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Florida’s Jake Slaughter earns NFL Draft praise from Mel Kiper

79417-removebg-preview (1)by: Corey Bender11/03/25Corey_Bender
Jake-Slaughter-Florida-Gators
Mallory Peak/UAA Photo

Even as the Florida Gators endure a tough season, one player continues to shine and that’s center Jake Slaughter. He has been a steady presence on the offensive line and NFL scouts are taking notice despite Florida’s struggles this fall.

Slaughter has faced some of the toughest defensive linemen in the SEC over his career, and his experience shows. At 6-foot-5, 303 pounds, the Ocala native combines strength, technique and agility to drive defenders off the ball and open running lanes for his teammates. His leadership on and off the field has made him a cornerstone for an otherwise inconsistent offense.

On Sunday, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper highlighted Slaughter’s abilities, signaling that he may be undervalued.

“I’ll be moving Florida center Jake Slaughter up a bit in my position rankings this month (he was my No. 6 interior offensive lineman last week),” Kiper said. “He’s very experienced with 46 games played (28 starts), and he faced a lot of good SEC defensive tackles over that time.

“At 6-foot-5 and 303 pounds, he can drive interior defenders off the ball as a run blocker. Slaughter is great at creating rushing lanes, and he did Saturday against Georgia. He moves well laterally, and his overall footwork and technique are impressive. Slaughter just plays a solid brand of football, and he might be a little underrated right now. Look for him to be a good pick early on Day 3.”

Florida Gators Football Coaching Hot Board: 2.0

Jake Slaughter’s bold return

After an All-American season last year, Slaughter could have declared for the NFL Draft but chose to return to Florida. That decision allowed him to refine his skills further and continue providing leadership during a challenging season.

Even amid coaching changes and team struggles, Slaughter has remained a reliable force, drawing attention from scouts who see him as a potential early Day 3 pick or even somewhere on Day 2.

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