The Gators were already thin at linebacker, and this news doesn’t help.
Florida redshirt junior linebacker Jeremi Powell will not make use of his final season of eligibility and return to football next season, according to Gator Country.
The Gators have been especially thin at linebacker over the last few seasons, having only recruited one player at the position in each of the last two classes. At the moment, the team only has five scholarship linebackers left on the roster.
The only player among those with notable experience is junior Jarrad Davis, who said he’d return to the team following the SEC Championship Game loss to Alabama. The deadline for Davis and other early entries to declare for the NFL Draft is Jan. 18.
According to Gator Country, Powell plans on exploring life after football.
For the spring, Florida currently has six linebackers: Alex Anzalone, Jarrad Davis, Matt Rolin, Daniel McMillian and redshirt freshman Rayshad Jackson, along with early enrollee David Reese.
Florida has two more linebackers committed for 2016: four-star recruit Jeremiah Moon as well as Vosean Joseph.
Powell played 24 games with Florida, recording 21 tackles.
Born and raised in Gainesville, Talal joined SDS in 2015 after spending 2 years in Bristol as an ESPN researcher. Previously, Talal worked at The Gainesville Sun.
