Linebacker Mannie Nunnery has decided to withdraw his name from the service and return to Florida for his last season of college eligibility after a brief trip in the NCAA transfer portal, according to Jacob Rudner of Swamp247. Nunnery, a rising redshirt senior, made his second career portal entry on January 11 as a graduate student. Prior to the 2023 season, he moved from Houston to Florida following four years with the Cougars.
Nunnery appeared in every game for Florida in 2023, making three starts at linebacker due to injuries at the position in the back half of the campaign. In his lone season with the Gators, Nunnery recorded 28 tackles, half a sack, 1.5 for loss and a pass breakup. Paired with his production at Houston, Nunnery has compiled 109 total tackles with 8.5 for loss, three sacks, three pass breakups and a forced fumble in his college career. Nunnery’s return offers Florida a candidate to start opposite rising junior Shemar James at inside linebacker. Scooby Williams, who occupied the spot next to James in 2023, transferred to Texas A&M this offseason. He’ll face several new faces in competition for snaps at the position, however. Florida acquired South Carolina sophomore transfer Grayson “Pup” Howard earlier this offseason, paired with the December signings of consensus top-100 class of 2024 prospects, Myles Graham and Aaron Chiles, in an effort to solidify the middle of the Gators’ defense for years to come.
Nunnery’s return offers Florida a candidate to start opposite rising junior Shemar James at inside linebacker. Scooby Williams, who occupied the spot next to James in 2023, transferred to Texas A&M this offseason. He’ll face several new faces in competition for snaps at the position, however. Florida acquired South Carolina sophomore transfer Grayson “Pup” Howard earlier this offseason, paired with the December signings of consensus top-100 class of 2024 prospects, Myles Graham and Aaron Chiles, in an effort to solidify the middle of the Gators’ defense for years to come.
