The Florida Gators roster features more than 50 newcomers, but I want to focus on a few returning players who could take a significant leap in 2026. Gator Country takes a look at five potential breakout candidates for the Gators this season.
All five of these players logged fewer than 150 snaps last year.
DL Joseph Mbatchou
Sophomore defensive lineman Joseph Mbatchou returns to Gainesville after appearing in nine games and logging 134 snaps during his freshman season. He finished the year with 11 tackles and one tackle for loss.
With Caleb Banks, Brien Taylor Jr., and Michai Boireau moving on this offseason, the opportunity is there for Mbatchou to emerge as a key contributor along Florida’s interior defensive line. The 6-foot-5, 323-pound lineman is expected to compete for the starting nose tackle role in 2026 alongside Brendan Bett.
Mbatchou impressed Florida’s coaching staff with his effort and energy in the weight room, adding 23 pounds ahead of spring camp.
After arriving in Gainesville with just one year of football experience, Mbatchou showed promising development as a freshman. Now, with his first full offseason in the program, the physical traits are beginning to stand out even more.
Mbatchou has the size, length, and power to win at the point of attack, and he should give Florida a disruptive interior pass-rush presence.
RB Duke Clark
One of the most underrated players on Florida’s roster entering the 2026 season is redshirt freshman running back Duke Clark.
Clark logged just 15 carries for 58 yards as a freshman, but he turned in a strong performance against Texas, rushing nine times for 38 yards while spelling Jadan Baugh.
The 6-foot-2, 202-pound back showed noticeable improvement in his explosiveness this offseason, displaying a rare combination of acceleration, power, and open-field speed. Clark is a legitimate home-run threat out of the backfield.
Jadan Baugh leads Florida’s backfield, but Clark brings a different element to the offense with his explosiveness. The Gators also experimented with two-running back sets during the spring, which could create more opportunities for the other backs in the room.
CB Ben Hanks III
Gator legacy Ben Hanks III appeared in just three games as a true freshman last season, recording eight tackles, two pass breakups, and one interception across 148 snaps.
Hanks III appears poised to take the next step in year two, with head coach Jon Sumrall referring to him as “the best in the corner room” near the end of spring camp.
There has been little doubt about Hanks III’s coverage ability, but his physicality remains a concern after he struggled at times against bigger receivers last season.
Sources told Gator Country that Hanks III stood out during spring scrimmages and recorded an interception in one of them.
Florida’s cornerback room is highly competitive, with Dijon Johnson, Cormani McClain, and J’Vari Flowers all in the mix, but Hanks III appears to be in line for a more significant role in 2026.
TE Amir Jackson
It’s unclear how much Florida offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner plans to utilize the tight ends in 2026, given the speed and talent the Gators have at wide receiver and running back, but if Florida is looking for a threat in the passing game at the position, it starts with Amir Jackson.
Jackson, a 6-foot-5, 231-pound tight end, has played a minimal role through two seasons in Gainesville, recording just three career receptions for 29 yards and a touchdown, all of which came last season.
However, Jackson was a priority for tight ends coach Evan McKissack, who convinced him to return to Florida after entering the transfer portal.
Jackson can stretch the field vertically like few tight ends on the roster can, as he showed during the spring game with a 33-yard reception up the middle of the field. He also brings plenty of run-after-the-catch ability thanks to his open-field speed.
OL TJ Dice Jr.
Right tackle is a major question mark entering 2026, and one of the players competing for the job is redshirt freshman TJ Dice Jr.
At 6-foot-3, 292 pounds, Dice Jr. won’t overwhelm you with sheer size, but his length and athleticism have made him a promising tackle prospect for offensive line coach Phil Trautwein.
After not appearing in a game last season, Dice Jr. was seen taking first-team reps early in spring camp as the staff continued to move redshirt junior Caden Jones around the offensive line.
While Dice Jr. is still somewhat of a work in progress, he doesn’t appear to be far behind the other options, and his athleticism and balance could ultimately help separate him from the competition.