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Florida Returning One of College Football's Best Players

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Grant Bricker | Last updated Feb 19, 2025 12:46 PM ET

The Florida Gators defied the odds and finished 8-5 after receiving a demanding 2024 college football schedule.

The Gators have appeared to find their quarterback of the future in former five-star prospect DJ Lagway and carry good momentum into 2025.

On Tuesday, 247Sports' Carter Bahns ranked the best-returning players at each position for the Power Four. At the center position was Florida's Jake Slaughter.

Slaughter was the best center in college football based on PFF grade last season. The Florida center finished the season with an 83.9 among players at his position.

Bahns revealed that Slaughter is on the verge of making Florida history.

"The former three-star recruit shattered expectations thus far in his career and could etch his name in Florida history next season," Bahns said. "If he earns another first-team All-American honor, he would become the first Gator in a decade to receive such an award in consecutive years."

Slaughter made the AP All-American First Team for his efforts this season. If he earned the honor again, he would be the first Florida player to achieve the feat in 10 years.

Slaughter was a former three-star prospect in the 2021 class, per the 247Sports Composite. He was an in-state product from Ocala, Florida, out of Trinity Catholic.

The center did not immediately receive playing time. He appeared in one game as a true freshman before redshirting. In 2022, he played in all 13 games but in a special teams role.

He started seeing consistent minutes on the offensive line in the 2023 season. Slaughter played in 12 games with eight starts. Last season, he started all 13 games at center, allowing one sack in 402 pass-blocking snaps.

Florida fans have a lot to be excited about next season, and Slaughter is definitely one of them.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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