Florida football's Jake Slaughter named to CBS Sports Preseason All-America team
Slaughter, an Ocala native, is coming off a dominant 2024 season in which he started all 13 games, logged a team-high 728 snaps and earned first-team AP All-American honors.
At 6-foot-5-inches and 303 pounds, Slaughter has been a steady force in the middle of Florida's offensive line. His leadership is just as valuable as his physical play, with teammates voting him a team captain heading into 2025.
Anchoring the line in front of quarterback DJ Lagway will be crucial for a Florida team looking to reach the postseason. With one of the most challenging schedules in the country, having an experienced leader like Slaughter calling protections could be the difference in close matchups.
CBS Sports noted that the SEC led all conferences with 11 selections on the preseason team, underscoring the week-to-week challenge the Gators face. Slaughter joins an elite group of players from across the league, reinforcing his status among the best at his position in college football.
Here is everything CBS Sports' John Talty wrote about the Florida football center.
What CBS Sports said about Slaughter
"Slaughter had a terrific 2024 season for the Gators, logging a team-high 728 snaps in 13 starts and earning first-team Associated Press All-American honors. The 6-foot-5, 303-pound redshirt senior was the only center last season to earn 80-plus grades as both a pass and run blocker, according to Pro Football Focus.
"He's big, strong, moves well for his size, doesn't get easily caught off guard and has earned consistent praise from his teammates for his hard work, which included voting him as team captain. He's the anchor of a unit charged with protecting star quarterback DJ Lagway, a paramount task if the Gators are going to match their lofty preseason expectations."
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