The Florida Gators are adding two 11th-hour transfers — Tulane running back Cameron Carroll and Houston linebacker Mannie Nunnery — to provide two experienced players with solid production at their previous stops.
Carroll announced his decision on Twitter. The Orlando Sentinel also confirmed Nunnery is committed to Billy Napier’s Gators.
Napier and his staff signed nine players since the transfer portal allowed athletes to enter Dec. 5 until Jan. 18. Carroll announced Jan. 19 he had entered the portal.
Expected to be a key contributor in 2022, Carroll suffered a leg injury in the opener against Massachusetts and sat out during the Green Wave’s unexpected 12-2 season, culminating with a 46-45 win against USC in the Cotton Bowl.
A native of Mississippi, the 6-foot, 225-pound Carroll had 1,638 career yards rushing and 19 touchdowns on 312 attempts, highlighted by 741 yards and 12 scores in 2020. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
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Nunnery recorded 81 tackles during four years at Houston, including 46 stops in 2022. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound had 8 tackles during the Cougars’ 23-16 win in the Independence Bowl against Louisiana, Napier’s former team.
Nunnery, who has two years of eligibility remaining, is a special teams demon. He recorded 2 punt blocks and 3 blocked kicks in 2021 to earn the National Special Teams Player of the Year award.
Carroll will enter a crowded running back room anchored by Montrell Johnson and Trevor Etienne, who combined for 1,532 yards, averaged a combined 6.03 yards per attempt and scored 16 touchdowns. Jacksonville 4-star prospect Treyaun Webb signed Dec. 21.
Conversely, Nunnery joins a position group replacing leaders Ventrell Miller and Amari Burney. Florida signed two other transfers: Ohio State veteran transfer Teradja Mitchell and Michigan’s Deuce Spurlock following his first season in Ann Arbor.
The Gators return promising first-year player Shemar James and Derek Wingo, the second-rated player in Florida’s 2020 class who finally showed some positive signs. Redshirt freshman Scooby Williams, the second-rated member of the 2021 class, played meaningful snaps, too.
Meanwhile, 2023 class member Jaden Robinson, a 4-star prospect from Lake City, is the nation’s No. 31 player at his position.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Edgar Thompson at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @osgators.
