Florida OL Riley Simonds joining staff as a student assistant coach

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Riley Simonds will remain with the Florida football program this year, but in a new role. Simonds will begin new chapter in his football career.

The redshirt senior offensive lineman is moving on from his playing days and joining the staff as a student assistant coach, Gators Online has confirmed.

Simonds is currently working on his master’s degree and has one year of eligibility remaining. But he has decided to get a head start on becoming a coach.

Simonds appeared in one game as a reserve last year in Week 2 against McNeese. He saw no action in 2022 but played in 10 games during the 2021 season.

Simonds made four appearances in 2020 after redshirting the previous year. He’s a four-time member of the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.

Riley Simonds earned his bachelor’s degree in media & society in Spring 2023.

With Thursday’s news on Simonds and Florida cornerback Ethan Pouncey, who entered the portal as a grade transfer, the Gators are now under the 85-man scholarship limit.

The departure of Simonds leaves UF with 15 scholarship offensive linemen for 2024: Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, Austin Barber, Damieon George, Jake Slaughter, Kamryn Waites, Devon Manuel, Knijeah Harris, Christian Williams, Caden Jones, Roderick Kearney, Bryce Lovett, Noel Portnjagin, Fletcher Westphal, Mike Williams and Marcus Mascoll, who enrolls this summer.