Latest news with #JakeSlaughter
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Texans select Florida All-American OL Jake Slaughter in 2026 mock draft
Texans select Florida All-American OL Jake Slaughter in 2026 mock draft It's never too early to look ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft. For the Houston Texans, they'll continue to look to build around their offensive line. In the latest 2026 mock draft from Pro Football Focus, Houston adds yet another lineman to protect C.J. Stroud, entering what could be the final year of his rookie contract. After making the playoffs for a third straight time, PFF has the Texans missing the divisional round and selecting 20th overall. With the pick, Houston bolsters its interior by adding Florida All-American center Jake Slaughter as the next great run blocker for Pro Bowler Joe Mixon and newcomer Woody Marks. "The best center in college football gets matched with the team most desperate for interior offensive line help," PFF wrote. "Slaughter ranked second in the Power Four with an 82.1 PFF overall grade, despite facing a gauntlet schedule that included Miami, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Georgia, Texas and Ole Miss. He was the only qualified Power Four center who earned an 80.0-plus PFF grade as a run blocker and as a pass protector in 2024." Slaughter started the last 23 games at Florida and has been the definition of consistency. Not only have the Gators been a top-five team in rushing among SEC contenders, but they've also allowed the fourth-fewest sacks. Slaughter, who has over 1,400 reps, has allowed one sack during that span. The Texans have hope that second-round pick Aireontae Ersery can be the stable left tackle replacement for Laremy Tunsil beginning in 2025. At right tackle, 2024 second-round pick Blake Fisher will have a crack at locking down the position for 2025 as Tytus Howard shifts inside to guard. But the center position remains a mystery. Juice Scruggs struggled to maintain consistency in pass protection, thus leading to Jarrett Patterson taking over. He's slightly better defending defensive tackles, but there's a weak point to his game when it comes to winning upfield in one-on-one battles. The Texans might have some pieces in the protection department, but they need stability on the interior. Slaughter, who remains the nation's top center and is the favorite to win the Rimmington Trophy, could be the answer beginning next fall. Of course, Texans fans hope to select the All-American with the No. 32 pick rather than the No. 20 pick for obvious reasons.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
These four Florida football standouts among PFF's 2026 draft big board top 100
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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement "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 Advertisement '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 Advertisement '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
USA Today
19-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida football center Jake Slaughter projected to win 2025 Rimington Trophy
Florida football center Jake Slaughter projected to win 2025 Rimington Trophy The college football season kicks off in just over three months, but the anticipation ahead of America's favorite sport has many already looking ahead to the fall campaign. One of the many too-early questions posited by prognosticators is which players will win which regular-season awards when the schedule concludes. CBS Sports writer Will Backus decided to take a stab at the topic recently, predicting college football award winners for the 2025 campaign. Among the projected award winners — which leaned heavily on the Ohio State Buckeyes and Clemson Tigers — was Florida Gators starting center Jake Slaughter, who was named the top candidate for the Rimington Trophy, which honors the top player in the nation at that position. Why Jake Slaughter will win the Rimington Trophy "Slaughter would likely have been the first center off the board if he declared for the 2025 NFL draft, but he elected to run it back for another year with what looks like a promising Florida team," Backus begins. "He's long been an anchor in the middle of the Gators' offensive line, and he's coming off a 2024 season in which he earned second-team CBS Sports All-American and first-team All-SEC honors. Slaughter took 402 pass-block snaps last year and only allowed one sack, according to Pro Football Focus. That type of dominance at a key position should net him some hardware." Breaking down Jake Slaughter's skill set Pro Football Focus (PFF) awarded Slaughter an impressive 83.9 overall grade, making him the highest-graded returning center in the country. Slaughter, a redshirt senior, has not only met but exceeded expectations throughout his collegiate career. After stepping in as a starter during the 2023 season, Slaughter solidified his role in 2024, delivering standout performances that earned him First-Team All-American honors. Slaughter's incredible skills in pass protection were highlighted last season as he allowed just one sack over 402 pass-blocking snaps. Even with run-blocking, PFF marked him as the team's top run-blocker. Listed at 6-foot-4-inches and 308 pounds, the offensive lineman originally from Sparr, Florida, is a consensus first-round pick among early 2026 NFL draft projections. 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.
USA Today
21-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida football's Jake Slaughter marked highest-graded returning center, according to PFF
Florida football's Jake Slaughter marked highest-graded returning center, according to PFF Florida football is set to return with a formidable offensive line for the 2025 college football season, anchored by none other than Jake Slaughter, who has emerged as the top center in the Power Four conferences. Pro Football Focus (PFF) awarded Slaughter an impressive 83.9 overall grade, making him the highest-graded returning center in the country. Slaughter, a redshirt senior, has not only met but exceeded expectations throughout his collegiate career. After stepping in as a starter during the 2023 season, Slaughter solidified his role in 2024, delivering standout performances that earned him First-Team All-American honors. Slaughter's incredible skills in pass protection were highlighted last season as he allowed just one sack over 402 pass-blocking snaps. Even with run-blocking, PFF marked him as the team's top run-blocker. As Florida prepares for the 2025 season, Slaughter's role as a team anchor and leader will be pivotal. Looking ahead to next season, Florida's offensive line remains mostly intact. With the departure of Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson to the NFL, the line will see a reshuffle, but the core group including Austin Barber, Knijeah Harris and Damieon George Jr., alongside Slaughter, is expected to maintain the high standard they've set. 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.
