Tag: caleb banks

2023 Florida Football Position Preview: Defensive Tackles

Florida lost Gervon Dexter to the NFL in April, but a pair of transfer tackles are set to take over Florida’s interior defensive line.

Florida’s defensive line will be another unit that relies heavily on transfer talent this season.

Both starting tackles — Cam Jackson and Caleb Banks — are in their first year with the program, meaning two new faces on the interior, and there’s a considerable amount of depth behind them. Nearly every Gators fan is rooting for big Desmond Watson to get on the field, and the first and second-year players that were recruited by Napier are, of course, the future of the program.

There tends to be a lot of shifting and rotating in the trenches, so it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what it means to start, but we’ve identified the top players in the position room and created a rough depth chart to work off as the season begins.

Here’s a look at every defensive tackle on Florida’s 2023 fall roster.

Five incoming Florida transfers make 247Sports top-150 rankings

247Sports updated its transfer rankings on Wednesday and five incoming Gators are ranked inside the top 150.

The Florida Gators brought in 10 players through the transfer portal over the winter and four of them made the final update to the 247Sports Top150 transfer rankings.

Defensive lineman [autotag]Caleb Banks[/autotag] is the highest-ranked Gator on the list. The Louisville transfer is No. 82 overall on the Top150 with a transfer grade of 91. Kentucky offensive tackle transfer [autotag]Kiyaunta Goodwin[/autotag] is next up at No. 96, and Memphis defensive line transfer [autotag]CamRon Jackson[/autotag] is just outside the top 100 at No. 110 overall.

Baylor offensive guard transfer [autotag]Micah Mazzccua[/autotag] is No. 138 on the list and former Wisconsin quarterback [autotag]Graham Mertz[/autotag] rounds things out at No. 150. Both have a transfer grade of 90, meaning Florida is bringing in five players of the caliber or better.

On the other hand, Florida lost two players ranked in the top 150, offensive guard [autotag]Ethan White[/autotag] (No. 131) to USC and defensive back [autotag]Donovan McMillon[/autotag] (No. 143) to Pittsburgh.

The hope is that White’s departure will be offset by Mazzccua, but there’s no clear replacement for McMillon. Fortunately, the Gators focused heavily on defensive backs in the most recent recruiting cycle.

Although they didn’t make 247Sports’ list of the top transfers, Florida is counting on guys like linebacker [autotag]Teradja Mitchell[/autotag], running back [autotag]Cameron Carroll[/autotag] and offensive tackle [autotag]Damieon George[/autotag] to contribute. There was a ton of roster turnover during the offseason and there are several starting spots up for grabs.

It’s too early to tell how well Florida did in the transfer portal this offseason, but the early returns seem good.

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Florida has one of college football’s 12 most lethal rosters in 2023

Florida has a ton of talent on its roster heading into the 2023 season, but that doesn’t guarantee success.

The Florida Gators finished tied for 12th in 247Sports’ recent list of the most lethal rosters heading into the 2023 season.

247Sports’ Brad Crawford used the site’s team composite ranking to rank the teams. He took the average position of the team’s finish over the past five years and Florida finished with a 12.4 average, the same as Michigan.

Florida finished 14th in the country during the most recent cycle. Losing five-star quarterback Jaden Rashada hurt a class that had a chance to break the top 10. Florida’s first class under Billy Napier in 2022 ranked No. 18 overall, and Dan Mullen brought in the No. 12 class in 2021 and the No. 9 class in 2019 and 2020.

“When Florida is winning national titles, the Gators are one of the nation’s elite recruiting teams,” Crawford wrote. “And while this program has a top-12 roster based on talent heading into coach Billy Napier’s second season, there are certainly depth concerns that the coaching staff must contend with following a disappointing 6-7 finish under the new regime.”

The problem with using this metric to rank teams is that transfers come and go, and the bulk of the Mullen classes has moved on from the program in one way or another. The class of 2020 features some team leaders, such as receiver [autotag]Xzavier Henderson[/autotag] and linebacker [autotag]Derek Wingo[/autotag], but much of the class has transferred out or declared for the upcoming draft.

Florida also added a ton of transfer over the past two offseasons. Quarterbacks [autotag]Graham Mertz[/autotag] and [autotag]Jack Miller[/autotag], running backs [autotag]Montrell Johnson Jr[/autotag]. and [autotag]Cameron Carroll[/autotag], receiver [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag], offensive linemen [autotag]Damieon George[/autotag], [autotag]Kiyaunta Goodwin[/autotag] and Micah Mazzccua, defensive linemen [autotag]Caleb Banks[/autotag] and [autotag]CamRon Jackson[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Teradja Mitchell[/autotag]  and cornerback [autotag]Jalen Kimber[/autotag] could all play significant roles for the team next season.

Florida could end up playing like a top-12 in the country by the season’s end, especially if the transfers help make up for the talent lost over the past few years, but it’s unwise to think of the Gators as a top-12 program in terms of actual talent heading into the season.

There’s been too much turnover in the program over the past couple of years for this metric to work for the Gators. A team like Michigan has a much better chance of living up to the expectations created by this list.

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Florida moves up in 247Sports’ recruiting rankings after All-American commits

After an All-American committed to the Orange and Blue, the Gators have moved up two spots in 247Sports’ 2023 recruiting rankings

On the heels of Caden Jones‘ Jan. 7 commitment, the Florida Gators have moved up in 247Sports’ 2023 recruting rankings, going from No. 13 to No. 11. They jumped over Texas A&M and Oregon on their way to their new ranking.

Jones announced his commitment at the All-American Bowl broadcast live on NBC last Saturday. The 6-foot-8-inch offensive lineman chose the Orange and Blue over the Aggies and Houston Cougars. Despite being from New Orleans, Napier was able to pry Jones from schools closer to home and make another addition to his 2023 class, which now has 21 members.

The smaller class was strategic for Napier, as he needs scholarships open to be active in the transfer portal. Prioritizing quality over quantity was a point of emphasis Napier made in his opening press conference and subsequent open letter to the fan base. The roster turnover along the offensive line, paired with his size and ability, make Jones a contender for early playing time.

Florida’s 21-member 2023 class joins transfers [autotag]Teradja Mitchell[/autotag], [autotag]CamRon Jackson[/autotag], [autotag]Graham Mertz[/autotag] and [autotag]Caleb Banks[/autotag] as the new faces in Gainesville. It doesn’t look like Napier is stopping just yet. Even though multiple members of the 2023 class have already enrolled early, there is still room for the class to grow with national signing day scheduled for Feb. 1.

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Florida earns commitment from Michigan transfer linebacker

Florida needed to add some linebackers to the team this offseason, and the transfer portal is delivering for the Gators.

Former Michigan linebacker [autotag]Deuce Spurlock[/autotag] committed to the Florida Gators on Sunday, making the announcement public on social media around 1 p.m. on the East Coast.

After one year with the Wolverines, the Alabama native is headed back to the South to play in the SEC for a coach that wanted him before he was at the right school to land him. [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s staff recruited Spurlock as a high school senior while at Louisiana, but the then three-star recruit opted to play for Jim Harbaugh and Michigan instead.

Florida seemed to be the only team with a real chance to land Spurlock during this cycle. He announced his entrance into the transfer portal on Jan. 2 after Michigan lost to TCU in the Fiesta Bowl, visited Florida by the start of the weekend and announced his commitment to close it out.

Adding Spurlock is a major win for Florida. The team needed linebackers after losing two starters, [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag] and [autotag]Amari Burney[/autotag], to the NFL draft, and have now added former Ohio State Buckeye Teradja Mitchell and Spurlock at the position. Both should compete for significant playing time in 2023. Returning players at inside linebacker include Derek Wingo, Shemar James and Scooby Williams.

At Michigan, Spurlock played just 12 snaps over two games, collecting three total tackles (one solo) and a Pro Football Focus grade of 58.3 on defense for the year. He’ll have four years of eligibility remaining at Florida, so there’s time to develop him into his full potential.

Spurlock is the fifth player to transfer to Florida this offseason along with with Louisville defensive lineman [autotag]Caleb Banks[/autotag], Wisconsin quarterback [autotag]Graham Mertz[/autotag], Mitchell and Memphis defensive lineman [autotag]CamRon Jackson[/autotag].

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Florida hosting this Miami OL on official visit after landing in top 4

After losing most of its 2022 starting offensive line, Florida is looking to replenish the trenches through the transfer portal.

With the recruiting dead period for high school seniors in place until Jan. 13, Florida is taking advantage of the Jan. 4-8 window that transfer players are allowed to make official visits. On Thursday, Miami offensive lineman [autotag]John Campbell[/autotag] will be on campus for an official visit with the Gators, according to 247Sports.

The visit is planned through Friday, but this won’t be Campbell’s first chance to check out the Swamp. He made several trips to UF during his high school recruitment but never made it to Gainesville for an official visit before committing to Miami. He played in 34 games for the Hurricanes in total, including 18 starts.

On Tuesday, Campbell released a top four of Florida, Florida State, Tennessee and USC. He’s already taken an official visit to FSU and Florida is next on the itinerary.

With both of Florida’s starting tackles in 2022 moving on from the program, Campbell could find himself starting at left tackle for Florida if he transfers. [autotag]Richard Gouraige[/autotag] is off to the NFL and [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag] is in the transfer portal, leaving [autotag]Austin Barber[/autotag] as the lone experienced option on the team.

The Gators have already brought in a handful of transfers and expect to stay busy through the cycle. So far, Florida has added Wisconsin quarterback [autotag]Graham Mertz[/autotag], Ohio State linebacker [autotag]Teradja Mitchell[/autotag], Memphis defensive lineman [autotag]CamRon Jackson[/autotag] and Louisville defensive lineman [autotag]Caleb Banks[/autotag].

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Florida adds former Memphis defensive lineman through transfer portal

Florida restocked its defensive line with the addition of Memphis transfer CamRon Jackson Friday evening.

Former Memphis defensive lineman [autotag]CamRon Jackson[/autotag] didn’t need to wait until his Jan. 4 official visit to pull the trigger on committing to the University of Florida. He took to Twitter to pledge his services to the Orange and Blue around 9 p.m. EST Friday night.

Jackson is the second defensive lineman Billy Napier has brought in, replacing the departing duo of [autotag]Chris Thomas[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen Lee[/autotag]. Louisville’s [autotag]Caleb Banks[/autotag] will join Jackson in Florida’s defensive line room along with returners [autotag]Desmond Watson[/autotag] and [autotag]Chris McClellan[/autotag], The Gators also have five incoming defensive linemen, but there’s no guarantee that a true freshman could step into a major role right away.

Jackson totaled 51 tackles (25 solo) and recorded five tackles for a loss, including 2.5 sacks for 13 yards, in his three years with the Tigers. He earned Third-Team All-ACC honors from Pro Football Focus in 2022 and played in all 13 of the Tigers’ games in 2022.

Jackson’s January visit will now be a celebration rather than a recruiting pitch. He knows he’s filling a major need for one of the premiere SEC programs and chose Florida over Miami, the other major contender in his recruitment. Defensive line coach Sean Spencer and defensive analyst Jamar Chaney were Jackson’s major points of contact during the process, according to 247Sports.

He joins the Gators with two years of eligibility left and should play on the interior of the offensive line.

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Gators hosting Memphis transfer DL on official visit

Florida is getting Memphis defensive lineman CamRon Jackson on campus in January as Billy Napier looks to replenish talent in the trenches.

Florida will host Memphis defensive lineman [autotag]CamRon Jackson[/autotag] on Jan. 4 for an official visit, according to Gators Online.

Jackson entered his name into the transfer portal on Thursday and Florida quickly began recruiting him. The Gators need to restock its defensive line corps despite adding a handful of prep players at the position during the early signing period and securing a commitment from Louisville transfer [autotag]Caleb Banks[/autotag].

A three-star prospect from the class of 2020, Jackson originally committed to the LSU Tigers before signing with Memphis. Florida, Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M and Mississippi State were some of the programs that offered him out of high school, and now the Gators are back in the fold.

[autotag]Desmond Watson[/autotag] is expected to start on the line next year, and Jackson could easily join him as a starter. During his three years with Memphis, Jackson totaled 51 tackles (25 solo) and recorded five tackles for a loss, including 2.5 sacks for 13 yards. He earned Third-Team All-ACC honors from Pro Football Focus in 2022 and played in all 13 of the Tigers’ games.

Miami should get him on campus in January and it wouldn’t be surprising to see more Power Five programs take interest in Jackson. Florida getting him on campus so quickly could give the Gators a head start in this recruitment.

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Gators land this Louisville defensive lineman via transfer portal

The Gators picked up a piece for their defensive line via the transfer portal on Wednesday.

The start of the early signing period on Wednesday was a big day for [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and Co. as the program signed 22 total prep prospects en route to one of the finer signing days in recent memory. While the focus may have been mostly on the 2023 recruiting cycle, talent in the transfer portal was also on the minds of the Gators’ staff.

One of the newcomers for the Orange and Blue next season will be former Louisville Cardinals defensive lineman [autotag]Caleb Banks[/autotag], who officially became a Gator on Wednesday when the program announced his addition through the NCAA transfer portal. The massive 6-foot-7-inch, 300-pound behemoth originally picked UL over offers from a multitude of schools, including the Tennessee Volunteers, Michigan State Spartans, Michigan Wolverines and Arizona State Sun Devils — the latter of which he was committed to at one point.

The rising redshirt sophomore made just one stop in the Swamp prior in early December before verbally committing on Dec. 11 as he was unable to visit while still in high school. Still, his impression of the program was high after that solitary official visit.

“It’s a great coaching staff,” Banks said after the official visit, according to Swamp247. “They are building something great there. It was amazing to see firsthand instead of virtually. Actually being able to go there. I wasn’t able to go on visits because of COVID, so it was pretty good going into my first official visit at Florida. Honestly, everything [was a highlight]. There wasn’t one certain thing. I loved it.”

Not only are the pieces of the puzzle in place on the sidelines for Banks but also on the field.

“(The staff) just told me I would have a great opportunity. They need defensive linemen. We will see where that goes and see what happens. They see me being a three, four or a five.”

Banks was a three-star defensive lineman coming out of high school in Southfield, Michigan, according to both the 247Sports consensus as well as the On3 consensus for the class of 2021. During his two collegiate seasons with the Cardinals, he appeared in eight total games — two as a true freshman in 2021 and six in 2022 — recording two tackles and a sack while forcing a fumble over that stretch.

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Gators land first transfer commitment from this former Louisville DL

The Gators may be losing a good chunk of talent to the transfer portal, but Billy Napier is already bringing in players to restock the team.

Florida earned its first commitment of the winter transfer portal cycle on Sunday. Former Louisville defensive lineman [autotag]Caleb Banks[/autotag] announced his decision on Twitter and is headed to the Swamp.

Banks’ commitment comes off an official visit to Florida and a few conversations with Florida defensive coordinator Sean Spencer. He already considered UF as his “dream school,” according to On3’s Gators Online, and spending a weekend in Gainesville only helped confirm things.

The Gators beat out several Power Five programs for Banks, including Auburn, Oklahoma, Tennessee and USC. A three-star prospect out of Southfield (Michigan) High School, Banks impressed during his very limited playing time as a true freshman for the Cardinals. He finished with two tackles, one sack and a forced fumble playing just 38 defensive snaps.

With [autotag]Desmond Watson[/autotag] and [autotag]Chris McClellan[/autotag] likely ahead of Banks on the depth chart, Florida gains a very moldable piece to his defensive line corps. He’s projected to fit at nose tackle next season, but the departure of [autotag]Gervon Dexter[/autotag] to the NFL could force a few different position swaps. Banks give Florida the flexibility to play the best player available at each position.

After losing over a dozen players to the portal, Florida should be one of the most active teams in the transfer cycle. Banks is the first commitment of the season but surely won’t be the last.

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