GAINESVILLE, Fla. ‚— Florida Gators junior linebacker Shemar James will forgo his final season of college eligibility and declare for the NFL Draft. James announced the decision on Instagram.
“FIRST I WOULD LOVE TO THANK MY LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. WITHOUT YOU I AM NOTHING!
THANK YOU GATOR NATION!!,” James wrote on Instagram.
“I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COACH NAPIER, COACH BATEMAN, COACH ARMSTRONG, COACH ROBERTS, COACH GIBBS, AND THE ENTIRE COACHING AND SUPPORT STAFF AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BECOME A BETTER FOOTBALL PLAYER, STUDENT, AND PERSON.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF MY BROTHERS THAT I GOT THE PRIVILEGE TO PLAY WITH THESE PAST 3 YEARS. WITHOUT Y ALL I WOULDN’T BE THE PERSON I AM TODAY. THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN ME AND MAKING GAINESVILLE SUCH AN AMAZING PLACE.”
“I’M PROUD TO SAY THAT I WORE THAT ORANGE AND BLUE WITH PRIDE EVERY SINGLE SATURDAY. THANK YOU GATOR NATION FOR WELCOMING A KID FROM MOBILE, ALABAMA INTO THE SWAMP.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WILL BE DECLARING FOR THE 2025 NFL DRAFT!!
GO GATORS”
James started all 13 games in the 2024 season. He finished second on the team with 64 tackles, 4.0 TFL, three pass breakups, two sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
James started first eight games of last year before a season-ending injury. He finished second on the team in tackles (55) and TFLs (5.5). He made 47 tackles as a freshman in 2022 and four starts.
The Gators’ linebacker room is in good shape even without James. Florida returns Pup Howard, Jaden Robinson, Aaron Chiles and Myles Graham. They will also add Ty Jackson and Myles Johnson, who both signed with the Gators in December.
