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Is Jake Slaughter the best offensive player in the SEC?

On3 imageby: Keith Niebuhr07/23/25On3Keith
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Photo courtesy of UAA Communications

Florida Gators senior center Jake Slaughter has received a ton of preseason accolades and deservedly so. He is, after all, a returning consensus All-American. But this week, his praise reached a new high.

Pro Football Focus has named the top offensive and defensive players in every conference. And it gave Slaughter the nod in the SEC, league loaded with big names. Slaughter was chosen over players such as Alabama receiver Ryan Williams, South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers, Alabama offensive tackle  Kadyn Proctor and Texas QB Arch Manning. Although Manning has been a backup in recent seasons, he is a betting favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.

Wrote PFF: “Slaughter was the only Power Four center to earn 80.0-plus PFF grades as a pass blocker and a run blocker in 2024. His 85.8 PFF overall grade since 2023 trails only Jackson Powers-Johnson among Power Four centers. He moves very well at 6-foot-4 and 308 pounds, allowing him to dominate in a zone-blocking scheme.”

Texas edge Colin Simmons was PFF’s choice in the SEC on defense. Meanwhile, for the Big Ten, the only other conference truly in the SEC’s league when it comes to overall talent, Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs were the choices for top offensive and defensive player, respectively. Those three players were 5-star recruits; Slaughter was a 3-star.

“Jake is an All-American and an All-SEC player,” Gators coach Billy Napier said last week during SEC Media Days. “He was voted team captain by his teammates last year, and he very much lives it out. He’s a guy that sets the tone every day. He’s a pace-setter, and he’s a great football player, but he’s an evenbetter person and leader. He’s got his degree in agricultural education and communication. He’s SEC honor roll member every year.”

Eight Florida players were named preseason All-SEC by the reporters covering SEC Media Days. Slaughter and offensive tackle Austin Barber were UF’s first-team selections. Slaughter started all 13 games at center last season and led the Gators offensive line in snaps with 800. Overall, the UF O-Line should be a strength in 2025, with Slaughter anchoring it.

“I think we made big strides [last season] and one of the things with offensive line play is communication,” Slaughter said. “If you don’t have five guys on the same page, you ain’t gonna be very good. You’ve got to have five guys looking through the same lens at the same time. I would say that’s been our biggest difference. And truthfully, it’s guys playing together.”

The development, led by offensive line coaches Rob Sale and John Decoster, has come not just from returning players, but from shared experience in high-pressure moments. Alongside Slaughter, Florida brings back Barber, along with starting guards Knijeah Harris and Damieon George. That cohesion and experience have helped the Gators’ line earn national recognition this offseason. In fact, PFF ranks Florida’s front No. 4 in the nation.

“Being in the fire together and kind of having that cohesion through doing hard things [was critical],” Slaughter said.

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