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Jake Slaughter, Austin Barber and Caleb Banks makes watch lists for prestigious awards

On3 imageby:Keith Niebuhr•07/29/25•

On3Keith

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Jake Slaughter, Austin Barber and Caleb Banks are three of the Florida Gators’ top returning players in 2025. Two weeks ago, each received All-SEC recognition during SEC Media Days. Now, they’ve made some prestigious watch lists.

Slaughter and Barber, both senior offensive linemen, were named to the watch list for the Outland Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Meanwhile, Banks, a senior defensive lineman, made the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list. That award honors the top defensive player in college football. It’s also determined by the FWAA.

Jake Slaughter is back after an All-American season

Slaughter, a center, was as consensus first-team All-American last year. He started all 13 games at center last season and led the Gators offensive line in snaps with 800. 

“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.”

Barber started all 13 games at left tackle in 2024. He has made 26 career starts for the Gators.

Banks finished 2024 with 10 starts, 21 tackles (10 solo), including seven tackles-for-loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a recovered fumble. As a UF press release noted, “For his performance against Ole Miss in Week 13, Banks captured a SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week.”

Per the same release, “The watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be narrowed down to a group of four finalists by the FWAA committee in mid-to-late November. From there, the winner of the trophy will be announced on Dec. 8, 2025. A complete list of the 2025 Outland Trophy watch list nominees can be found here and the complete list of the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list nominees can be found here.”

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