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The 2026 NFL draft is still almost a year away but the early projections are already rolling in not even a month after the final pick back in April. Among the sports media outlets casting their premature predictions is Pro Football Focus, which recently released its draft big board top 100 for next spring.
Among the names listed are a quartet of current Florida Gators, headlined by center Jake Slaughter. Also included are edge defender Tyreak Sapp, wide receiver Eugene "Tre" Wilson III and defensive lineman Caleb Banks — all of whom cracked the top 60.
Mind you, the rankings are not projections of which pick a player is expected to be selected with, only how PFF ranks them overall among the other draft-eligible prospects. So, without further ado, take a look at a breakdown of each player's projections.
PFF RANK: No. 15
“Slaughter was the only Power Four center with 80.0-plus PFF grades both as a pass blocker and as a run blocker. Making that even more impressive is the fact that he faced a murderer’s row of defensive tackles like Walter Nolen, Alfred Collins, Shemar Turner, Deone Walker, Omarr Norman-Lott and Joshua Farmer, all of whom were picked in the first four rounds of this year’s draft," PFF's blurb begins.
"Slaughter’s 85.8 overall grade since 2023 trails only Jackson Powers-Johnson among Power Four centers. He moves very well at 6-foot-4, 308 pounds, which allows him to dominate in a zone-blocking scheme.”
PFF RANK: No. 27
“Sapp emerged as a weapon in 2024 who can win from any alignment on Florida’s defensive line. His 90.4 PFF overall grade and 88.7 PFF run-defense grade both ranked in the top 10 among all college football edge defenders," according to PFF. "He also racked up a career-high 26 pressures and eight sacks in limited work.”
PFF RANK: No. 57
“Wilson played in just four games this past season following knee and hip surgeries. His electric true freshman season was enough to earn him a spot on this list, though, with his 81.5 PFF receiving grade that year being a top-20 mark among Power Four wideouts, as well as his 480 yards after the catch and 18 forced missed tackles," PFF offers.
"Wilson was utilized mostly underneath during his freshman year with a conservative quarterback in Graham Mertz, but that should change next year with a gunslinger in DJ Lagway under center. Expect Wilson to bounce back in a major way.”
PFF RANK: No. 60
“During the 2024 season, Banks finished with 10 starts, 21 tackles (10 solo), including seven tackles-for-loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a recovered fumble in 12 games," Gators Online notes. "Since arriving (at) Florida, Banks has made 21 starts in 24 appearances at Florida. Totaling 40 tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss, and 5.5 sacks.”
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida Football: PFF's 2026 draft big board top 100 includes 4 Gators
Continue reading...
Among the names listed are a quartet of current Florida Gators, headlined by center Jake Slaughter. Also included are edge defender Tyreak Sapp, wide receiver Eugene "Tre" Wilson III and defensive lineman Caleb Banks — all of whom cracked the top 60.
Mind you, the rankings are not projections of which pick a player is expected to be selected with, only how PFF ranks them overall among the other draft-eligible prospects. So, without further ado, take a look at a breakdown of each player's projections.
Jake Slaughter, C
PFF RANK: No. 15
“Slaughter was the only Power Four center with 80.0-plus PFF grades both as a pass blocker and as a run blocker. Making that even more impressive is the fact that he faced a murderer’s row of defensive tackles like Walter Nolen, Alfred Collins, Shemar Turner, Deone Walker, Omarr Norman-Lott and Joshua Farmer, all of whom were picked in the first four rounds of this year’s draft," PFF's blurb begins.
"Slaughter’s 85.8 overall grade since 2023 trails only Jackson Powers-Johnson among Power Four centers. He moves very well at 6-foot-4, 308 pounds, which allows him to dominate in a zone-blocking scheme.”
Tyreak Sapp, EDGE
PFF RANK: No. 27
“Sapp emerged as a weapon in 2024 who can win from any alignment on Florida’s defensive line. His 90.4 PFF overall grade and 88.7 PFF run-defense grade both ranked in the top 10 among all college football edge defenders," according to PFF. "He also racked up a career-high 26 pressures and eight sacks in limited work.”
Eugene Wilson III, WR
PFF RANK: No. 57
“Wilson played in just four games this past season following knee and hip surgeries. His electric true freshman season was enough to earn him a spot on this list, though, with his 81.5 PFF receiving grade that year being a top-20 mark among Power Four wideouts, as well as his 480 yards after the catch and 18 forced missed tackles," PFF offers.
"Wilson was utilized mostly underneath during his freshman year with a conservative quarterback in Graham Mertz, but that should change next year with a gunslinger in DJ Lagway under center. Expect Wilson to bounce back in a major way.”
Caleb Banks, DL
PFF RANK: No. 60
“During the 2024 season, Banks finished with 10 starts, 21 tackles (10 solo), including seven tackles-for-loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a recovered fumble in 12 games," Gators Online notes. "Since arriving (at) Florida, Banks has made 21 starts in 24 appearances at Florida. Totaling 40 tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss, and 5.5 sacks.”
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida Football: PFF's 2026 draft big board top 100 includes 4 Gators
Continue reading...
