Florida football recruiting: Ex-USC OL Jason Zandamela, high available transfer in portal, commits to Gators
USC offensive line transfer Jason Zandamela dedicated to Florida Thursday afternoon, 247Sports stories. The No. 7 overall prospect and the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in 247Sports’ Switch Rankings, Zandamela was once the tip prospect left on the market and the very best-ranked player to enter the portal all the tactic thru the spring window.
All this, and he has yet to play a snap on the collegiate level. That is a boon for the Gators, as Zandamela retains all four years of his eligibility after an abbreviated stick to the Trojans.
A made of Clearwater Academy Worldwide in Florida, Zandamela signed with USC in December as the No. 1 interior offensive lineman and the No. 46 overall prospect within the class of 2024. He was once the very best-rated recruit in USC’s most contemporary carve of signees, and the most productive high-50 freshman on the Trojans’ spring roster.
Zandamela went thru a majority of USC’s spring note slate before coming into the transfer portal on April 16, four days before the Trojans took the sphere for his or her spring game. Initial stories indicated that Zandamela wished to return to Florida, and colleges be pleased UCF and Florida started swinging for his products and companies. He took an genuine take a look at with to Gainesville, Florida the weekend of April 26 and joined the Gators a pair of days later.
Inspecting Zandamela’s function at Florida
Zandamela labored at heart with USC and might match into that living in Gainesville. He’s furthermore versatile sufficient to line up at both guard living, giving Florida the selection of attempting him at a pair of positions before settling on a more permanent house.
The staff undoubtedly has time to ship Zandamela along before throwing him into the SEC’s trench battle. The Gators are anguish at heart with incumbent starter Jake Slaughter motivate to man the center. UF does delight in to damage in a brand new pair of guards, nonetheless ragged starting sort out Dameion George Jr. slid interior all the tactic thru spring note and sophomore Knijeah Harris — who has generated critical buzz since arriving on Florida’s campus a three hundred and sixty five days ago — will likely win a significant peek opposite George.
Taking time to bear Zandamela is the lovely arrive unless he blows Florida away all the tactic thru summer workout routines and tumble camp. Zandamela grew up in Mozambique and played rugby for most of his lifestyles except he moved to the US in October 2020. He didn’t initiating taking part in American football except his sophomore three hundred and sixty five days of highschool.
The 6-foot-3 and 307-pound Zandamela took to it swiftly. He was once a multi-three hundred and sixty five days starter at heart for Clearwater Academy Worldwide and earned a living within the 2023 Below Armour All-The US Sport. Soundless, the SEC represents a slightly steep soar in competitors. For now, Zandamela is quiet a talented ball of clay for Florida to mildew.
