Gators 2024 Positional Outlook: Interior Defensive Line
GAINESVILLE, Fla.-- The winds of attrition breezed through The Swamp again this winter, with Florida making 30 total scholarship roster additions and 21 subtractions via the NCAA transfer portal, along with several departing players heading toward the NFL Draft or their post-football careers.
All Gators is breaking down each position on Florida's roster as the team approaches spring training camp, reviewing the performances of each group in 2023 and previewing their makeup for the 2024 season.
Following our breakdowns of the quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end and offensive line groups, next, we kick off the defensive side of the ball with the interior defensive line.
If required, All Gators will revisit positions affected by the spring transfer portal window later this offseason. We will offer final depth chart projections during Florida's fall training camp in August.
2023 Season in Review: Florida's Defensive Line
Billy Napier's first season in 2022 saw a major deficiency in the depth of UF's defensive line. Additionally, Florida lost star talent Gervon Dexter Sr. to the NFL at the end of the year. As a result, the Gators turned to two transfers to help replenish depth in the room in Cam Jackson and Caleb Banks.
Jackson primarily played at the nose tackle spot and became an immediate leader on the defense, starting 11 out of the 12 games in 2023. He was eighth on the team in tackles with 32 total stops (18 solo), which is good for fourth out of returning players.
His six-tackle, one-pass breakup performance in the 29-16 upset win over Tennessee earned him SEC co-Defensive Lineman of the Week honors.
Meanwhile, Banks, who also started 11 games, split time with Chris McClellan at the END defensive tackle position. After spending most of his time at Louisville as a reserve, Banks set career-high marks last season with 19 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss and one sack.
McClellan matched his tackle total (23) from the previous year and had half a sack in 2023.
A contributor who emerged in 2023 was redshirt freshman Jamari Lyons, who began to see more playing time as the season went on. He finished the year with 20 tackles, good for 10th-most out of returning players, and recorded a safety in the Gators' win over McNeese State.
Desmond Watson, however, saw his tackle numbers dip dramatically after a breakout 2022 campaign. The now-senior recorded 11 stops after a career-high 25 tackles the previous year.
Overall, Florida's interior group wasn't innocent of the Gators' holistic struggles on defense. The group combined for only 6.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks as the team allowed just over 155 rushing yards per game, which was the 12th-most in the SEC.
Florida's 22 total sacks, the vast majority of which came from other position groups, were also 12th in the conference.
At the season's end, Florida fired then-defensive line coach Sean Spencer and eventually hired Gerald Chatman from Tulane. Additionally, only one major contributor left the room with McClellan transferring to Missouri.
Reserves Will Norman, Jaelin Humphries and Keenan Landry each exited the program, and freshman Gavin Hill switched over to tight end.
Out and In
Scholarship players only
- Out: Chris McClellan (transferred to Missouri), Will Norman (transferred to Marshall), Jaelin Humphries (graduation), Keenan Landry (transfer to Louisiana Tech), Gavin Hill (position change)
- In: Joey Slackman (graduate transfer from Penn), Michai Boireau (freshman), D'Antre Robinson (freshman)
Looking Forward
Heading into 2024, Florida hit the transfer portal jackpot leading up Chatman's first season as the defensive line coach with the addition of graduate transfer Joey Slackman from Penn.
The 2023 Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year, Slackman recorded 50 tackles and 12 tackles-for-loss, both of which were career-high marks. He spent most of his three seasons at Penn playing at the three-tech defensive lineman spot and accounted for 115 tackles, 25 of which were for loss, and had 11 sacks.
Slackman's experience and level of success make him an early contender to start at the Gators' "END" position, the interior position next to the "JACK" linebacker spot. Last season, McClellan and Banks split the role, and with McClellan's transfer to Missouri, Slackman is in a prime spot to take over his snaps at the very least.
Despite McClellan's departure, Florida returns four of its five main contributors on the interior front with incumbent starters Jackson and Banks and rotational pieces Watson and Lyons.
Jackson will once again be relied upon to plug up the middle at the nose tackle position in his final collegiate season. Behind him, once again, will be Lyons and Watson, who will both look to break out in a larger capacity while fighting off young talent for playing time.
Florida also struck gold in high school recruiting with the signing of five-star defensive lineman LJ McCray. Although listed as a defensive lineman, McCray will likely spend most of his time on the outside at the "F" position opposite of the JACK edge rusher spot. Should he be asked to play inside, McCray would see time at the END position.
Additionally, the Gators welcomed Michai Boireau and D'Antre Robinson to their recruiting class. Standing at a tall 6-foot-5, 394 pounds, Boireau is projected to see time at the nose tackle position. Strong spring and fall camp performances could see him thrust into the lineup sooner rather than later, but with experienced players ahead of him currently, only time will tell.
Meanwhile, Robinson was a late addition after initially signing with Texas. Rated as the cycle's No. 36 defensive lineman by the 247Sports composite, Robinson told All Gators last summer that Florida views him as a "franchise player" and that he could play at either the nose or the three-tech spot.
Early 2024 Gators DL Depth Chart Projection
END Starter: Joey Slackman (Gr.)
END Backups: Caleb Banks (r-Jr.), D'Antre Robinson (Fr.), LJ McCray (Fr.)
NOSE Starter: Cam Jackson (Sr.)
NOSE Backups: Jamari Lyons (r-So.), Desmond Watson (Sr.), Michai Boireau (Fr.)
Reserves: Nicolas Flynn* (r-Fr.), Connor Homa* (r-Fr.), Andre Morris* (r-Fr.), Tyreik Norwood* (r-Sr.), Sebastian Scott* (r-Fr.)
* indicates walk-on status
Florida 2024 Positional Outlooks
Stay tuned to All Gators for continuous coverage of Florida Gators football, basketball and recruiting. Follow along on social media at @AllGatorsOnFN on Twitter and All Gators on FanNation-Sports Illustrated on Facebook.
