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Newkirk feels at home with Gators

After earning his degree from Auburn and seeing his coaching staff get fired, defensive tackle Daquan Newkirk decided to play his final season of college football elsewhere. He entered the transfer portal in early January.

It didn’t take him long to find his new school. He committed to UF just three days later and enrolled in time to go through spring drills.

Newkirk, an Orlando native, said playing close to home and reuniting with secondary coach Wesley McGriff made it an easy decision for him.

“I entered the portal, [McGriff] was just like, ‘Hey man, come be a Florida Gator,’ and that’s how it went,” Newkirk said.