Fall camp is here which means the intensity level of practice turns up a notch. One of the intriguing parts of Florida’s 2025 roster is the experience and talent in the trenches. Out of the nine projected starters along the offensive line and defensive line combined, six are redshirt seniors and all nine are at least in their third year at UF. Not only are they experienced, but they’re skilled. Florida returned All-American center Jake Slaughter, a projected early round 2026 draft pick in defensive tackle Caleb Banks, and edge rusher Tyreak Sapp, who graded as the 9th best edge defender in college football last season.
Having two experienced and skilled units going head-to-head with each other has created fierce competition in practice.
“It’s the best. It’s iron sharpens iron with them. I consider them one of the best O-lines in the country. If not, the best O-line in the country, and I consider us as the best front in the country, and I’m gonna bring it every day and I want them to bring it every day,” Sapp said on facing the offensive line.
“When they go out on the field on Saturday, I want them to feel like nothing compares to going against Sapp. Nothing compares to going against Caleb Banks,” Sapp added.
Sapp is often praised for his work ethic, leadership, and attitude in the locker room. On Tuesday, Head Coach Billy Napier referred to Sapp as ‘one of the best practice players we have’. You won’t find many players with the mentality Sapp has in today’s day and age of college football.
“I want to put immense pressure. I want them to feel it. I want them to hate practice,” Sapp said on Florida’s offensive line. “I want them to hate it, because when they go in the game, I want them to be hated. I want people to watch the film and be like, ‘I don’t want no parts of that.’ And that’s what it has to be if you want to be the best in the country. And they bring it every day and I love those guys. Those guys force me to get ready. They force me to learn and adapt. So right, the sky’s the limit for the O-line man.”
Despite position and coaching changes throughout his time at UF, Sapp seems to improve in every aspect of his game each year. The 6’2.5, 275-pound edge rusher is coming off his personal record bench press of 445 pounds.
“I’m probably in some of the best shape of my life, which is crazy, and then this summer, some of the credentials … I put on 10 pounds of muscle mass,” Sapp said. “It’s not normal for guys to put on a lot of muscle mass this late …because I got a lot of snaps. It’s just harder for an older guy to put on all that muscle, and then I lost a few pounds of body fat. I think I’m at 9 (percent).”
Sapp is coming off his career best 47 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and seven sacks in the 2024 season. However, the Fort Lauderdale, Florida native has his eyes set on UF’s single season sack record of 13, set by Alex Brown in 1999.
“I’m shooting for 15,” Sapp told the media on Tuesday.
After a major turnaround in 2024, the Gators are searching for their best season yet on defense. Leaders like Sapp can help make it a reality.
“I always tell the guys every day we gotta work,” Sapp said. “We gotta take steps every day, and we gotta work like we want to be the best front seven in the country. We can’t just talk about it, say it and proclaim it. We gotta work like it, and we gotta take it one day at a time.”