Jayden Woods has not forgotten Florida’s 2025 season.
The Gators finished 4-8, their worst record since 2013, leaving the team with plenty of motivation heading into 2026. When the sophomore edge rusher was asked about the disappointment, he didn’t mince words.
“It definitely is embarrassing,” Woods said. “Especially with the logo that we play for, that’s not the standard here. So it’s a big chip on our shoulder going into the season.”
But Woods and the Gators understand that 2025 is in the past. The 2026 season presents a fresh opportunity.
“We emphasize it’s not the same team as this year. It’s a new team. Even if we had an undefeated season last season, it’d be the same thing. It’s a new season, new people, new players.”
For Florida’s defense, the goal is to play fast, play loose and create violence on the gridiron. That starts with dominant play up front. In 2025, the Gators ranked 56th nationally in sacks and 97th in pressure grade, according to Pro Football Focus.
Simply put, Florida needs to generate more pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and Woods will play a major role in that effort.
“It’s definitely important,” Woods said of increasing the team’s sack total. “I also feel like there are a lot more important stats that go into pass rushing, like win rate, pressure rate and all that. I’d say sacks are a big goal for us for sure, but focusing on dominating our rep in that moment is definitely the biggest piece.”
Woods mentioned “win rate,” which measures how often a pass rusher defeats his blocker on a pass-rush snap, regardless of whether the play results in a sack. It is often a better indicator of a pass rusher’s impact than sack totals alone.
The Shawnee, Kansas, native posted a 20.3% win rate on true pass sets, an impressive mark for any pass rusher, especially a true freshman. It was the highest mark on Florida’s roster and nearly double that of any other edge rusher on the team.
That suggests Woods could be in line for a significant statistical jump if the play around him improves. With several high-upside pass-rushing options emerging across from him and improved interior pass-rushing talent, that possibility becomes even more realistic.
Woods is well aware of Florida’s single-season sack record: 13, set by Alex Brown in 1999.
“That’s the goal,” Woods said.
Expectations are high for the athletic 6-foot-3, 245-pound edge rusher, who received third-team preseason All-SEC honors, but Woods understands the focus has to remain on the team’s process and the bigger picture.
“I would say taking it one day at a time and pushing the urgency every day for all of us as a team,” Woods said.
The Gators enter the season with renewed energy and belief, something he has felt throughout the building.
“A lot of excitement, a lot,” Woods said. “For the whole team. You can just feel it in the building. Everybody’s excited to go.”