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Florida Football 2024 Position Preview: Safety/STAR

The Gators brought in a few experienced players to bolster the safeties room, but returner Jordan Castell should lead the group.

Wrapping up the defensive side of Gators Wire’s position preview series are the safeties.

Defensive backs coach Will Harris is in charge of this group, too, which is comprised of a mix of new and returning talent. Leading the group is sophomore Jordan Castell, who showed great promise as a true freshman. Behind Castell, is a trio of talented transfers that should shore up the position room.

We’re including Florida’s nickelback position, the star, here as well. Some of the star guys could play corner too since it’s a hybrid position of sorts.

Let’s take a look at every cornerback on Florida’s roster. Check out Gators Wire’s other position previews for the 2024 season below.

Starting Free Safety: No. 14 Jordan Castell (So.)

Defensive Stats:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	PD
2023	12	30	30	60	1.5-11	0-0	1	4

[autotag]Jordan Castell[/autotag] was Florida’s best defensive back in 2023. Pro Football Focus gave him a 75.6 overall defensive grade, and he didn’t have a true weak spot in his game. Florida coaches expect Castell to take a step forward in 2024, too, as he physically matures and enters the season with more than 650 snaps under his belt.

“He’s just a different place right now,” Napier said. “He’s playing faster. He’s got a better comprehension of the system. He’s communicating better. You see him barking out calls.

“I think he would probably tell you that the veteran safeties that we’ve added to the team have made him a better player. Number one, they do it the right way — their work ethic, their attention to detail, the way they approach their business.”

Don’t let his 68.8% completion rate against fool you. Castell thrives in Cover 3 situations and can completely take a team’s top option out of the game. He’s the kind of guy opposing quarterbacks will see on one side field and target the other.

Starting Strong Safety: No. 20 Asa Turner (R-Sr.)

Defensive Stats (at Washington):

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	PD
2019	12	16	3	19	2-3	0-0	1	1
2020	4	9	8	17	0-0	0-0	1	2
2021	10	22	12	34	2-3	0-0	2	2
2022	10	33	19	52	1-3	0-0	2	3
2023	7	16	10	26	2-5	0-0	0	0
Total	43	96	52	148	7-14	0-0	6	8

[autotag]Asa Turner[/autotag] was the heartbeat of Washington’s defense last year, even though he missed most of the season recovering from injury. Pro Football Focus gave him a 72.4 overall defensive grade, but he’s not the same all-around safety that Castell is.

Turner is a strong tackler, often scoring in the 80s on PFF in that category. He’s good in coverage but can struggle against the run at times. He played a lot of free safety at Washington, but a move to strong safety could be best for him in the SEC.

There shouldn’t be any concerns about Turner’s ability to perform entering his sixth season at the college level, either. He wasn’t phased out or fighting with the coaching staff. It was simply time for a change of scenery.

“I needed a change,” Turner said. “I had been at Washington for the past five years, been doing the same routine, living in the same apartment, seeing the same people, driving the same car. I probably felt it was time for a change, and I wanted to go out with a bang this sixth year.”

Starting STAR: No. 0 Sharif Denson (So.) or No. 13 Aaron Gates (So.)

A pair of second-year Gators are standing out at the star position heading into Week 1 of the college season.

Sharif Denson:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	PD
2023	12	3	4	7	0.5-2	0-0	0	0

[autotag]Sharif Denson[/autotag] played in all 12 games for Florida a season ago, both in a special teams role and as a reserve defensive back. He only saw the field for 49 snaps, but now he’s competing for a starting role. Pro Football Focus graded him the highest against the run (81.9), but he wasn’t a strong tackler (48.4). More snaps means more responsibility, but he’ll be able to share the load with Gates.

[autotag]Aaron Gates[/autotag] only played one snap on defense last year en route to a redshirt, but he’s right in the thick of the competition for a starting spot this year.

“Very competitive at the star position. He’s (Gates) in the thick of it here,” Florida head coach Billy Napier said Wednesday. “It was great for him to get four games of experience. He played a little bit on special teams. Aaron’s a young player. This is his first shot, his first go-round, and he’s right in the middle. Every day for him is critical.”

Backups: No. 7 Trikweze Bridges, No. 12 DJ Douglas (R-Sr.) and No. 18 Bryce Thornton (So.)

DJ Douglas (at Tulane):

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	PD
2021	10	3	2	5	0-0	0-0	0	0
2022	13	16	3	19	0-0	0-0	1	2
2023	13	39	15	54	1-1	0-0	3	5
Total	36	58	20	78	1-1	0-0	4	7

[autotag]DJ Douglas[/autotag] was a consistent contributor for Tulane over the past three years, so it’s a bit odd to see him enter the 2024 campaign as a potential backup. Douglas figures to be the primary backup to both Castell and Turner, and he could even work his way into a starting job.

In a perfect world, he’s an elite depth option that Florida can bring in off the sidelines once fatigue sets in. He’s also an option at the star position.

Trikweze Bridges (at Oregon):

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	PD
2020	6	2	0	2	0-0	0-0	0	0
2021	14	17	9	26	1-2	0-0	1	2
2022	13	30	19	49	1-2	0-0	3	8
2023	13	7	9	16	0.5-1	0-0	0	3
Total	47	56	37	93	2.5-5	0-0	4	13

[autotag]Trikweze Bridges[/autotag] is another transfer (from Oregon) who has a ton of experience. Bridges can play anywhere in the secondary, which should get him on the field a good amount at Florida. His best fit might be the star position, and a lack of experience at the position could provide the open door he’s looking for.

Bryce Thornton:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	PD
2023	12	19	15	34	3.5-21	0.5-7	0	1

Did we mention there’s some depth in Florida’s secondary? [autotag]Bryce Thornton[/autotag] appeared in all 12 games for the Gators last season, including four starts, but he remains a backup thanks to an influx of talent in the position room.

Thornton offers a unique skill set to the room, though. He has a penchant for getting to ball carriers behind the line of scrimmage, at least more so than your average defensive back. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Thornton enter the game in short-yardage and goalline situations as an extra blitzer.

Freshmen: No. 23 Josiah Davis (Fr.) and No. 30 Gregory Smith III (Fr.)

Florida welcomes two first-year safeties to the position room this year, [autotag]Josiah Davis[/autotag] and [autotag]Gregory Smith III[/autotag].

Smith was a four-star recruit out of high school but he might not see the field any sooner than Davis. Florida has depth at both safety positions, which could bury Smith in Year 1. Davis, on the other hand, might be a better fit at the star position. The hierarchy is less clear there than at the two safety positions, so a door could be opened.

Look for both to redshirt this season barring an injury to one of the guys ahead of them on the depth chart.

Walk-Ons: No. 31 Ahman Covington (R-Fr.), No.32 Cahron Rackley (R-Jr.), No. 39 Brayden Slade (R-Fr.), No. 43 Alfonzo Allen Jr. (Jr.) and No. 46 Ethan Wilson (R-Sr.)

Florida has five walk-on safeties on its roster heading into the fall.

Redshirt junior Cahron Rackley is the most tenured of the group, entering his fourth season with the Gators. The former Miami Palmetto defensive back walked on to the team in the spring of 2021 and made his first appearance last season during the win over McNeese.

Ahman Covington, Brayden Slade and Ethan Wilson are entering their second year with the program. Wilson is a redshirt senior, which might get him on the field sooner than the others, but the two redshirt freshmen are both preferred walk-ons. The PWO tag usually means there’s a chance to earn a scholarship.

Finally, there’s former Baylor reserve Alfonzo Allen Jr. He appeared in all 25 games for the Bears over the past two seasons, primarily in a special teams role. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him as a regular in the third phase of the game for Florida.

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Florida Football 2024 Position Preview: Cornerbacks

If Florida can stay healthy at cornerback, the position room has a chance to be at its best since Billy Napier took over the program.

The winds of change hit Florida’s secondary room hard over the offseason.

In addition to several departures via the transfer portal, the Gators parted ways with defensive backs coach Corey Raymond and hired Will Harris from the Chargers to take over the reins. Harris has received positive reviews, but his players haven’t taken the field for a real game yet.

First, we’ll take a look at the cornerbacks on the roster. These are the guys who line up on the outside, rather than the safeties who play more up the middle. There’s also the STAR position, which is what Florida calls its nickelback, but we’ll go over those hybrid defensive backs with the safeties.

Let’s take a look at every cornerback on Florida’s roster. Check out Gators Wire’s other position previews for the 2024 season below.

Starting Cornerback: No. 3 Jason Marshall Jr. (Sr.)

Defensive Stats:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	PD
2021	13	15	8	23	2-7	0-0	1	4
2022	13	20	9	29	1-2	0-0	1	9
2023	12	20	6	26	3-19	1-9	0	10
Total	38	55	23	78	6-28	1-9	2	23

[autotag]Jason Marshall Jr[/autotag]. is a former five-star recruit who draft experts view as Florida’s best prospect in the coming cycle. He could have tried his luck in the NFL at the end of his junior season, but he decided to return to Florida to increase his draft stock.

As the unquestioned No. 1 of the unit, Marshall should be on the field for most plays. He took 651 snaps a year ago, and ended the 2023 season with a 68.6 overall defensive grade on Pro Football Focus. There are some questions about his tackling ability, but Marshall showed he has lockdown ability by allowing just 17 catches on 38 targets (44.7%).

“I think Jason has taken a step forward as a leader. I’m proud of him. I think he’s been more vocal. I think his practice habits have improved. I think Coach Harris has been good for Jason. I also joke with him all the time, it’s a contract year for him,”Billy Napier said. “He’s back. I think he came back for a reason – not only to leave a better legacy at UF, but to increase value at the same time.”

Starting Cornerback: No. 28 Devin Moore (Jr.)

Defensive Stats:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	PD
2022	5	4	2	6	0-0	0-0	0	0
2023	7	5	1	6	0-0	0-0	1	4
Total	12	9	3	12	0-0	0-0	1	4

Devin Moore has shown flashes of greatness in both years he’s been with the Gators, but he can’t seem to stay healthy throughout the regular season. Ten pounds heavier coming into the 2024 season, Moore is hopeful to double his games played from 12 to 24 (or 25 with a bowl game).

Moore was Florida’s highest-graded cornerback in 2023. Pro Football Focus gave him a 78.3 overall defensive grade and an 81.7 coverage grade. His completion percentage allowed of 41.7% was even better than Marshall’s last year, albeit over 12 targets. Still, there’s some draft hope here if he can get stay healthy this season and put up similar numbers.

“During the offseason, I did everything I can to prehab you know just work on my body,” Moore said. “Make sure I’m in the best position to be healthy and stay healthy.”

Backups: No. 2 Ja’Keem Jackson (So.) and Dijon Johnson (So.)

Ja’Keem Jackson:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	PD
2023	11	5	2	7	0-0	0-0	0	3

Dijon Johnson:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	PD
2023	12	1	1	2	0-0	0-0	0	0

[autotag]Ja’Keem Jackson[/autotag] saw more snaps at cornerback (113) than [autotag]Dijon Johnson[/autotag] (22), but both are expected to move up the depth chart in Year 2 with the Florida Gators.

Jackson’s numbers aren’t too gaudy, but he showed promise as a pass rusher, which is unique for a defensive back. He allowed 6 catches on 11 targets a season ago, so there’s some work to be done in coverage.

There’s a lot of confidence that Jackson will take a big step forward with more time on the field. He’s a former track star who also played receiver, so there’s an understanding of both sides of the ball there.

Johnson didn’t see the field a ton last year, but he impressed in fall camp. It might take an injury for him to see 200-plus snaps this season, but the former four-star recruit should up his total from the 22 snaps he played a year ago.

Reserves: No. 25 Cormani McClain (So.)

At Colorado:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	PD
2023	10	6	7	13	1-2	0-0	0	2

[autotag]Cormani McClain[/autotag] is finally a Gator, but it might take some time for him to fit into the rotation at cornerback in Gainesville. The former No. 1 overall recruit left Colorado after a season and joined Florida as a preferred walk-on.

It wouldn’t be shocking to see him get regular playing time this year, but McClain’s best moments are still likely 12 months or more away. Learning a new system is tricky, and Colorado’s coaching staff might have done more harm than good from a mental standpoint. You have to root for a story like this, but allow McClain a season to readjust.

Freshman: No. 4 Teddy Foster (Fr.) and Jameer Grimsley (Fr.)

Florida added two cornerbacks to the roster from the 2024 recruiting cycle. Teddy Foster and Jameer Grimsley are the new faces in the position room, although the latter is actually a transfer who left Alabama after learning Nick Saban was stepping down.

Grimsley is the more highly-touted prospect, but he might be held back a bit because of the transfer situation. Both he and Foster should serve in reserve roles, similar to what Jackson and Johnson did last year.

Walk-On: No. 37 Javion Toombs (R-So.)

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	PD
2023	7	1	0	1	0-0	0-0	0	0

We only have one walk-on cornerback to go over as the rest of the walk-ons in the defensive backs room profile as safeties. Javion Toombs joined the team in the summer of 2022 and redshirted after making no appearances.

He played in seven games a season ago, mostly in a special teams role, but he managed to record his first defensive tackle at the college level.

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Florida Football 2024 Position Preview: EDGE

The most competitive position room in Gainesville might be the edge rushers. Led by two veterans of the program, Florida has plenty of options.

Next up in Gators Wire’s position preview series is the edge corps.

Billy Napier says that the edge rushers might be the most competitive unit on the team heading into the season and it’s easy to see why. Two veterans are at the top of the depth chart for the ‘F’ position, and there’s depth at jack too.

If those position names are unfamiliar, don’t worry. They aren’t a part of the typical nomenclature football fans are used to seeing. The F, or fox, position is a hybrid of the outside linebacker and defensive end position that requires more versatility than the jack, whose strength is often against the run.

The fox needs to be able to drop back in coverage and act as an extra pass rusher when needed. It’s among the most complex positions in Florida’s defensive scheme, but it’s a sure marker of a modern defense.

Let’s take a look at every edge rusher on Florida’s roster. Check out Gators Wire’s other position previews for the 2024 season below.

Back From Injury: No. 1 Justus Boone (R-Jr.)

Defensive Stats:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	FF	FR
2021	2	1	2	3	1.5	0.5	0	0	0
2022	13	11	13	24	1	1	0	0	0
Total	15	12	15	27	2.5	1.5	0	0	0

There’s good news and bad news here. Two of Florida’s edge rushers are dealing with injuries to start the season, but one is close to making a comeback.

[autotag]Justus Boone[/autotag] tore his ACL a year ago and missed the entire 2023 season. It was a devastating injury to the unit, but now Boone is ready to return and is a clear team leader. We’ll have to wait for the official depth chart to see where Boone lands, but he’s expected to be one of the main faces up front for Florida this year.

In 2022, Boone played 282 snaps for Florida and earned a 73.2 overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus. His weak point was tackling (57.4), but Boone was the best coverage guy in the position room that year. If healthy, we could see him fit into the starting fox spot and Tyreak Sapp moves back to a true defensive end role.

“Boone has been one of the best leaders that we had,” Napier said. “Losing him last year was a big deal. Not only because of his production on the field and the depth issue there but also just his passion, his ability to affect people.”

Starting ‘F’: No. 94 Tyreak Sapp (R-Jr.)

Defensive Stats:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	FF	FR
2022	13	8	12	20	0.5	0	0	0	0
2023	11	12	12	24	4.5-18	2-12	0	2	0
Total	24	20	24	44	5-19	2-12	0	2	0

[autotag]Tyreak Sapp[/autotag] is the other veteran leader of the unit and he’s close friends with Boone. The two are hoping to take the field together this year, but they might do a bit of switching off at the fox position to start the year.

He stepped up big time in the wake of Boone’s injury and is Florida’s best-returning edge rusher statically. Pro Football Fous gave him a 74.4 overall grade on defense, second only to Princely Umanmielen in the position room, and he was an excellent tackler (85.1) without giving up too much in other areas.

“Sapp and Boone were here when we first got here, and both have been awesome,” Napier said. “They have great practice habits. They bring energy. They’ve got personalities that I think rub off on the team and the group. Those two have been in the trenches together for a couple of years now.”

Starting JACK: No. 11 Kelby Collins (So.) or No. 19 TJ Searcy (So.)

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Kelby Collins:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	FF	FR
2023	12	6	17	23	1.5-6	1.5-6	0	1	0

TJ Searcy:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	FF	FR
2023	12	9	17	26	3.5-6	0.5-2	0	1	0

Similar to the F, there are two players in contention for the starting jack linebacker role, sophomores [autotag]Kelby Collins[/autotag] and [autotag]TJ Searcy[/autotag]. Both played north of 250 snaps last season and excelled in different roles.

Collins is the better run defender and pass rusher, giving him an overall edge, but Searcy is an elite tackler and might be the best-returning edge in coverage. The platoon spells itself out here, but we could see both on the field together in theory.

The defensive line and edge rooms are a bit fluid, and Collins could even end up playing somewhere on the interior with [autotag]Jamari Lyons[/autotag] out for the year. That gives way to Searcy as the full-time jack and allows some of the younger guys on the depth chart to see the field too.

Backup ‘F’: No. 24 Kamran James (So.) or No. 17 LJ McCray (Fr.)

Kamran James:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	FF	FR
2023	12	6	17	23	1.5-6	1.5-6	0	1	0

[autotag]Kamran James[/autotag] appeared in all 12 games for Florida a year ago, but mostly in a special teams role. James should see the field more often in Year 2 as a Gator, though.

James is one of the rare players who can fit in at both fox and jack, so he’s going to be in the second unit in some capacity. Pro Football Focus gave him a 62.5 defensive grade over 77 snaps last season.

Then there’s true freshman [autotag]LJ McCray[/autotag], a former five-star recruit who was considered the defensive crown jewel of Florida’s 2024 recruiting class. Players with that kind of hype are often told they’ll get early playing time, and it’s hard to see McCray not being a factor by mid-October.

It takes some time for the young guys to adjust to the speed of the college game, but McCray is going to get the chance.

Backup JACK: No. 34 George Gumbs Jr. (R-Jr.) and No. 44 Jack Pyburn (Jr.)

George Gumbs Jr:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	FF	FR
2021*	4	0	0	0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0
2022*	7	0	0	0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0
2023*	12	15	17	32	6.5-20	3.5-15	0	2	0
Total	23	15	17	32	6.5-20	3.5-15	0	2	0

* = while at Northern Illinois

A former tight-end turned linebacker, [autotag]George Gumbs Jr[/autotag]. is certainly one of the more interesting players in Florida’s edge room. He’s often named among the players expected to see the field regularly this season, but he still needs some development.

Gumbs should line up on the weak side at jack for Florida behind Searcy. James might be ahead of him, too, but he’s still more likely to line up at the fox, at least until McCray gets his feet on the ground.

Jack Pyburn:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	FF	FR
2022	8	3	0	3	0-0	0-0	0	0	0
2023	9	6	11	17	1-1	0-0	0	0	0
Total	17	9	11	20	1-1	0-0	0	0	0

[autotag]Jack Pyburn[/autotag] is also working his way back from a torn ACL, suffered in the middle of last season. He’s ready to return to game action, but he’ll be used in as a rotational backup to both positions similar to James. The injury should hold him back a little, but Pyburn made a name for himself as a strong tackler last year over 124 snaps.

Reserves: No. 9 Ja’Markis Weston (R-Sr.) and No. 48 Quincy Ivory (R-Jr.)

Ja’Markis Weston Defense:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	FF	FR
2023	5	4	0	4	0-0	0-0	0	0	0

[autotag]Ja’Markis Weston[/autotag] started off as a receiver for Florida before switching over to the defensive side of the ball a year ago. Entering his final year of college ball, Weston is set to be a designated pass rusher for Florida, according to Billy Napier.

The short of it is that Weston will enter the game on obvious passing downs and do what he does best, get after the quarterback. It’s not the most glorified role on the team, but it’s Weston’s path to playing football at the next level. He’s also going to remain in the gunner role on special teams.

“Ja’Markis was considering maybe pursuing the NFL last year,” Napier said. “We had quite a few conversations. I can still remember where I was at when he called me and told me, said, ‘Coach, I’m coming back,’ because I thought it was a big deal for our team.”

Quincy Ivory:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	INT	FF	FR
2023	8	1	0	1	0-0	0-0	0	0	0

Quincy Ivory joined the team last year as a JUCO transfer and saw all of two snaps as an edge rusher. That role should be increased this year, but it’s hard to see Ivory breaking into meaningful snaps anywhere but the special teams unit.

Walk-Ons: No. 36 Bryce Capers (R-So.), No. 45 Layne Swafford (R-Fr.), No. 55 Charles Emanuel III (Fr.), No. 59 Titus Bullard (Fr.) and No. 91 Tyreik Norwood (R-Sr.)

Florida has five non-scholarship edge rushers on its 2024 roster.

The senior-most walk-on is Tyreik Norwood, who is entering his seventh year in college athletics. He played four years with Kentucky Wesleyan before walking on at Florida in the fall of 2022. He’s yet to see the field as a Gator, but that might change this season. Napier likes rewarding loyalty, and FCS Samford in Week 2 could present the right opportunity.

Bryce Capers chose to attend Florida as a preferred walk-on in 2022 and ended up playing in three games as a true freshman while redshirting. He didn’t see the field at all last year, but maybe the pattern is every other year for him.

Redshirt freshman Layne Swafford is the final returning walk-on in the position room. He was another PWO who joined the program in the summer of 2023. No appearances yet, but Swafford still has four years of eligibility to see the field.

The two newcomers in the edge room are Titus Bullard and Charles Emanuel III. Both joined the Gators over the summer, so they are likely just scouting team players for now, but Bullard’s name should sound familiar. He’s the son of WWE Global Ambassador Thaddeus Bullard, better known as Titus O’Neil.

Yes, the younger Bullard was named after his father’s fictional persona on television, and he’s also the nephew of Earnest Graham.

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Florida Football 2024 Position Preview: Defensive Line

Florida has a good amount of returning talent in its defensive line room heading into 2024 and will lean on returners Cam Jackson and Caleb Banks.

After taking a look at all of Florida’s players on offense, it’s time to check out the defense.

Florida runs a scheme, that often utilizes three defensive linemen, three linebackers and five defensive backs. That makes the defensive line a bit tricky to classify because the “EDGE” rushers can play hybrid roles, lining up on the line and as an outside linebacker, depending on the package.

That means most of the “defensive linemen” listed on the roster are interior linemen. Their jobs are to clog holes and stuff the run, rather than going after the quarterback every play.

There are some new faces in the position room, but Cam Jackson and Desmond Watson are two large and familiar faces. Some new guys in town should see the field often, too, with Chris McClellan now with Missouri.

Let’s take a look at every defensive lineman on Florida’s roster. Check out Gators Wire’s other position previews for the 2024 season below.

Starting Nose Tackle: No. 99 Cam Jackson (R-Sr.)

Defensive Stats:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	FF	FR
2020*	3	0	1	1	0.0	0.0	0	0
2021*	4	6	3	9	2.5	1.5	0	0
2022*	13	19	22	41	2.5	1.0	0	0
2023	11	18	14	32	0.5-1	0-0	0	0
Total	31	43	40	83	6-16	2.5-10	0	0

* = while at Memphis

[autotag]Cam Jackson[/autotag] is the incumbent starting nose tackle at Florida, and he might be the only player locked into his role before the season starts. Pro Football Focus graded Jackson the highest of any Florida defensive linemen a year ago, with an overall grade of 71.3.

A deeper look reveals that Jackson was much better against the run last season, though. His run-defense grade of 76.3 is significantly better than his pass-rush grade of 59.7, and there’s some work to be done on tackling (59.2).

As the team’s best run defender, Jackson will be the go-to at nose tackle this season. With a year of SEC ball under his belt, the hope is that he’ll increase his snap count from the 281 plays he was on the field for last year.

Starting Defensive End: No. 97 Joey Slackman (Gr.)

Defensive Stats:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	FF	FR
2021*	9	6	10	16	3.5-8	2.5-6	1	0
2022*	10	27	22	49	9.5-35	4.5-26	1	0
2023*	9	23	27	50	12-48	4-30	0	0
Total	28	56	59	115	25-91	11-62	2	0

[autotag]Joey Slackman[/autotag] transferred to Florida from Penn during the offseason, and he’s expected to play a significant role for the Gators this year. Billy Napier gushed over Slackman during fall camp, noting the impact he has on the unit.

In fact, Slackman was a guy that the rest of the players wanted Florida to go and get. He’s a leader and veteran of the college game, which provides some stability for the younger guys still finding their footing.

“Look, I’m a Joey Slackman guy,” Napier said. “I think Joey brings maturity and an awareness (to the team). I think he’s extremely bright and he’s motivated, he’s driven, he’s a self-starter and he’s an alpha. I think he does a great job. He brings other things besides being a 6-3, 315-pound athlete to the table.”

From a numbers standpoint, Slackman was more productive than Jackson over the past three years, albeit in a weaker conference. If Slackman can come close to the 90.7 defensive grade he earned from PFF last year, Florida has itself a bonafide SEC starter.

Starting Defensive Tackle: No. 88 Caleb Banks (R-Jr.)

Defensive Stats:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	FF	FR
2022*	6	1	1	2	1-3	1-3	1	0
2023	12	7	12	19	1.5-11	1-10	0	0
Total	18	8	13	21	2.5-14	2-13	1	0

* = while at Louisville

Next up is redshirt junior [autotag]Caleb Banks[/autotag], who led the position room with 364 snaps a year ago. His 69.8 overall defensive grade was the second-highest for Florida behind Jackson, but Banks offers a different skill set than the other two starters mentioned above.

The 2023 Lousiville transfer is a strong tackler (72.3) and an even better pass rusher (74.2), which means defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong will find ways to get him on the field. The defensive line is a bit of a rotational unit anyway, so the starter tag isn’t everything here.

“(Banks) got significant experience last year. He played around I think it’s 300 plus plays, got banged up a little bit at times in the second half of the season. So, yeah, he’s on a mission. This guy’s got traits. He’s 6-5-and-three-quarters, 320 (pounds) and he’s learned a lot.”

Sometimes, all three of these linemen will be on the field. At other times, Florida could opt to run an edge-heavy set. It all depends on what the offense is showing, but this is the core of the position room.

Backup: No. 21 Desmond Watson (Sr.)

Defensive Stats:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	FF	FR
2021	5	2	5	7	0.5-1	0.0	0	0
2022	13	8	17	25	1.5-3	0.0	1	1
2023	12	3	8	11	1-8	1-8	0	0
Total	38	13	30	43	3-12	1-8	1	1

Fan-favorite [autotag]Desmond Watson[/autotag] is the true backup of the group here.

At nearly 450 pounds, Watson’s conditioning can be an issue at times, but he still overpowers most linemen in front of him when he’s on the field. He’s an asset on the goal line and other short-yardage situations, but he’ll be lucky to see more than 200 snaps this year.

Over 175 snaps in 2023, Watson earned a 64.8 defensive grade from PFF, which breaks down to 65.9 as a run defender and 58.8 as a pass rusher. It’s clear which role Watson thrives in most. Now the coaches have to utilize him accordingly.

Injured: No. 95 Jamari Lyons (R-So.)

Defensive Stats:

Year	GP	SOLO	AST	TOT	TFL	SACKS	FF	FR
2022	3	0	2	2	0-0	0-0	0	0
2023	12	10	10	20	2.5-7	0-0	0	0
Total	15	10	12	22	2.5-7	0-0	0	0

[autotag]Jamari Lyons[/autotag] entered fall camp in line to be a major contributor on Florida’s defensive line, but a broken ankle suffered during the first scrimmage of the season is going to keep him sidelined for the rest of the year.

Lyons played nearly 200 snaps as a redshirt freshman in 2023, earning a 64.9 defensive grade from PFF. He was the unit’s best tackler (81.0) by far, and he was the second-highest graded run defender (71.2) on the roster.

Losing Lyons before the season starts is significant, and the rest of the team knows it. Now it’s about rallying behind their brother and filling a large hole left by the injury.

“We have a number of players who have been through injuries in the past, and I think it’ll be important for those guys to help Jamari because Jamari is one of our best. He really cares,” Napier said. “It was really inspirational, to some degree, because the entire team was on the field, which I’ve never seen in my entire coaching career.”

“A guy gets hurt and everybody knows it’s a pretty good injury, but we’ve got all 132 are on the spot there to support him as he rode off the field.”

Freshmen: No. 35 D’Antre Robinson (Fr.) and No. 93 Michai Boireau

There are two first-year players in Florida’s defensive line room, [autotag]Michai Boireau[/autotag] and [autotag]D’Antre Robinson[/autotag].

Robinson was the more highly-touted recruit coming out of high school, earning a fourth star from three of the four major services, but Napier has hinted at Boireau seeing the field first.

Both were mentioned as guys who are competing for time now that Lyons is out of the cards.

JUCO Transfers: No. 33 Brien Taylor Jr. (Jr.) and No. 96 Tarvorise Brown (R-Fr.)

Florida added some depth to its defensive line room over the offseason by adding a pair of junior college transfers, [autotag]Tarvorise Brown[/autotag] and [autotag]Brien Taylor Jr[/autotag].

Brown has received more hype than Taylor over the offseason, but he’s not expected to see the field a ton in 2024. He made no appearances at Hutchinson College before redshirting and transferring and is an early addition thanks to a reclassification.

The original plan was for him to join the team next year, but Florida was able to get him on campus sooner. Training at an SEC facility for a year should help Brown progress faster in the long term but don’t expect much from him this year.

“He just kind of fell in our lap, to some degree,” Napier said. “We were recruiting him for January and then found out he was a qualifier and then it just ended up working out.

“So far, so good. I think the reps he’s taken, he’s proved to have all the functional movement, the power, the length. I mean, he’s a good athlete. … I think he’ll prove to be a good evaluation.”

Taylor is a bit of a hybrid player who is moving from the F position out on the edge to the interior. He was with the EDGEs in the spring but has since moved rooms to work with defensive line coach Gerald Chatman.

Throughout his two years at Blinn College, Taylor split time between the edge and interior, so this transition shouldn’t be too difficult.

Walk-Ons: No. 61 Nicolas Flynn (R-So.) and No. 92 Sebastian Scott (R-Fr.)

Finally, the program has two walk-on players in the position room — redshirt sophomore Nicolas Flunn and redshirt freshman Sebastian Scott.

Flynn is entering his third season at Florida, all of which have come under Billy Napier. He has yet to make his collegiate debut. Flynn prepped at Lake Forest High in Illinois.

Scott joined the team in the summer of 2023 after playing prep ball at Cardinal Newman High in West Palm Beach. He made no appearances in his first year with the Gators.

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Florida Football 2024 Position Preview: Linebackers

Taking a look at who’s leading the Gators linebacker unit for this upcoming season.

The next group of players we’ll take a look at on Gators Wire’s positions preview series are the linebackers.

Florida has some talented linebackers for this upcoming 2024 season with a mix of new and returning names. Although Scooby Williams, who played in all 12 games last season at linebacker for the Gators, transferred in the offseason to Texas A&M, Florida won’t have a problem filling that hole.

Shemar James is expected to be the leader of this Florida defense while first-year Gator Grayson “Pup” Howard will be lined up next to him as the other starting linebacker.

Head coach Billy Napier did an excellent job in bringing in some very talented linebackers this past offseason and this is one of those position groups that is very deep for the Gators.

Let’s take a look at every linebacker on Florida’s roster. Check out Gators Wire’s other position previews for the 2024 season below.

Starter: No. 6 Shemar James (Jr.)

Year	GP	Solo	AST	TOT	TFL-YDS	Sacks-YDS	INT	PD	FF
2022	13	18	29	47	2-9	2-9	0	0	1
2023	8	24	31	55	5.5-13	1-7	0	0	0
Total	21	42	60	102	7.5-22	3-16	0	0	1

James is coming into his third and most important season at Florida. Looked at as the focal point of the defense, James will be in charge of listening in on what the coach on the sideline is saying through the new coach-to-player helmet communication system.

Last season, James started the first eight games before missing the final four due to a knee injury. In 2022, James won Freshman All-SEC honors after finishing the season with 47 total tackles in 13 games.

James’ biggest strength at linebacker is his pass coverage, as he was graded at 75.2 out of 100 in that category according to Pro Football Focus. His biggest weakness is his pass rush and he’ll be looking to improve that area of his game this season.

Starter: No. 10 Grayson “Pup” Howard (So.)

Howard comes in as a transfer from South Carolina and is expected to start as the other linebacker alongside James.

Last season with the Gamecocks, Howard appeared in 11 games and logged 19 tackles (10 solo), a tackle-for-loss and a forced fumble.

Howard attended Andrew Jackson High School in Jacksonville, Florida where he was ranked as the 42nd-best player in the state, the 15th-best outside linebacker and No. 177 on the ESPN300.

Although Howard doesn’t have the biggest sample size from last season, he has really impressed in camp and has made a strong push for that other starting linebacker spot.

Backups: No. 5 Myles Graham (Fr.), No. 15 Derek Wingo (Sr.), No. 29 Jaden Robinson (So.)

Myles Graham, although a freshman, is a very talented linebacker that the Gators were able to acquire.

Graham, a local product, went to F. W. Buchholz High School in Gainesville and was ranked as a five-star recruit by Rivals as well as the third-best player in his position group.

Derek Wingo is a fifth-year senior who’s the veteran of this group. Wingo logged 17 tackles and 2.5 sacks last season with the Gators.

Jaden Robinson is going into his second season with Florida and was rated as a former four-star recruit out of high school by Rivals and 247Sports. Robinson’s role will likely increase this season as he was primarily used for special teams last year.

Reserves: No. 16 R.J. Moten (Sr.), No. 22 Deuce Spurlock II (R-So.), No. 8 Aaron Chiles (Fr.)

R.J. Moten is going into his second season at Florida after transferring over from Michigan after the 2022 season. Moten has the experience and is a solid piece that the Gators have for depth.

Deuce Spurlock II is another guy who Florida will have for depth. Like Moten, Spurlock is playing in his second season with the Gators. He played in three games last season, all on special teams.

Aaron Chiles is a freshman who was ranked a four-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, On3 and Rivals. Chiles went to Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, Maryland. Chiles was also ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the state of Maryland by Rivals.

Walk-Ons: No. 50 Jake Xeller (Fr.), No. 42 Matthew Kade (Fr.), No. 47 Justin Pelic (R-Sr.)

Jake Xeller went to Herndon (Virginia) and earned back-to-back all-district honors in his junior and senior years. He joined the Gators as a walk-on this past spring.

Matthew Kade attended Bucholz High School in Gainesville and recorded 90 tackles, 18.0 tackles-for-loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, one interception and a blocked punt his senior year. Kade walked on to Florida during the summer.

Justin Pelic is coming into his sixth season with Florida after joining the team as a walk-on during the summer of 2019.

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Florida Football 2024 Position Preview: Centers and Guards

Florida’s offensive line has been a bit of a question mark in recent years, but there’s returning talent at every position on the interior heading into 2024.

After looking at Florida’s offensive tackles, it’s time to review the interior offensive linemen on the Gators’ roster.

Offensive line coaches Rob Sale and Jon DeCoster need to replace all three starters on the interior this year. Center Kingsley Eguakun signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Detroit Lions, guard Richie Leonard transferred to FSU and Micah Mazzccua is now with Nebraska.

Fortunately, four-year veteran [autotag]Jake Slaughter[/autotag] is back and ready to be the full-time snapper, and there will be new starters at both guard positions this year.

Let’s take a look at each interior offensive lineman on Florida’s roster. Check out Gators Wire’s other position previews for the 2024 season below.

Starting Center: No. 66 Jake Slaughter (R-Jr.)

Slaughter returns as Florida’s starting center this year, and he’s arguably the team’s most reliable offensive lineman.

Slaughter started eight of 11 games last year in place of an injured Kingsley Eguakun and earned a 77.8 offensive grade from Pro Football Focus to lead the team. He’s as good of a pass blocker (78.4) as he is a run blocker (78.9), and he allowed just nine pressures over 306 opportunities.

If Austin Barber is the returning leader of the outside group, Slaughter is his counterpart on the interior. Entering his fourth year with the program, Florida will lean on Slaughter just as heavily as it did a year ago.

The Rimington Trophy selection committee included Slaughter on its preseason watch list.

Starting Left Guard: No. 77 Knijeah Harris (So.)

Following the departure of Mazzccua, sophomore [autotag]Knijeah Harris[/autotag] appears primed to step into the starting left guard spot for Florida.

Harris played nearly 170 snaps split between both guard positions last year. His lone start came against Charlotte, but he saw 10 or more snaps in five other games. Pro Football Focus gave him a 72.9 offensive grade, but that number is a bit skewed because he played most of his snaps against non-Power Four schools.

He’s a better pass blocker than run blocker. PFF consistently graded him out in the high 70s and low 80s throughout last season, regardless of opponent.

The big question will be how well the second-year player handles the increased workload. Fatigue begins to set in when you’re taking 500-plus snaps a season.

Starting Right Guard: No. Damieon George Jr. (R-Jr.)

Most fans will remember [autotag]Damieon George Jr[/autotag]. as the Alabama transfer who struggled to hold down the right tackle spot for Florida a season ago, but a move to the guard position should yield better results.

Florida’s coaching staff feels George is better suited to play on the interior — he’s better against the run than the pass — and he’s replaced “17 and a half pounds of fat with 16 pounds of lean mass”, according to Billy Napier.

“The biggest challenge for me last year I felt was my weight. I felt like I played too heavy and ultimately played a big role in some of my play late in games,” George said in April. “So just being able to finish out the games with the same intensity I started with was a big emphasis for me.”

Expect some growing pains, though. Despite practicing at guard a bit while at ‘Bama, this will be the first time George takes significant snaps at the position.

Backups: No. 71 Roderick Kearney (R-Fr.), No. 56 Christian Williams (R-So.)

Aside from the three projected starters, Florida is going to need at least two rotational pieces throughout the season on the interior — potentially more if injuries pop up.

The first name that comes to mind is redshirt freshman [autotag]Roderick Kearney[/autotag], who didn’t see the field at all last year as a member of the scout team. Kearney can play all three interior positions, and versatility is a must for a non-starter. The jury is still out on how productive Kearney can be in Year 2, but he’s made great strides over the past year.

Then there’s redshirt sophomore [autotag]Christian Williams[/autotag], who has played all of 31 snaps over the past two seasons. Thanks to some strong numbers on PFF — 88.5 offensive grade, 78.9 as a pass blocker and 89.2 as a run blocker — there’s plenty of optimism surrounding Williams, despite his lack of experience. He’s mostly played left guard but could fit on either side if needed.

Reserves: No. 53 Bryce Lovett (R-Fr.) and No. 75 Kamryn Waites (R-Jr.)

[autotag]Bryce Lovett[/autotag] is another name worth keeping an eye on, especially if injuries hit the interior more than the exterior of the line. Like Kearney, Lovett did not appear in a game for Florida as a true freshman. He’s undergone a body transformation and is more confident in himself entering his second season. In spring, Lovett played all five offensive line positions, so he’s the definition of a flex player. There are also questions about the right side of the line, so he could get significant snaps later on in the year.

[autotag]Kamryn Waites[/autotag] is another flex player that could fit into Florida’s plans for the interior. He played over 200 snaps at tackle last year, most of which came over the final two games of the season which he started. Waites is now a year and a half removed from his ACL injury and should be a key rotational piece on Florida’s offensive line this year.

Freshmen: No. 50 Jason Zandamela (Fr.), No. 74 Noel Portnjagin (Fr.), No. 78 Marcus Mascoll (Fr.) and No. 79 Enoch Wangoy

There are four new scholarship freshmen in Florida’s interior offensive line group, [autotag]Marcus Mascoll[/autotag], [autotag]Noel Portnjagin[/autotag], [autotag]Enoch Wangoy[/autotag] and [autotag]Jason Zandamela[/autotag], who transferred after a semester at USC.

Zandamela might have the most raw talent of the bunch, but he started learning the game in 2020. He’s spent the fall training at center, which explains some of the versatility shown by guys like Harris and Kearney. Zandamela was a four-star recruit out of high school who ranked in the top 30 of all transfers in the 2024 portal.

Portnjagin might have the best shot to see the field of the trio, however. He has experience in the German Football League and has been on campus since January. He has tackle size, but Florida plans to use him as a guard.

Mascoll played tackle in high school but could end up anywhere on the offensive line in Gainesville. Like Portnjagin, injuries could force him onto the field in a reserve role, but this is another likely redshirt.

Wangoy is another international product that started playing sports recently. He’s from England and played multiple sports at Zarephath Academy in Jacksonville. At 6-foot-7 and 330 pounds, Wangoy has the size to play on the offensive line in the SEC, but it might take a few years for him to develop his technique.

Walk-Ons: No. 59 Hayden Clem (R-Jr.), No. 60 Chase Stevens (Fr.), No. 72 Bryan Rosenberg (R-Fr.) and No. 90 Connor Homa (R-Fr.)

In case 11 scholarship players isn’t enough, Florida has four walk-on offensive linemen on the roster to provide some depth.

Hayden Clem is the veteran of the group, entering his fourth year with the program. He made his debut last season during the McNeese game, earning a 74.1 offensive grade at left guard from Pro Football Focus.

Connor Homa and Bryan Rosenberg are both redshirt freshmen who are hoping to see the field for the first time in Gainesville. Homa was a defensive tackle last season but switched positions after the spring game, and Rosenberg is a local guy from Buchholz in Gainesville — he also has the best last name on the team (see byline).

Rounding out the group position room is true freshman Chase Stevens out of Vero Beach High School. He joined the team in the spring.

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Florida Football 2024 Position Preview: Offensive Tackles

Let’s dive in to who the Gators have lined up at the offensive tackle position for this upcoming college football season.

Next on Gator Wire’s annual position preview series are the big guys that anchor the trenches and most importantly, protect the quarterback. That’s right. We’re taking a look at the offensive tackles.

Florida’s offensive tackles are arguably the most important players on the offensive side of the ball. They need to do their jobs if they want to have any success through the passing or ground game.

There are some familiar pieces for the Gators such as Austin Barber but also some new faces like Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson.

Nonetheless, this should be a better OT group for the Gators than last season.

Let’s take a look at what Florida has in store this season with their OTs. Check out Gators Wire’s other position previews for the 2024 season below.

Starting Left Tackle: No. 58 Austin Barber (R-Jr.)

Barber returns as a veteran anchoring this Florida Gators offensive line.

As he comes up on his fourth season with the Gators, Barber is hoping for a healthy 2024 year. Last season, the redshirt junior missed four games due to ankle and arm injuries. But even when he did play, it wasn’t as if he was fully healthy either.

The 6-feet-7-inches, 314-pound left tackle looks to make his presence known on Florida’s offensive line.

Left tackle is arguably the most important position on the offensive line because it protects quarterback Graham Mertz‘s blind side. Florida needs to have Barber healthy this season if they hope to have success protecting the quarterback.

Starting Right Tackle: No. 65 Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson (R-Sr.)

Holding down the opposite end of the offensive line is Crenshaw-Dickson, the starting right tackle.

Crenshaw-Dickson is entering his first season with the Gators after transferring in the offseason from San Diego State. The redshirt senior started nine games last season with the Aztecs and played both the right and left tackle positions. So he has experience with the left side of the line as well.

During his collegiate career with San Diego State, Crenshaw-Dickson played 1,187 snaps in pass protection and gave up just six sacks and averaged 15 QB pressures per season, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). His PFF run-blocking grade was named “above average” in 2023 with a grade of 69.4 out of 100.

Backup Tackle: No. 57 Devon Manuel (R-Jr.)

Like Crenshaw-Dickson, Devon Manuel was a transfer that the Gators were able to acquire in the offseason.

Manuel transferred from Arkansas after playing nine games last season and started four of those games at left tackle. According to PFF, Manuel had the second-best graded run block on the Razorbacks last season and had a ton of snaps (417) under his belt.

Given the history with injuries on this offensive line, Manuel’s experience, especially at the SEC level, is valuable and he adds some much-needed depth at the OT position.

Reserves: No. 75 Kamryn Waites (R-Jr.), No. 53 Bryce Lovett (R-Fr.), No. 63 Caden Jones (R-Fr.)

Kamryn Waites is going into his third season with the Gators and he is also a guy who provides some experience and depth. Waites played in every SEC matchup as a reserve and started at RT in the last two games of the 2023 season.

Bryce Lovett is a redshirt freshman who has yet to see game action as a collegiate athlete. But that will likely change fairly soon. Lovett was ranked a four-star recruit by Rivals and signed with the Gators in 2022.

Caden Jones is another redshirt freshman who is still in development. On3 had Jones ranked as a four-star recruit out of high school and head coach Billy Napier was such a fan of him that he recruited him when he was in the 10th grade.

Freshmen: No. 68 Fletcher Westphal (Fr.) and No. 55 Mike Williams (Fr.)

Fletcher Westphal and Mike Williams are the two freshmen in this OT group.

Westphal is a four-star recruit out of Tuscarora High School in Leesburg, Virginia. He was ranked as a top-5 player in the state of Virginia and was invited to play in the 2024 All-American Bowl.

Williams was a three-star prospect and went to Charles Herbert Flowers High School in Prince George’s County, Maryland. He was the No. 17-ranked recruit in the state of Maryland by 247Sports.

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Florida Football 2024 Position Preview: Receivers

Competition is running wild in Florida’s wide receivers room heading into 2024. Behind the top three, which other receivers will step up?

Next up in Gators Wire’s annual position preview series are the wide receivers, and the 18-man position room might be one of the most interesting at the University of Florida heading into 2024.

The big question is which pass catcher will step into first-round pick Ricky Pearsall‘s shoes as the top option for Graham Mertz. Billy Napier brought in two transfers to fill out the top of the depth chart, but it’s sophomore Eugene Wilson III who has played the most snaps under Napier.

There’s also plenty of room for competition when it comes to the second and third strings. Several young players are looking to get on the field and find their role on the team.

Here’s a look at each of the receivers on Florida’s roster.

Top option: No. 3 Eugene Wilson III (So.)

Year	GP	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	Long	AVG/G
2023	10	61	583	8.8	6	30	53.8

Wilson is Florida’s top returning receiver on the depth chart and should receive the most targets of anyone in the position room. He broke out in the second half of the season, ending 2023 with a team-high 6.1 receptions per game.

He split time between the slot (200 snaps) and lining up out wide last season (235 snaps). Wilson is a do-everything kind of player and Billy Napier will draw up a few plays to exploit his skill set. There’s quickness and speed here. Wilson has a chance to be one of the SEC’s best, but he’ll have to beat most teams’ top defensive back now that he’s WR1.

Second option: No. 6 Elijhah Badger (R-Sr.)

Year	GP	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	Long	AVG/G
2020*	1	0	0	0.0	0	0	0.0
2021*	11	7	61	8.7	0	22	5.5
2022*	12	70	866	12.4	7	9	72.2
2023*	11	65	713	11.0	3	17	64.8
Total	35	142	1,640	11.5	10	22	46.9

* = while at ASU

[autotag]Elijhah Badger[/autotag] transferred from Arizona State during the offseason, and he’s quickly moved to the top of Florida’s depth chart. Similar to Wilson, Badger can line up both inside and outside, giving Napier plenty of versatility on offense.

Expect Badger to set up out wide most of the time. Florida needs a deep threat to keep the defense honest on most snaps, and Badger’s been putting together highlight plays.

“He is explosive, he is athletic, he can run after the catch, he has a vertical threat to his game and he’s got play strength and he’s got length,” Napier said. “He’s a 6-1 guy but he’s got great great length.”

Starting Slot: No. 17 Chimere Dike (Sr.)

Year	GP	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	Long	AVG/G
2020*	7	12	189	15.8	1	0	27.0
2021*	13	19	272	14.3	1	9	20.9
2022*	13	47	689	14.7	6	12	62.6
2023*	11	19	328	17.3	1	30	29.8
Total	44	97	1,478	15.2	9	30

* = while at Wisconsin

Rounding out that group of starting receivers is Wisconsin transfer [autotag]Chimere Dike[/autotag]. Mertz already has a connection with Dike from their time together as Badgers, but now both are in the prime of their college careers.

Dike’s most productive year with Wisconsin came with Mertz at quarterback in 2022, and it’s easy to see why he followed his former teammate after regressing in production last season. There’s a level of familiarity between the two that’s hard to recreate.

“The good thing about football is even in different offenses, a lot of the concepts have carryover, a lot of similar routes are ran. So, there’ll be a new concept (Florida’s) running that it feels exactly like one that we’ve ran on 100 times before, so I’m definitely fortunate to have that. Obviously, he’s continued to get better as a player and I’m excited to be here and be able to work.”

Second String: No. 11 Aidan Mizell (R-Fr.), No. 14 Andy Jean (R-Fr.) and No. 22 Kahleil Jackson (R-Jr.)

Here’s where the competition begins, according to Napier.

The second and third-string units inside the receivers room should be fluid throughout the season. Napier likes to play guys who are earning snaps, and he’s repeated several times through fall camp that this is one of the most competitive position groups in Gainesville.

Redshirt freshmen [autotag]Andy Jean[/autotag] and [autotag]Aidan Mizell[/autotag] are the two breakout candidates here. Neither played much last season. Jean only appeared in four games — catching six passes for 97 yards — as injuries kept him sidelined. The good news is he was able to redshirt and retain a year of eligibility.

The same goes for Mizell, who appeared in just two games last season. Mizell missed much of his senior year of high school with an injury, so he was always likely to redshirt last season. A true speedster, Mizell has a chance to become a serious deep threat for Florida. He can burn most cornerbacks and planned to run track at the university at one point.

Then there’s redshirt junior [autotag]Kahleil Jackson[/autotag], who reeled in 21 receptions for 251 yards. A former walk-on who was added to the scholarship roster in 2022, Jackson made several highlight-worthy plays last season for Florida. It’s hard to tell if the young guys will pass him by, especially with transfers moving ahead of him on the depth chart, but Jackson should be a frequent face on the offense early on in the year.

Reserves: No. 0 Ja’Quavion Fraziars (Sr.), No. 30 Taylor Spierto (R-Jr.) and Marcus Burke (R-Jr.)

Next up are the reserves, who are likely to fit into that third-string role with some flexibility to move both ways on the depth chart.

[autotag]Ja’Quavion Fraziars[/autotag] and [autotag]Marcus Burke[/autotag] are the two tallest receivers on the team. The Gators have more speed than size at receiver, so both can earn snaps out wide if they prove useful.

Fraziars has hauled in 15 receptions for 143 yards and three touchdowns over four years at Florida, and Burke is at 12 catches for 201 yards over three seasons. A good year for both would be doubling that production, but that’s far from guaranteed.

Then, there’s Taylor Spierto, another walk-on who earned a scholarship last year. He’s most a special teams guy, but he did catch two balls for 17 yards last year.

These three are the rare remnants from the Dan Mullen era in the position room, but they wouldn’t be in Gainesville if they weren’t bought in on Napier. Hopefully, he’ll give them chances to shine, knowing that all three are likely to move on after this season.

Freshmen: No. 4 TJ Abrams (Fr.) and No. 10 Tank Hawkins

[autotag]TJ Abrams[/autotag] and [autotag]Tank Hawkins[/autotag] are both true freshmen, but they could end up ahead of the three reserves on the depth chart by season’s end.

Hawkins is the one standing out early. He scored twice during Florida’s first scrimmage and he has verified track speed.

“(Hawkins) got here in January. He’s had a great offseason,” Napier said. “He’s definitely playing faster. His skill level is improving. He’s getting comfortable. Like we’ve talked about before, we kind of have those top three and then you got this group that’s competing. He’s in that group.”

Abrams has a “running back build”, according to Napier, but he’s firmly in the group of receivers competing for a spot in the rotation this year.

In truth, both of these guys probably belong above the reserves on our list, but age over beauty and all that, right?

Walk-Ons

Believe it or not, Florida has seven walk-on receivers on its roster this season.

The oldest of the bunch are redshirt sophomores Alex Gonzalez and Zak Sedaros. Gonzalez joined the team as a preferred walk-on in the summer of 2022 after an in-state prep career at Lehigh Senior near Fort Myers. Sedaros also joined the Gators in the summer of 2022, but without the “preferred” tag. He is also a member of the track and field team at Florida.

Next up are the redshirt freshmen, Jaden Edgecomb, Brian Green Jr. and Jackson Wade. Both Green and Wade joined the program as preferred walk-ons last summer and redshirted after making zero appearances. Wade played high school ball at North Paulding in Georgia, and Green comes from Orange Park near the Jacksonville area.

Edgecomb was selected by Billy Napier for the Louis Oliver Outstanding non-Scholarship Player Award from the Black Student-Athlete Community.

There isn’t much hope for playing time for the four listed above, but the final two walk-ons in Florida’s receiver room are all new to the program so there’s very little chance they see the field this season.

David Schmidt is a local kid from Newberry High. He was an all-state receiver his junior year and a special teams MVP in 2023. The reason for so many walk-ons is to provide depth at multiple positions during practice. Schmidt fills that role nicely.

DeBraun Hampton played high school ball with [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag], so there’s always a chance he blossoms over the next few years.

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Florida Football 2024 Position Preview: Running Backs

Montrell Johnson Jr. looks to carry the load for the Florida Gators offense this season, but who else can step up in the running backs room?

After previewing who the Gators have at quarterback, it’s time to dive into Florida’s running back room for the 2024 season.

Make no mistake, it’s tough to ignore the offseason departure of last year’s starting running back Trevor Etienne, but it looks like the Gators will have plenty of solid playmakers at the running back position this upcoming year.

Montrell Johnson Jr. will look to carry a bulk of the load in the backfield this season despite undergoing knee surgery a few weeks ago.

But for a position that requires a lot of depth, who will fill those backup spots for the Gators?

Starter: No. 1 Montrell Johnson Jr. (Sr.)

Rushing Stats:

Year	GP	ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	Long	AVG/G
2021	14	162	838	5.2	12	99	59.9
2022	13	155	841	5.4	10	62	64.7
2023	12	152	817	5.4	5	52	68.1
Total	39	469	2,496	5.3	27	99	64.2

Receiving Stats:

Year	GP	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	Long	AVG/G
2021	14	6	53	8.8	0	15	3.8
2022	13	12	58	4.8	1	18	4.5
2023	12	30	236	7.9	1	19	19.7
Total	39	48	347	7.2	2	19	14.9

Now with his third season coming up with the Gators, Johnson looks to step into the starting running back role and serve as a leader for the offense.

Johnson is a very versatile back and can bring a lot to the table. He has great vision, can run between the tackles and be a threat with his pass-catching abilities.

However, Johnson lacks speed and open-field elusiveness.

Although Johnson is currently rehabbing from his recent knee surgery, head coach Billy Napier mentioned it as “minor.” With Week 1 against the Miami Hurricanes just a couple weeks away, it’s tough to tell whether Johnson will be ready to play. He is currently listed week to week.

Backups: No. 5 Treyaun Webb (So.) and No. 24 Ja’Kobi Jackson (R-Jr.)

Rushing Stats (Webb):

Year	GP	ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	Long	AVG/G
2023	11	26	163	6.3	2	43	14.8

Receiving Stats (Webb):

Year	GP	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	Long	AVG/G
2023	11	4	18	4.5	0	12	1.6

Treyaun Webb is a sophomore from Jacksonville who has the most experience out of anyone behind Johnson.

After winning a couple of state championships at Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, the former four-star recruit played his first season with Florida last year and as a freshman, was able to log a couple of touchdowns.

Expect Webb’s workload to increase a lot more.

Ja’Kobi Jackson transferred from Coahoma (Mississippi) Community College and redshirted last season.

In his last season at Coahoma, Jackson led the team in rushing yards (661), touchdowns (7) and average per game (73.44).

Jackson looks to make it a competitive fight for that backup running back spot.

Freshmen: No. 13 Jadan Baugh (Fr.) and No. 21 KD Daniels (Fr.)

Jadan Baugh and KD Daniels are the two true freshmen in the running backs room.

Baugh was ranked as a four-star recruit out of Columbia High School in Decatur, Georgia, and turned some heads after playing well in the Orange & Blue game this past Spring.

Daniels was also a four-star recruit who has been performing well in training camp.

Coming out of West Point, Mississippi, Daniels has plenty of potential and looks to make an impact in the years to come.

Injury/Walk-Ons: No. 27 Cam Carroll (R-Sr.) and No. 25 Anthony Rubio (R-Fr.)

Cam Carroll transferred from Tulane last year but suffered a season-ending knee injury on the last day of fall camp.

It’ll be interesting to see if Carroll will see some time on the field this season, but it’s also tough to take some time away from the guys ahead of him.

Anthony Rubio, son of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, joined the Gators as a walk-on last season. Rubio went to Belen Jesuit in Miami.

I don’t expect these guys to see the field this season.

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Florida Football 2024 Position Preview: Quarterbacks

Graham Mertz is set to lead Florida’s quarterback room for another year, but true freshman DJ Lagway should get some snaps as well.

Gators Wire’s annual position preview series begins with the most important position on the field: quarterback.

The Florida Gators have a clear hierarchy under center heading into 2024. Redshirt senior [autotag]Graham Mertz[/autotag] will start for a second-straight season in Gainesville, with former five-star recruit and true freshman [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag] hungry for snaps behind him.

Over the offseason, head coach Billy Napier implied that Lagway would be used more than a typical first-year player, and reports are good coming out of fall camp. Some fans are hoping for a Chris Leak-Tim Tebow dynamic, but Mertz is still the man in charge of the position room right now.

**Starter: No. 15 Graham Mertz (R-Sr.*)**

YEAR	GP	CMP	ATT	PCT(%)	YDS	TD	INT	RTG
2019*	2	9	10	90.0	73	0	0	151.3
2020*	7	118	193	61.1	1,238	9	5	125.2
2021*	13	169	284	59.5	1,958	10	11	121.3
2022*	12	164	286	57.3	2,136	19	10	135.0
2023	11	261	358	72.9	2,903	20	3	157.8
Total	45	721	1,131	63.7	8,308	58	29	137.2

* = while playing for Wisconsin

Graham Mertz enters his second year as Florida’s starter with much more confidence than he did in 2023. Mertz’s developed a reputation of inconsistency at Wisconsin, his biggest offense being double-digit interceptions in back-to-back seasons.

Mertz quieted those turnover concerns by completing 73% of his attempts with the Gators and throwing just three interceptions. The goal this year is to cement himself a spot in the draft class, and a repeat performance could do just that.

The biggest question mark in Mertz’s game is the ability to throw the ball deep. Napier rarely called on Mertz to heave the ball beyond 20 yards downfield, and that’s for a reason. Adding a consistent deep ball to his game could elevate Mertz to where he wants to be.

“Graham’s great. He’s phenomenal,” Napier said. “He’s just got a great energy about himself. It affects other people in a positive way. Extremely detailed, a great note taker, great in the unit meetings, great in the position meetings. He’s a pro.”

Backup: No. 2 DJ Lagway (Fr.)

Make no mistake, DJ Lagway is the quarterback of the future in Gainesville, but he’ll have to pay his dues before taking over the starting reigns at Florida.

Freshmen quarterbacks are among the most volatile players in the sport, and easing them into the college level is typically preferred. But Lagway is the kind of former five-star who deserves immediate playing time, and the fans are going to get louder if he doesn’t see the field.

Lagway has a cannon for an arm and scrambling ability, which separates him from Mertz.

Napier has already admitted that the Gators will have packages and plays drawn up for Lagway throughout the season, but the exact split of snaps remains to be seen.

“Just overall comfort level with the system,” Napier said of Lagway after the team’s first scrimmage. “I had a conversation with him the other day coming off after practice one, and you say ‘I know that wasn’t perfect, the (first) practice day is never perfect, but just think about where you’re at now compared to where you were at after spring number one.’”

Reserve: No. 18 Clay Millen (R-Jr.)

YEAR	GP	CMP	ATT	PCT(%)	YDS	TD	INT	RTG
2021*	2	1	2	50.0	2	10	0	58.4
2022**	10	169	234	72.2	1,910	10	6	149.8
2023**	1	15	24	62.5	110	0	1	92.7
Total	45	185	260	71.2	8,308	10	7	143.8

*= while at Nevada **= while at Colorado State

[autotag]Clay Millen[/autotag] transferred from Colorado State — he spent his freshman year at Nevada — and joined the Gators during the spring semester. Billy Napier likes to have at least five quarterbacks on his roster and needed a third scholarship player in the position room.

A veteran from a respected program like Colorado State is the right kind of addition for an SEC team looking for depth, but Millen shouldn’t see the field unless it’s a blowout or injuries occur.

Walk-Ons: No. 12 Paul Kessler (Fr.), No. 16 Aidan Warner (R-Fr.) and No. 26 Lawrence Wright IV (Fr.)

[autotag]Paul Kessler[/autotag] joined the team in the spring as a preferred walk-on after one season at Santa Monica College.

[autotag]Aidan Warner[/autotag] redshirted at Yale in 2023 and walked on at Florida in the spring. He played prep ball in the Orlando area at Winter Park High School.

[autotag]Lawrence Wright IV[/autotag] is the final walk-on quarterback in the position room. He joined the Gators over the summer.

None of these three should see the field, but depth is a necessity at this level, especially for practice.

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