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On3's Ari Wasserman has Gators at No. 11 in post-spring Top 25

On3 imageby: Keith Niebuhr05/12/25On3Keith
DJ-Lagway-Jake-Slaughter-Florida-Gators
Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) celebrates with teammates at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, September 7, 2024 after defeating Samford Bulldogs 45-7. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]

DJ Lagway is back. So is Jadan Baugh, most of the starting offensive line and with several key players on defense. Meanwhile, multiple newcomers could have major roles. All of this has many people bullish on Billy Napier’s Florida Gators in 2025.

Including Ari Wasserman of On3.

There is a lot to like about the Florida Gators in 2025

Wasserman revealed his post-spring Top 25 on Monday and he put UF at No. 11. Of the Gators, he said the following: “Doubt all you want, but it’s my prediction that DJ Lagway will be the best player in college football by November. Though there is some concern about the time he’s missed this offseason recovering from injury, his recovery has reportedly progressed without any hitches. Florida also has big-time true freshman receiver Dallas Wilson and a defense that improved as last year went on. Florida has an incredibly difficult schedule, but the Gators have a chance to shock people this year.”

Who is No. 1 to Wasserman? That would be Penn State.

“This isn’t the super-team era anymore,” Wasserman wrote. “With that in mind, look at what Penn State is bringing back from a team that was a drive away from going to the national title game last season. They have a quarterback in Drew Allar who may be a top-5 pick in the NFL Draft next year, the best running back duo in the country in Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, along with one of the best edge rushers in Dani Dennis-Sutton. Oh, and Penn State addressed its receiver problem by picking up Kyron Hudson (USC), Devonte Ross (Troy) and, most recently, Trebor Pena (Syracuse) in the portal. Why shouldn’t Penn State be No. 1?”

Texas sits in the No. 2 spot, followed in order by Clemson, Ohio State, LSU, Georgia, Notre Dame, Alabama, Oregon and Illinois. Seven of the Florida Gators’ opponents in 2025 are in Wasserman’s top 25: Texas (2), LSU (5), Georgia (6), Ole Miss (19), Miami (20), Tennessee (24) and Texas A&M (25). Only two of those seven games are at home.

As Wasserman noted, “If you don’t like where your team is ranked. Don’t worry. We’ll do it again in August as fall camp opens.”

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