Florida Gators center Jake Slaughter was named the top returning interior offensive lineman in college football entering the 2025 season, according to Pro Football Focus. Ahead of the 2024 season, Slaughter ranked 8th on this list after a breakout 2023 season.
Back for his redshirt senior season, Slaughter is as well rounded as they come. The 6’4.5, 308-pound offensive lineman was the only power four center to earn an 80.0 plus grade as a pass blocker and a run blocker, per PFF.
As a pass blocker, Slaughter allowed just one sack and nine pressures across 402 pass protection snaps in 2024. To make those statistics more impressive, Slaughter went head to head with some of the best defensive tackles in college football, including Walter Nolan, Shemar Turner, Deone Walker, Joshua Farmer, and Omarr Norman-Lott.
Slaughter’s 85.8 PFF overall grade since 2023 trails only Jackson Powers Johnson among Power Four centers, who was selected 44th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Sparr, Florida native earned a laundry list of accolades for his play last season including an AP All-American First Team selection. Not many teams can say they returned a First Team All-American that was draft eligible, but the Gators can. Not only will Slaughter’s play on the field be a huge plus, but his leadership and experience at the center position will be significant for UF in 2025.
“Number one would be his impact on the rest of the team,” head coach Billy Napier said on Slaughter. “You know, I think his example, his selflessness, his humility, he’s just a guy who has care for his teammates and then just a very consistent, dependable worker, durable and just a blue collar guy. But he’s a great communicator, and then I think he has a way about him that inspires confidence to the players around him. So I think he’s helped that room as a whole. That room is as healthy as it’s been since we’ve been here, not only the caliber of player, but just the culture in that room. And he’s been at the center of that.”
If Slaughter can earn another All-American selection in 2025, he will meet the criteria to be considered for the Ring of Honor, which is an exclusive group of just six members.