Tampa Catholic athlete Jameer Grimsley has committed to the Florida Gators after transferring from Alabama, significantly strengthening Florida’s 2024 recruiting class in the secondary. Grimsley, a freshman cornerback, originally signed with Alabama on December 20 but entered the transfer portal following the unexpected retirement of legendary Alabama coach Nick Saban. Although Washington’s Kalen DeBoer was swiftly hired to replace Saban, Alabama experienced an exodus of talent through the transfer portal, including Grimsley.

Just days after entering the portal, Grimsley committed to the Gators, officially announcing his decision on Sunday. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound prospect, known for his ball skills, movement, and speed (he ran a 10.84-second 100-meter dash), had been a priority target for Florida throughout the 2024 recruiting cycle. Though initially recruited as a wide receiver, Grimsley is set to play cornerback at Florida.

Grimsley had been closely linked to Florida, visiting the campus officially on December 8. However, at that time, he chose Alabama, citing coaching stability as a key factor. Following Saban’s retirement, Grimsley reconsidered his decision and opted for the University of Florida. He is now the first secondary recruit under Florida’s new defensive backs coach, Will Harris.

Grimsley joins other notable additions to Florida’s secondary, including fellow freshmen Teddy Foster, Josiah Davis, and Gregory Smith III. The Gators have also brought in experienced players from the transfer portal, such as Trikweze Bridges from Oregon and DJ Douglas from Tulane, to bolster their defensive backfield.

Ranked as the No. 17 cornerback and the No. 189 overall prospect nationally by 247Sports’ composite rankings, Grimsley is a high-level addition to Florida’s recruiting efforts. He is the second 2024 prospect who initially signed with another school but ultimately decided to join the Gators. Defensive lineman D’antre Robinson, who originally signed with Texas in December, also committed to Florida after being released from his Letter of Intent.

Grimsley’s commitment is a major win for Florida’s 2024 class, as the team continues to build its talent pool, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, in preparation for the upcoming season.