Florida football: Former five-star OL Kiyaunta Goodwin transfers to Gators from Kentucky

Football

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Image Credit: UAA

Continuing to fill in needs across its roster, the Florida Gators added their third offensive lineman from the transfer portal this offseason — just in time for spring semester enrollment. Kentucky’s Kiyaunta Goodwin was announced as having joined Florida on Wednesday.

Goodwin, a former five-star prospect ranked No. 33 overall in the Class of 2022 by 247Sports, played all 12 games for the Wildcats as a true freshman after joining the program over offers from Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State and others. He was the third-highest rated prospect Kentucky had ever signed.

Regraded as a four-star transfer player with three years of eligibility remaining, Goodwin picked Florida over Louisville after visiting UF last weekend.

The 6-foot-8, 351-pound lineman will need to trim down and likely saw how the Gators have helped sophomore defensive tackle Desmond Watson as a method of improving his future NFL Draft stock. He will also benefit from having offensive coordinator Rob Sale and assistant offensive line coach Darnell Stapleton coaching him up.

Unlike four-star Baylor transfer Micah Mazzccua, who will almost assuredly be a Week 1 starter on the line, Goodwin will have to earn his position. He will compete at tackle with an inside track to win a starting job.

Head coach Billy Napier has generally put a premium on targeting transfers with multiple years of eligibility remaining, and Goodwin certainly fits that bill. He stands as the highest-rated player in the transfer class based on his ranking out of high school.

Goodwin is the 10th transfer Florida has acquired this offseason and the final player added during the winter window. The portal will reopen in May.