Following an 8-5 campaign which included four straight wins to end the 2024 season, the Florida Gators have playoff aspirations behind their most talented roster under Billy Napier. They’ll need more than just talent to reach the playoffs in 2025, however. Quality depth can be equally as important to a team’s success. Florida’s depth was tested last year after losing multiple quarterbacks, their top wide receiver, and a laundry list of players in the secondary. The Gators survived, even turning around their defense despite a growing injury report.
With the Gators set to face another difficult schedule, which could include up to seven teams ranked in the preseason top 25, it’s safe to assume that Florida is going to need a strong two-deep.
“There’s going to be weeks where we’re missing three or four, we’re missing six or seven. And I think the depth is critical. It’s a part of playing in this league, the physicality of the league, the level of depth within the league,” head coach Billy Napier said ahead of fall camp.
“That’s what the next month is about, seeing who we can trust, who we can depend on, who can be consistent, who can play winning football,” Napier added.
Depth is getting harder and harder to build in today’s NIL and transfer portal era of college football. However, the Gators did a nice job retaining key players while adding a surplus of young talent this offseason.
Starting with Florida’s offensive line, the Gators return four starters from the 2024 season for what should be one of the top units in SEC. Led by All-American center Jake Slaughter, the Gators have nearly 6,000 returning career snaps from the projected starting offensive line alone. But those five players won’t be enough to get Florida through a season. The Gators have used at least seven offensive linemen for 200+ snaps in every season under Napier.
It’s almost impossible to create experienced depth with that much returning production, but Florida’s staff believes they have the talent in the two deep they haven’t had in previous years.
“And then the depth behind those [starters] is something that maybe we haven’t had,” Napier said on the offensive line depth. “I think we’ve got some players that are in year two and three in that two-deep that I think are in position to be a factor.”
Redshirt sophomore Roderick Kearney, redshirt freshman Flecther Westphal, redshirt freshman Jason Zandamela, and redshirt sophomore Caden Jones are some names worth monitoring as the season progresses.
Florida is loaded at wide receiver. They were able to build quality depth by adding four high school signees in the 2025 recruiting class, two of which were labeled top eight receivers by 247Sports.
“There’s five new players in that room that all have a chance to help our team,” Napier said on the wide receivers. “J. Mike [Sturdivant] and Dallas [Wilson] and Vernell [Brown III], Naeshaun [Montgomery] and Muizz [Tounkara]. Muizz has had an outstanding summer. So, and look, this is about them developing confidence in themselves. Can we trust them as a coaching staff? Can their teammates trust them? And ultimately they’re going to earn that on the practice field.”
Florida also returned Eugene Wilson III, Aidan Mizell, Tank Hawkins, and TJ Abrams from the 2024 roster.
“It’s a deep, competitive group,” Napier added. “I’m excited about Aidan being back. I’m excited about Trey being healthy. And then you got some of these guys that flashed last year, Tank and TJ. No one talks about them. But they’re coming along, and they’re certainly part of the competition and in that battle.”
The Gators returned running backs Jadan Baugh and Ja’Kobi Jackson, a duo that combined for 1,182 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. In somewhat of a surprise, Florida was able to return two additional running backs while adding three from the high school ranks. Quality depth won’t be hard to find at running back, even outside of the two headed monster of Baugh and Jackson.
At tight end, Florida feels good about the development from projected starters Hayden Hansen and Tony Livington.
“They both got their body looking really good. Hayden has got it trimmed up. Tony has got some good muscle coming on. Hayden has gotten a lot better at some different route things. Tony has gotten better at some route things and some run game things,” offensive coordinator Russ Callaway said.
Redshirt freshman Amir Jackson is expected to be in the mix as well after not appearing in a game last season.
“He’s already taken huge strides, I mean it’s night and day from last year,” Hayden Hansen said on Jackson. “He’s picking things up faster, he’s been getting open a lot, that’s his specialty, he’s been getting down field a lot, making plays. I’m excited to keep watching him develop.”
“Were finally a veteran group more than two deep,” Hansen added.
With the uncertainty surrounding DJ Lagway’s reported calf strain, quarterback depth has become a major concern amongst fans. Florida added Louisville transfer Harrison Bailey, who put on a show during the Orange and Blue Spring game by tossing for 363 yards and three touchdowns. The Gators also returned former PWO quarterback Aidan Warner.
I” think all of our quarterbacks have taken advantage of the reps,” Napier said on the quarterback room. “Aidan in particular I think has taken a big step in the right direction, and obviously Harrison being a veteran player. And then Tramell we’ve seen him get healthy and more comfortable in the system, I think going back to the beginning of the install in the summer, Summer A, summer B. That group there’s a ton of competition amongst that group there.”
While the depth at quarterback is probably the worst out of any offensive position, it’s also the hardest to acquire. Most importantly, Florida feels like they have weapons to elevate their quarterback, whoever it may be.
“It’s probably the best combination of personnel around the quarterback,” Napier said on Florida’s depth. “I think the O Line obviously has played a lot of football. And really the two-deep up front, I would say. I think — I like that group. I think the two tight ends have played a lot of football in Hayden and Tony, and then Jadan and Ja’Kobi obviously are very experienced and proved themselves last year. So there’s some stability around the quarterback, and I think that’s a big piece of the puzzle.”