Transfer S. DJ Douglas’s commitment strengthens the Gators.
The Florida Gators have been most aggressive in the secondary in the NCAA Transfer Portal thus far out of all the positions on the team. Numerous secondary offers have been made, and a number of guests have arrived on campus for formal visits. Former Tulane safety DJ Douglas was one of the names in the secondary who was in town this week for an official visit. He left his time in Gainesville as their most recent commitment, but he came in this weekend as an uncommitted portal target. In the past two days, he represents the Gators’ third commitment via the transfer portal. Additionally, he represents the Gators’ second commitment from the portal at the safety position.
“When I visited Florida, it seemed like similar to home. That’s my former Tulane D-Line coach. Thus, that was an additional benefit. My trainers had close relationships with a couple of the coaches I had on staff. Everything began to feel like home once I spoke with Coach AB, Coach Will Harris, Coach Austin Armstrong, and Coach Billy Napier. My parents were encouraging me to follow my heart as I began to feel more at ease. I felt Florida in my heart when I was with them. I believed they could help me advance and reach new heights. It seemed like we could all benefit from each other—me, them, and myself. That was the ideal location for me.
Here, the relationship between Gerald Chatman and Douglas was crucial. Before coming to Florida last month, he worked at Tulane as an employee. It was much more comfortable to see a new place when he was in Gainesville for the first time because he was surrounded by a familiar face.
The bond between Gerald Chatman and Douglas was important in this instance. Prior to arriving in Florida last month, he was employed at Tulane. He was surrounded by familiar faces, so it was much more comfortable to see a new place when he was in Gainesville for the first time.
Douglas also enters Florida in a position of safety because most of them are young. Harris then entered the portal to assist in adding some additional individuals with more college experience to help blend in with their gifted young people. Douglas is willing to learn from anyone, even though he is aware that he will still be a new student at UF despite the presence of some youth.
“Although their back end may be young, I am eager to get in there and start working.” I want to give everything I have to everyone. I can still learn from them even though I’m older than them. Guys that can teach me something are now there. I want to pick up knowledge from everyone. I love to learn new things. Anyone can teach you something, in my opinion. You can skin a cat a thousand different ways. I’m just eager to get started and interact with the guys at work.”
Douglas was a walk-on at Alabama prior to moving ahead of the 2021 season to Tulane. For his last year of eligibility, traveling to Florida enables him to He can reunite for one last ride in the SEC with Florida for his final year of eligibility.
