Image source: Mallory Peak, UAA

It took longer than expected, but the Florida Gators added their first every-down player from the 2024 transfer portal late Friday when former four-star wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant (Flower Mound, TX) declared committed to the program. The redshirt junior caught 22 passes for 315 yards and two touchdowns for the UCLA Bruins last season.

Sturdivant (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) is coming off the most unproductive season of his college career. After high school, he transferred to California and caught career and team-highs of 65 receptions for 755 yards and seven touchdowns as a redshirt freshman in 2022 before transferring to UCLA, where he had 36 catches for 597 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023 scored four points.

With Florida expected to lose seniors Elijhah Badger and Chimere Dike to graduation, Sturdivant will step in as a veteran pass catcher for incoming sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway next season. The Gators also added 2025 WR four-star Vernell Brown III (Orlando, FL), while 2025 WR five-star Dallas Wilson (Tampa, FL) is expected to officially sign with the program any day.

Although Sturdivant was a four-star prospect coming out of high school, ranked No. 145 overall in the 247Sports Composite – and was selected Freshman All-America the following year – he was downgraded to a three-star prospect and the No. 101 overall player demoted in the transfer portal, per 247Sports.

Punter Tommy Doman (Orchard Lake, MI), ranked No. 2 in the portal at his position, is the only other player to transfer to Florida so far. Doman started the last two seasons at Michigan, including during the Wolverines’ national championship campaign. He will compete with star freshman Hayden Craig for the Gators’ starting spot.