BREAKING: Marco Ortiz enters his name into the transfer portal
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida Gators‘ long snapper Marco Ortiz has entered the transfer portal, Gators Online has learned.
Ortiz is a redshirt junior who has missed most of the 2022 season due to a shoulder injury. The injury could allow him to apply for a medical hardship waiver. That would allow him to have two years of eligibility left at his new school.
Ortiz enrolled at Florida in 2018. He didn’t play and took a redshirt that season. He made his collegiate debut in 2019 in a win over Vanderbilt and was named to SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll. Ortiz became the starting long snapper prior to the 2021 season.
Prior to the start of the 2022 season, Ortiz was named to the Patrick Mannelly Award Watch List, which recognizes the best long snapper in the nation.
Ortiz was one of 25 players and one of two from the SEC (Wesley Schelling, Vanderbilt) to earn the preseason recognition. Phil Steele also named him Preseason All-American Fourth Team and Phil Steele All-SEC First Team as he didn’t record a muffed snap all last year.
Last season the native of Richmond, Va. earned the starting long snapping duties this season and was placed on scholarship following the Tennessee game.
“It was huge. You know, that was my goal,” Otiz said of earning a scholarship. “Obviously, when I came here, it was a big goal of mine and I accomplished it. And it’s great just knowing that all my hard work has paid off and they’re recognizing it, and it’s nice to know my parents don’t have to pay for college.”
Ortiz named “Man of the Month”
Ortiz was named Florida Gators ‘Wuerffel Man of the Month’ in May.
In a short video that was released on Wednesday, Ortiz sat down with Wuerffel. The Heisman winning quarterback asked the recent UF graduate why he believes he deserves the honor.
“I think it’s just how I handled myself over these last four years,” Ortiz said. “I think it’s just all the coaches seeing the work I’ve put in and then what I do on and off the field.”
The Award is based in part on leadership. Wuerffel asked Ortiz who instilled that in him and how he exemplifies it.
“I would say, my dad. He used to always say, ‘What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.’ I kind of used that in all things, really,” Ortiz said. “I came in as a preferred walk-on. It took a long time, but I eventually earned a scholarship and a starting role.”
![Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier celebrates with Florida Gators wide receiver Aidan Mizell (11) after a touchdown during the first half at the Orange and Blue spring football game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 13, 2024. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://on3static.com/cdn-cgi/image/height=215,width=393,quality=90,fit=cover,gravity=0.5x0.5/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/04/13155133/Untitled-design-65-2.png)
