After returning over 3,000 snaps last season, the Gators’ offensive line is ready to live up to the high expectations that have been placed on them since the end of last season. In 2024, Florida’s offensive line was the only position group on the entire team to post three PFF performance grades over 87.0 in three different games.
“That just shows how much we’ve, you know, we played together. It’s really cool,” redshirt senior Austin Barber said. “We bring back a lot of people that have snaps, and that just comes with, you know, being mature and being on the field. You know, only way you can get reps is being on the field and playing, so I think that’s really important for us.”
Redshirt senior Tyreak Sapp and the defensive line have pushed the offensive line to become better versions of themselves this offseason.
Sapp even mentioned that the defensive line wants to make them hate practice.
“Iron sharpens iron,” Barber said on facing Tyreak Sapp and the defensive line. “I mean, we got guys that we can go out there and practice and we play, we’ll practice against better competition, you know, in some aspects, you know. But it’s just going out there and practicing against really good players in the SEC, they’ve played a lot of ball, and I think it’s just like I said, iron sharpens iron.”
Redshirt sophomore Bryce Lovett had a great start to his Gator career as redshirt freshman and is ready to put it all together in his third season.
“I think it’s super helpful. You know, you’re going against really good competition,” Barber said on Lovett. “Like, you can go practice every single day and go against some of the best in the conference. And, you know, Bryce has really done a good job of embracing that, and times are hard for him, even myself, I mean, it’s iron sharpens iron, like I said, But, you know, it’s really good for him to go against, you know, good quality competition, day in and day out.”
Last season, Lovett owned a pass-blocking grade of 71.6 and only allowed one sack while starting in three games and appearing in all 13 games played. The Florida native posted his fifth total 80-plus PFF pass-blocking grade against Ole Miss to secure his final two starts against Florida State and Tulane.
“He’s grown into himself. He looks really good out there,” Barber said. “And, you know, he could play all five, in my opinion, I think, like, but, you know, he’s very athletic, very long, strong. He can go out there and play some ball, for sure.”
Former four-star Fletcher Westphal is going into his second season as a Florida Gator and looks ready to take over when his time comes. Westphal recorded 29 offensive snaps last season while appearing in just four games and posted a pass-block grade of 80.2, an offensive grade of 75.7 and a run-block grade of 72.3, according to PFF.
“He’s looking really good, you know, still young in some aspects, but, you know, he’s looks really well,” Barber said on Westphal. “And, you know, I try to take him under my wing like Richard Gouraige did for me, you know. Me and him have a great relationship, and I think he looks really well out there.”
The Gators also return their First Team All-American Jake Slaughter, who has been a huge role model for everyone on the offensive line.
“He’s just a hard worker, you know? It’s not hard to see that he’s probably one of the hardest working people in the building. And he’s super smart, like, he can see things that, you know, I think a lot of centers can’t see. It’s just really cool to see him grow. We’ve grown up together just seeing each other. But, you know, Jake has done a really good job of just, like, knowing what to do and how to do it well.”
With the Gators returning their entire starting offensive line, the expectations are quite high heading into the 2025 season. This offensive line has a lot to prove and fall camp is a great opportunity for this group to take the next step.
“I think it does light a fire under our tail, for sure. I mean, expectations are high. But, you know, like I said, we have to go prove it on the field, prove it in practice. We had to prove it in summer workouts, we had to go prove it in winter workouts. You know. it’s one thing to see it and then not live up to it. That’s a bad thing. I think we have to go out there and work every single day to be where we want to be.”