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Florida football has built from the inside-out in its three-plus seasons under head coach Billy Napier.
The development of players on both the offensive and defensive line could bear fruit for the Florida Gators during the 2025 season
It may also result in a number of players from both lines of scrimmage to go high in the 2026 NFL Draft. All three of Florida's projected starting seniors on the offensive line, and two projected senior starters in the defensive line, are viewed as potential draft picks next year by a number of draft analysts.
Florida is hoping that talent and experience will result in more progress on the field. UF closes the 2024 season on a four-game win streak to finish 8-5 and post its first winning record since 2020.
At least one Florida football player has been selected in every NFL Draft since 1952, which stands as the second longest mark in FBS behind Michigan and USC, who are tied for first.
Here's a look at five UF players who could get selected in the 2026 NFL Draft:
CBS Sports projects the 6-foot-6, 329-pound Banks to get picked 12th overall in the first round in its early 2026 NFL mock draft.
Banks had a breakout 2024 season for UF which included 7 tackles for loss, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles and 6 quarterback hurries. He possesses the combination of length and athleticism to make an impact at the next level.
Walter Football draft analyst Charlie Campbell projects Barber as the third best tackle in the 2026 NFL Draft. After dealing with shoulder issues in 2023, the 6-6, 322-pound Barber bounced back with a strong season in 2024, starting all 13 games at left tackle for UF in 2024.
Barber posted a run block grade of 70.0 per Pro Football Focus and earned SEC offensive lineman of the week honors for his performance last Sept. 21 at Mississippi State, which included landing on a fumble in the end zone to score his first career TD.
Coming off an All-American season, the 6-foot-5, 294-pound Slaughter will anchor a Florida offensive line that returns four starters.
Slaughter started all 13 games for UF last season, posting a pass block grade of 83.9 and run block grade of 79.0, per Pro Football Focus. Slaughter's run block grade ranked seventh nationally and his overall PFF grade of 81.1 ranked fifth nationally among centers. He's currently projected as a fifth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The 6-foot-3, 274-pound Sapp led UF in sacks (7) and tackles for loss (13) in 2024 and projects as an impact pass rusher off the edge again as a redshirt senior in 2025.
He's currently projected to go in rounds five through seven of the 2026 NFL Draft.
George will likely be the third offensive lineman from Florida to hear his name called on draft day in 2026. Walter Football's Charlie Campbell projects the 6-foot-6, 362-pound George as the fifth best guard entering the 2026 NFL Draft.
After struggling at right tackle in 2023, George, an Alabama transfer, made a successful move inside to right guard in 2024. He started 10 games and posted 73.4 pass block grade according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), allowing zero sacks individually.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun's Florida beat writer. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Line of scrimmage players highlight potential Florida football 2026 NFL Draft picks
Continue reading...
The development of players on both the offensive and defensive line could bear fruit for the Florida Gators during the 2025 season
It may also result in a number of players from both lines of scrimmage to go high in the 2026 NFL Draft. All three of Florida's projected starting seniors on the offensive line, and two projected senior starters in the defensive line, are viewed as potential draft picks next year by a number of draft analysts.
Florida is hoping that talent and experience will result in more progress on the field. UF closes the 2024 season on a four-game win streak to finish 8-5 and post its first winning record since 2020.
At least one Florida football player has been selected in every NFL Draft since 1952, which stands as the second longest mark in FBS behind Michigan and USC, who are tied for first.
Here's a look at five UF players who could get selected in the 2026 NFL Draft:
Florida football DT Caleb Banks
CBS Sports projects the 6-foot-6, 329-pound Banks to get picked 12th overall in the first round in its early 2026 NFL mock draft.
Banks had a breakout 2024 season for UF which included 7 tackles for loss, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles and 6 quarterback hurries. He possesses the combination of length and athleticism to make an impact at the next level.
Florida football OT Austin Barber
Walter Football draft analyst Charlie Campbell projects Barber as the third best tackle in the 2026 NFL Draft. After dealing with shoulder issues in 2023, the 6-6, 322-pound Barber bounced back with a strong season in 2024, starting all 13 games at left tackle for UF in 2024.
Barber posted a run block grade of 70.0 per Pro Football Focus and earned SEC offensive lineman of the week honors for his performance last Sept. 21 at Mississippi State, which included landing on a fumble in the end zone to score his first career TD.
Florida football C Jake Slaughter
Coming off an All-American season, the 6-foot-5, 294-pound Slaughter will anchor a Florida offensive line that returns four starters.
Slaughter started all 13 games for UF last season, posting a pass block grade of 83.9 and run block grade of 79.0, per Pro Football Focus. Slaughter's run block grade ranked seventh nationally and his overall PFF grade of 81.1 ranked fifth nationally among centers. He's currently projected as a fifth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Florida football DE Tyreak Sapp
The 6-foot-3, 274-pound Sapp led UF in sacks (7) and tackles for loss (13) in 2024 and projects as an impact pass rusher off the edge again as a redshirt senior in 2025.
He's currently projected to go in rounds five through seven of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Florida football OG Damieon George Jr.
George will likely be the third offensive lineman from Florida to hear his name called on draft day in 2026. Walter Football's Charlie Campbell projects the 6-foot-6, 362-pound George as the fifth best guard entering the 2026 NFL Draft.
After struggling at right tackle in 2023, George, an Alabama transfer, made a successful move inside to right guard in 2024. He started 10 games and posted 73.4 pass block grade according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), allowing zero sacks individually.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun's Florida beat writer. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Line of scrimmage players highlight potential Florida football 2026 NFL Draft picks
Continue reading...
