The old adage is that football begins and ends in the trenches. For UF head coach Billy Napier, the process of making that area the strength of his football program has been an arduous journey over the last four years.
Heading into the 2025 season, however, it seems Napier’s goal of building his team from the trenches has come to fruition. Florida’s offensive line is not only one of the most talented units in the country, but is one of the deepest as well.
Four of the five starters on the line return from the 2024 season, while the only newcomer to the lineup has 13 games of experience. Overall, the unit bolsters a whopping 92 starts, one of the most among the top units in the country.
College football expert Phil Steele ranked the Gators’ offensive line as his No. 5 group in the nation and second in the SEC, only behind Texas A&M at No. 4.
“This is Napier’s best offensive line he’s had here,” Steele said. “They allowed just 20 sacks in 2024.”
For the unit, it all starts with their anchor, redshirt senior center Jake Slaughter. The former three-star recruit from Sparr, Florida, has developed into one of the top offensive linemen in the nation.
Over his four years with the program, Slaughter has racked up a number of accolades, including Associated Press, SEC, ESPN and PFF All-American First Team Honors in 2024.
He was included on seven preseason All-American teams and two All-SEC teams heading into the 2025 season. The redshirt senior was also named to the Lombardi Award and Rimington Trophy Watch Lists.
Alongside his play on the field, Slaughter has emerged as one of the leaders in the locker room, serving as a team captain in 2024 and as one of UF’s representatives at the 2025 SEC Media Days.
"We had a huge mindset shift in the locker room,” Slaughter said regarding the team. “A lot of guys stepped up into a leadership role that maybe they weren't in before. We called it a one-day contract type of mentality.”
Protecting sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway’s blindside, redshirt senior tackle Austin Barber has excelled in his role thus far for the Gators, making 26 starts at the left tackle position.
Barber also earned two Preseason All-SEC first-team nominations from both the media and coaches. The Jacksonville native was also named to the Outland Trophy Watch List.
At both guard spots, UF returns two seasoned veterans in junior Knijeah Harris and redshirt senior Damieon George Jr.
Harris, originally a four-star recruit out of Port St. Lucie, Florida, started all 13 games at left guard for the Gators in 2024.
Meanwhile, George transferred to UF following three seasons at Alabama, where he appeared in 17 games. In two seasons at UF thus far, he’s made 21 starts, primarily at the right guard spot.
"Big Dammy [George Jr.] is my guy, man… he does such a great job,” Slaughter said about his teammate. “He communicates well. He sees the field well. He's played a lot of snaps, and it's a joy to play next to him."
With the departure of veteran tackle Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson to the NFL, the only new starter on the unit comes at the right tackle position, where redshirt sophomore Bryce Lovett makes the step to the starting lineup.
A former four-star recruit from Rockledge, Florida, Lovett played in all 13 games in 2024, making three starts while being named to the All-SEC Freshman Team.
“It helped a lot. I got to get in some experience with the other four returning guys, so obviously that helped a lot," Lovett said. "It was good for me to be able to get some on-field play with them and just be able to communicate and start building the chemistry.”
Multiple other linemen provide valuable depth for the Gators, which could prove essential in case of any emergency situations.
Redshirt sophomores Roderick Kearney and Caden Jones, as well as redshirt senior Kamryn Waites and Devon Manuel, have all made appearances in depth roles for the Gators.
Also waiting in the wings are former highly touted prospects in redshirt freshmen Jason Zandamela and Fletcher Westphal, and four-star true freshman Jahari Medlock.
With over 10 capable players that can step into the lineup at any point in time, it’s clear that the Gators’ strength lies in the trenches.
“The depth behind the starters is something that maybe we haven't had,” Napier said. “I think we've got some players that are in year two and three, in that two deep, that I think are in position to be factors.”
Contact Max Bernstein at mbernstein@alligator.org. Follow him on X @maxbernstein23.
Max is the Summer 2025 sports editor. He is a third-year journalism sports & media major and in his fifth semester at The Alligator. He is a big South Florida sports fan and would die for Matthew Tkachuk.
