A look at the Florida Gators’ strengths and weaknesses by position

Florida football didn’t always have its best players on the field in 2024, including at quarterback, where freshman phenom DJ Lagway rode the bench until mid-October. That should not be a problem in 2025.

The Gators’ roster is littered with experience, returning 15 starters from a team that went 8-5 and finished the year with four consecutive wins. Where UF isn’t bringing anyone back, though, it is welcoming top-rated talent like freshman receiver Dallas Wilson and UCLA receiver J. Michael Sturdivant. That creates a cocktail of depth, which we will break down here by position.

Quarterback: A-

Lagway is a star. There is no two ways about it. He’s in Heisman conversations and projects among the SEC’s best quarterbacks. But despite his ascension to national notoriety, there’s still significant room for improvement. He threw for a pedestrian 12 touchdowns with nine interceptions, completing 59.9% of his passes last year. It’s reasonable to expect those numbers to jump after his first full offseason in the Gators’ system.

Sixth-year journeyman Harrison Bailey will back up Lagway after most recently spending time on Louisville’s bench. Aidan Warner, who started during Lagway’s injury in November, is also in contention for the No. 2 slot.

Running back: B+

Florida returns Jadan Baugh and Ja’Kobi Jackson, who were two of the three heads in the Gators’ rushing attack last season with Montrell Johnson. Baugh led Florida with 673 yards as a true freshman, but Jackson looked impressive during the spring. The pair should make for a formidable one-two punch in coach Billy Napier’s offense, which leans on the run in early-down situations.

Treyaun Webb, as the No. 17 tailback in the 2023 class, is the highest-rated in the room. However, he has been up and down through two seasons and underwent knee surgery in early August, which should sideline him until SEC play. Expect UF to lean on Jackson and Baugh.

Wide receivers: B

How this mix of newbies and sporadic returners plays will determine how Lagway’s season goes. Eugene Wilson III was a lightning bolt in his freshman year in 2023, finishing with 538 yards. But last year, he suffered a hip injury after four games. If he is back to his original form, he will be an All-SEC contender and could become Florida’s first 1,000-yard receiver since 2002.

Dallas Wilson and Sturdivant will start alongside him. The UCLA transfer, Sturdivant, only had 315 yards last year, but had more than 590 each of the previous two seasons. Wilson is a top-50 recruit in 247Sports rankings and looked the part in UF’s spring game, finishing with 10 receptions, two touchdowns and 195 yards. Hayden Hansen is UF’s starting tight end and the team’s second-leading returning receiver, albeit with 207 yards.

Offensive Line: B+

Pro Football Focus ranked Florida as the fourth-best offensive line in the nation, but UF’s turnover at right tackle makes that seem optimistic. Most expect Bryce Lovett to start, and the coaching staff hailed his progression this spring. But with a group that was only 43rd in sacks allowed last season, the guard-turned-tackle will need to settle in quickly for this to place among the best units nationally.

The Gators return their four other starters. Center Jake Slaughter could be an All-American and has been a preseason nomination for nearly every notable award, but UF’s three other starters — tackle Austin Barber and guards Damieon George and Knijeah Harris — have all been pedestrian at times.

Defensive Line: A-

In their last four contests of 2024, the Gators allowed just 13 points per game while recording a nation-leading 19 sacks, much to the credit of their defensive line. Minus the departure of defensive tackle Cam Jackson, the group remains intact, with sack leaders Tyreak Sapp (7) and George Gumbs (5) making up one of the SEC’s best edge duos.

Caleb Banks returns at defensive tackle after recording seven QB pressures in wins against LSU and Ole Miss. He’s one of the best pass-rushing interior defensive linemen in the nation. The group also has good depth, as former top defensive line recruit LJ McCray, a sophomore, will have an expanded role.

Linebackers: C+

A linebacker has not led Florida in tackles since 2020. This doesn’t appear to be the year that is going to change, with UF aiming to replace last season’s unit leader, Shemar James. Ideally, sophomores Myles Graham and Aaron Chiles, who are former highly-touted recruits, will take the reins confidently. The pair’s action ticked up as last season went on, finishing with 52 combined tackles.

If they can not find their footing, Grayson Howard and Jaden Robinson figure to be next in line to get an opportunity to guide UF’s defense. Both played more than the freshmen last year, but Howard missed time to end the 2024 campaign, giving way for Graham and Chiles.

Defensive Backs: B-

Last year, UF allowed 227.5 passing yards per game, good for 83rd nationally and 12th in the SEC. The back of its defense featured many injuries -- four defensive backs suffered season-ending ailments, including starting cornerbacks Devin Moore and Jason Marshall.

Moore is back, and he will resume his role across from Dijon Johnson, who started in Moore’s wake last year but struggled. Safety starters Jordan Castell and Bryce Thornton return. Thornton led the Gators with three interceptions, but was a coverage liability at times. UF’s nickelback (”star,” as labelled in Napier’s system) is its strongest coverage position. Sharif Denson and Aaron Gates showed All-SEC flashes last year. Gates recorded four tackles for loss, which is the second most among returning Florida players.

Special Teams: B-

Kicker Trey Smack is consistent, hitting 18 of his 21 field goal attempts along with shooting 44-for-44 on PATs last season. He also handles kickoffs for the Gators.

With the departure of Jeremy Crenshaw, UF’s punter will be a new face. Tommy Doman should start after transferring from Michigan, where he was a third-team All-Big Ten selection last year. He will get the ball from long snapper Rocco Underwood, who is a favorite of UF fans and was a second-team AFCA All-American in 2024. Baugh will return kickoffs after averaging 21.7 yards on six returns last year. Punt returner is up in the air, but receiver Tank Hawkins has experience and should get the first run.

This story was originally published August 19, 2025 at 7:00 AM.