UF football position preview: Offensive line

GAINESVILLE The fifth in a position-by-position preview of the Florida Gators football team leading up to SEC Media Days.TODAY: OFFENSIVE LINEWhat to expectFloridas offensive line features an All-American center, considerable experience and plenty of promise.

How well the group puts it all together will go a long way toward determining the fate of the 2025 Gators.

If UFs big uglies do their job, embattled coach Billy Napiers offense could long last be a joy to watch.Florida has yet to reach the upper half of the SEC in scoring during Napiers three seasons, finishing 11th of 16 teams in 2024 with an average of 28.3 points per game.

But sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway, a deep stable of running backs and a plethora of playmakers on the perimeter have positioned the Gators to find the end zone more often.Jake Slaughter, Austin Barber and Co.

aim to pave the way.Florida center Jake Slaughter anchors an offensive line with four returning starters and more than 100 combined starts as a unit.

(AP Photo/Gary McCullough)An Associated Press first-team All-America selection in 2024, Slaughter is the units anchor and heartbeat; he was the only Power Four center who earned 80-plus grades as both a pass-blocker and run-blocker, according to Pro Football Focus.

Barber has made an O-line-leading 26 starts, including all 13 games in last season despite nursing various injuries.Massive redshirt senior Damieon George Jr.

(6 foot 6, 362 pounds) found a home at right guard after committing eight penalties at tackle in 2023 while redshirt sophomore Knijeah Harris was rock solid during his first season as a starter on the left side.

PFF graded each with identical 72.4 run-blocking grades, tied for sixth in the SEC.Meanwhile, coaches hope versatile sophomore Bryce Lovett, who started three times in 2025, emerges at right tackle.

He will compete with 6-7 12, 336-pound Caden Jones, a redshirt sophomore who battled injuries in 2023-24.

Former top recruits Roderick Kearney, a stout (6-4, 307) redshirt sophomore able to play guard and center, and towering redshirt freshman tackle Fletcher Westphal (6-8, 336) will push for a spot in the rotation.

Ditto redshirt seniors Kamryn Waites, who stands at 6-8, 370 pounds, and Devin Manuel, a 6-7, 307-pound former Arkansas transfer yet to make an impact at UF.Coaches expect the best is yet to come from redshirt freshman center Jason Zandamela, a 6-2 34, 319-pound Clearwater native who transferred from USC in the spring of 2024.UF offensive line coach Rob Sale is pictured March 28, 2023, prior to a Gators' scrimmage in The Swamp.

(Stephen M.

Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)With four returning starters, three who started every game in 24, and boundless options, Florida should field its best offensive line since 2022.

With All-America guard OCyrus Torrence leading the way, UF averaged 5.51 yards per carry and yielded just 17 sacks for a six-win team.This time, the Gators hope it equates to more Ws and TDs.What theyre sayingThis is by far the deepest offensive line room that weve had since weve been here.

We got guys that can play.

Coach Napier does a great job of evaluating the offensive line.

Hes a closeted offensive line coach.

I do like the room.

Its really talented.

Offensive line coach Rob SaleReturneesAustin BarberDamieon George Jr.Knijeah HarrisCaden JonesRoderick KearneyBryce LovettMarcus MascollDevon ManuelNoel PortnjaginJake SlaughterKamryn WaitesEnoch WangoyFletcher WestphalJason ZandamelaAustin Barber (58) of the Florida Gators celebrates after a game against the Florida State Seminoles of a game at Doak Campbell Stadium on Nov.

30, 2024 in Tallahassee.

(Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)DeparturesBrandon Crenshaw-DicksonNew arrivalsTJ Dice Jr.

(College Park, Ga.), true freshmanJahari Medlock (Atlanta), true freshmanDanie Pierre Louis (Royal Palm Beach), true freshmanProjected depth chart (offseason)LT Austin Barber | Fletcher WestphalLG Knijeah Harris | Roderick KearneyC Jake Slaughter | Jason ZandamelaRG Dameon George Jr.

| Kamryn WaitesRT Bryce Lovett l Devon ManuelPreviousQuarterbackRunning backTight endReceiverEdgar Thompson can be reached at [email protected].

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