the new coach after Florida went just 4-8 in 2025, is worst finish in 12 years. You don't think he would want to make a major splash?
The Gators have plenty of NIL money, and they aren't afraid to use it. Plus, there wouldn't even be a quarterback competition if Simpson brought his talents to Gainesville. He would start from Day 1.
Ty Simpson. Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images.And imagine how satisfying it would be for Sumrall and Florida to pluck such a gifted quarterback from an SEC rival?
Florida has posted four losing campaigns the past five seasons. It has been one of the worst stretches in the history of the program, and it needs answers. Fast.
That's why the Gators brought Sumrall — who went 43-12 over four seasons between Troy and Tulane — aboard.
Florida still has a massive fan base and is one of the most well-known football schools in the nation because of what it has achieved in the past, but there is no question that the Gators have faded into irrelevancy as far as being competitive is concerned.
It's time for Sumrall to change that, and swaying Simpson back to school for one more year and potentially making a run in the loaded SEC would be the way to do that.
And if Florida really likes Philo? Great. He has arrived with three years of eligibility, so he can sit behind Simpson for a year, learn some more and then potentially start in 2027.
The idea of landing Simpson makes too much sense for the Gators, and it would not shock me in the slightest if they are one of the teams trying to lure him away from the NFL Draft.