Florida football adds five-star transfer RB Lorenzo Lingard from Miami

By Adam Silverstein
January 3, 2020
Florida football adds five-star transfer RB Lorenzo Lingard from Miami
Football

Image Credit: GatorsFB / Twitter

One of the top prospects from the Class of 2018 has decided to continue his career with the Florida Gators. Five-star running back Lorenzo Lingard (Orange City, FL) announced Friday that he will transfer from Miami to Florida.

Rated as the No. 25 overall player in the nation two recruiting classes ago, Lingard was also considered the country’s No. 2 running back, per the 247Sports Composite. He committed to play for UM over in-state rival Florida State out of high school.

“I am extremely blessed with the opportunity to maximize my education and athletics at the University of Florida. … I will do whatever it takes to become the Best damn gator as a team player and student athlete,” he wrote on Instagram. “Thank you Coach Dan Mullen and Greg Knox you have a player ready to come in and earn everything.”

Lingard (6-foot, 200 pounds) played six games in 2018 before a knee injury (torn LCL, sprained ACL) ended his true freshman season early. He took the field only twice in 2019 — due to his recovery and competition at the position — and chose to take a redshirt, entering his name in the NCAA transfer portal.

As an undergraduate transfer, Lingard will not be eligible to play for the Gators until the 2021 season. However, he will likely apply for a waiver with the NCAA for immediate eligibility as he has stated a desire to be close to home due to an ailing family member. UCF was believed to be in the running for his services, and Ohio State expressed heavy interest.

Due to his ranking on 247Sports, Lingard will be the highest-rated prospect on Florida’s roster since it signed five-stars Martez Ivey and CeCe Jefferson as part of the Class of 2015.

Florida had been pursuing a running back in the Class of 2020, but with National Signing Day approaching in under a month, it may not wind up adding one due to Lingard’s decision. The Gators will return only four scholarship running backs next season in rising redshirt junior Malik Davis, junior Dameon Pierce, redshirt sophomore Iverson Clement and expected redshirt freshman Nay’Quan Wright.

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