The Florida Gators might use some depth on the defensive position, and Billy Napier is seeking to the switch portal to fill that gap for the upcoming season. The most recent identify to affix the record is former Tennessee and West Virginia defensive lineman Darel Middleton, in line with Blake Alderman of 247Sports.
Middleton and Napier have had discussions with one another, and the 6-foot-7-inch, 305-pound lineman plans on assembly the employees in particular person on June 2 and three, per Alderman’s report. No supply is on the desk simply but, however an in-person go to is bound to hurry up that course of.
A four-star recruit out of highschool, Middleton attended East Mississippi CC in 2017 and 2018 earlier than transferring to Tennessee. He’d begin six video games and seem in all 13 for the Volunteers in 2019, ending the season with 28 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and a compelled fumble. In 2020, he performed in 9 video games and began one other six, totaling simply 15 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack and two cross breakups.
He determined to switch to West Virginia final 12 months however wound up taking part in simply three video games for the Mountaineers earlier than leaving the workforce in October to reenter the switch portal. Stories surfaced at first of the 12 months that Middleton had dedicated to Alabama A&M, however that not seems to be the case. Apart from Florida, Jackson State, Tennessee State and Texas Tech are within the combine. Every will play host to Middleton over the summer season.
4 colleges in six years can shine a nasty mild on a participant, however Middleton actually has the expertise. Napier has been nothing however a powerful choose of character since he stepped onto campus, so bringing him in to fulfill face-to-face ought to assist him gauge if Middleton is correct for this system.
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