Florida starting left guard Richie Leonard IV announced his imminent NCAA transfer portal entry as a graduate student on Friday morning. Leonard exits the program with one season of collegiate eligibility remaining. “I would like to thank the University of Florida for my time there,” Leonard wrote via X. “Glad I can say I am an alumnus of this great institution . With that being said I am entering my name in the transfer portal as a grad transfer.” Leonard signed with Florida as a consensus three-star prospect in the recruiting class of 2020, out of Cocoa (Fla.) High.
He started a pair of games in relief of injured first-team linemen in 2021 and 2022, in addition to significant rotational duties at guard in the latter season. Leonard took on full-time starting responsibilities at left guard in 2023. He appeared in every game and logged 755 snaps along the Gators’ offensive line, a team-high.
“Richie is a classic example of a guy who maybe doesn’t pass all the height, length and all of that but when it comes to putting the ball down and playing, he can do his job,” Florida head coach Billy Napier described the 6-foot-2, 310-pound Leonard in Sept. 2023.
Leonard is the third starting offensive lineman to leave UF this offseason, joining right guard Micah Mazzccua in the transfer portal. Center Kingsley Eguakun entered the 2024 NFL Draft. Additionally, the Gators lost backup blockers Jordan Herman and Jalen Farmer via transfer to Charlotte and Kentucky, respectively.
