Gasparilla Bowl opt-outs and injury report: Top Florida and Tulane players not playing in bowl game
The Florida Gators are set to take on the Tulane Green Wave on Friday at 3:30 p.m. ET in the Gasparilla Bowl. The game can be seen on ESPN2.
Florida finished the year with a 7-5 record and had upset wins over Ole Miss and LSU while also beating Florida State to end the season on a three-game winning streak. Tulane, meanwhile, went 9-4 and lost to Army in the AAC championship game.
With both teams not playing in the College Football Playoff, they have had several key players enter the transfer portal.
Gasparilla Bowl opt-outs
Florida
The Florida Gators have 11 players out of the game.
T.J. Searcy, LB
Starting outside linebacker T.J. Searcy won't play as he's in the transfer portal. Searcy recorded 20 tackles and three sacks this season.
Arlis Boardingham, TE
Tight end Arlis Boardingham is in the transfer portal and won't play on Friday. Boardingham recorded 18 receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns.
Jack Pyburn, DE
Florida pass rusher Jack Pyburn will miss the Gasparilla Bowl as he entered the portal and committed to LSU. Pyburn recorded 60 tackles, one sack, an interception and a forced fumble.
Justus Boone, DE
Depth defensive end Justus Boone has entered the portal and won't play in the Gasparilla Bowl. Boone recorded 10 tackles and 0.5 sacks for the Gators.
Kelby Collins, DL
Kelby Collins only played 59 snaps for Florida this season and entered the transfer portal, meaning he won't play in the bowl game.
Graham Mertz, QB
Florida quarterback Graham Mertz is dealing with a season-ending injury. Mertz tore his ACL, which ended his college career, as DJ Lagway took over as the starting QB.
Tre Wilson, WR
Tre Wilson is out for the season and won't play in the Gasparilla Bowl.
Jason Marshall, CB
Gators top cornerback Jason Marshall won't play in the bowl game due to an injury. Marshall is out for the season.
Devin Moore, CB
Devin Moore is also out of the Gasparilla Bowl due to an injury. Moore recorded 17 tackles and two interceptions. He hasn't played since Week 10.
Ja'Keem Jackson, CB
Depth cornerback Ja'Keem Jackson also won't play in the Gasparilla Bowl for Florida. Jackson hasn't played since Week 12.
Aaron Gates, Nickel
Aaron Gates won't play due to an injury as he missed the regular-season finale. He recorded 27 tackles.
Tulane
Tulane has five players out for the Gasparilla Bowl.
Darian Mensah, QB
Darian Mensah entered the transfer portal and committed to Duke. Mensah threw for 2,723 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions. Ty Thompson, who's the third-string QB, also entered the transfer portal but will start this game.
Kai Horton, QB
Kai Horton also entered the portal and won't play in the Gasparilla Bowl. Horton went 1-for-1 for 9 yards this season.
Matthew Fobbs-White, DE
Starting defensive end Matthew Fobbs-White has entered the transfer portal and committed to Baylor. Fobbs-White recorded 21 tackles and four sacks.
Parker Petersen, DL
Parker Petersen entered the transfer portal and committed to Wisconsin. Peterson recorded 21 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Shaadie Clayton-Johnson, RB
Shaadie Clayton-Johnson rushed for 209 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries and entered the transfer portal.