Transfer O’Cyrus Torrence feels at home with Gators, minus the spicy food

Florida offensive guard O’Cyrus Torrence met with the UF media Tuesday for the first time since transferring from Louisiana.

Torrence, a member of the Outland Trophy preseason watch list, joined the Gators following three years in Lafayette, coming to Gainesville with head coach Billy Napier.

Torrence decided to attend Florida over offers from LSU, Auburn and other major programs. He discussed his transfer process this week.

“Once I got in the portal, then they started contacting me and talking. I was a little shocked,” Torrence recalled. “I didn’t think they would need me. I thought, ‘It’s the SEC. They’ve got a bunch of needs over here.’ But they said they needed me because I knew the offense and I would be a good part to the puzzle over here.

“I just remember when I talked to the coaches how they explained about the development of how long I would be here, just for like a year, and how it’s going to help me at the next level, coming here, playing and dominating. It reminded me of coming out of high school and how they recruited me and just the love they showed. And I was like, ‘yeah, it’s the right place for me.’ I didn’t make the wrong choice then, and I didn’t make it this time, either.”

Adapting to life in Florida

The Louisiana native moved to Florida in January and has settled into his new home. His biggest adjustment has been the style of food.

“I’ve adapted pretty good so far, even from when I first got here,” he said. “It’s a difference from like the area and kind of a culture, but it’s still a college football town. So, it’s kind of like I was able to fit in pretty well pretty fast. But the food-wise, it’s different.

“I’m just used to the spiciness of Louisiana. We talked about it, with the hot sauce and stuff like this. Nobody out here likes their food hot, so I have to kind of find places that have (spicy) food. Or I just want to cook my own food. I have to put my Louisiana style to it.”

Torrence went through spring ball with the Gators and established himself as the starter at right guard. It didn’t take long before Torrence felt that he belonged in Gainesville.

“When I first got here, it took me a little while because I was kind of in a shell,” he said. “But after like a few practices, not even that many, they kind of took me in as their brother, and I just appreciate them for that. Work-wise, they work hard. Like from the first day, they never complained about the work even if it was different from what they was doing last year with the other staff because we do a lot of O-line individual and team reps.

“It was a lot for them, but I never heard them complain. I just always seen them attack the work and the willingness to get better. That’s kind of what I like to see because that O-line is always something you can get better and work at. And it’s a team sport, so we’ve got to be together as a team. Just seeing them easily accept the work every day and just attacking it just made me feel like, ‘Yeah, I can like it here.’ I like how they work, and I’m ready to play with them.”

Sale has high praise for Torrence

Rob Sale, who was the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Louisiana from 2018-20, recruited Torrence to both Louisiana and Florida.

Now under the same roles at UF, Sale is ready to work with him again. Torrence was one of the few freshmen to start at Louisiana under Sale and Napier.

“Unbelievable human first, right, person and character,” Sale said of Torrence. “(We) identified that when we were there at the other place. But he’s big. He’s twitchy. Football comes easy to O’Cyrus; it really does. But we have a plan and a teaching progression to get a freshman to be able to play early if they are ready. But you got to meet us in the middle.

“The teaching plan is, there’s no holes in it, but the player also has to do his part being full in. O’Cyrus missed like the first two series, first game of his freshman year and then he started the rest of his career there and he was ready to go. But an unbelievable person first. Does everything the right way. Football comes easy to him, and he’ll have a lot of success here.”

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