Gators steal TE from Georgia Tech on transfer portal

After taking an official visit to Gainesville on Friday, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets shut down Luke Harpring committed to Florida through the NCAA transfer portal, becoming the Gators’ 21st addition during the current portal cycle, which remains open until Jan. 16.

Harpring arrives at Florida after completing a redshirt freshman season at Georgia Tech and will have three years of eligibility remaining. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound tight end appeared in 13 games during the 2025 season, finishing with 13 receptions for 158 yards, averaging 12.2 yards per catch. In two seasons with the Yellow Jackets, he had 16 catches on 21 targets for 201 yards, a career average of 12.6 yards per reception. He played 239 offensive snaps last season and earned a 64.7 grade from Pro Football Focus.

A former four-star recruit in the Class of 2024, Harpring was ranked as the No. 9 tight end nationally, the No. 21 overall recruit in Georgia and the No. 173 player in the country by 247Sports coming out of Marist School in Atlanta. Rivals’ Industri Transfer Ranking currently lists him as the No. 1,840 overall transfer prospect and the portal’s No. 102 tight end.

The move reunites Harpring with former Georgia Tech offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, who Florida hired last month. Faulkner played a significant role in recruiting Harpring out of high school and coached him during his time in Atlanta. Florida also added former Yellow Jackets wide receivers coach Trent McKnight to its staff. Additional staff connections include assistant offensive line coach Emil Ekiyor and assistant quarterbacks coach AJ Erdely, who also transferred from Georgia Tech to the Gators.

Harpring is the fourth offensive transfer the Yellow Jackets have made in Florida during this portal window, joining quarterback Aaron Phil, running back Bailey Stockton and inside linebacker Harrison Moore, who was Harpring’s roommate in Atlanta. Florida also secured commitments from a number of other offensive contributors, including Auburn wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr., Cincinnati running back Evan Pryor and ECU running back London Montgomery.

In Florida, Harpring joins a solid group that includes returning players Tony Livingston, Ameer Jackson and Mick Jones, along with James Madison transfer Lakota Dipre. With Harpring on board, Florida’s transfer class now includes players from Georgia Tech, Auburn, Baylor, Penn State, Stanford, Tulane, Kentucky, Wake Forest, Jacksonville State and others.