With over 5,000 combined career snaps returning and multiple draft eligible players back for their senior season, Florida’s offensive line is shaping up to be the best it’s been under head coach Billy Napier.
Knijeah Harris, one of the youngest projected starting offensive linemen in 2025, is entering his third season at UF after starting all 13 games for Florida last season. The Gators’ saw a much-improved unit in 2024, grading as the 11th best pass blocking offensive line in the country and the 7th best run blocking unit, according to Pro Football Focus. Despite the success last season, Harris and the rest of Florida’s offensive line isn’t getting complacent.
“The coaches kind of preached to us, like last year is last year. We have to keep building on what we did and none of that matters,” Harris told the media. “You have to focus on the work and getting better for next season. So I think it’s definitely something to be excited about, but we have to build forward and move on from that and be better.”
Perhaps the most intriguing part of Florida’s offensive line is the return of All-American center Jake Slaughter, who graded at the 6th best center in all of college football while allowing just one sack and nine pressures last season. Slaughter decided to come back for his senior season and not declare for the NFL Draft, where he surely would have been drafted earlier rather than later. Not only does Florida get a great football player, but a leader and one of the more experienced offensive lineman in college football.
“That’s definitely something that’s huge for us,” Harris said on Slaughter’s return. You know, being a leader in the middle, kind of getting us lined up and all that type of stuff, you know, it’s definitely exciting. I think it was a huge decision. Really, really appreciate it. He’s a leader in the room.”
The only starter from the 2024 season that didn’t come back was Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, who was out of eligibility. Looking to find a replacement at right tackle, the Gators turned to redshirt sophomore Byrce Lovett in spring camp. Lovett got the start at right tackle during Florida’s bowl game vs Tulane and performed admirably, allowing no sacks and one pressure in 38 pass blocking snaps, grading as Florida’s best offensive lineman in the contest. The reports from spring camp have been strong on Lovett.
“Definitely proud of Bryce. He’s come a long way since we got here, and he’s definitely still taking big steps and definitely excited for him this year,” Harris said on Lovett.
Depth is critical on an offensive line; especially given the physicality of the SEC. Harris believes Florida’s increased depth is creating a more competitive practice environment.
“I think there’s a lot of depth in that room,” Harris said. “It’s kind of a collective thing. We all bring up the intensity and the competition in the room. I think you’ll see a lot of the guys, Jason (Zandamela), Marcus (Mascoll), Noel (Portnjagin), those guys are coming along on the line, especially even guys in my class, like Rod (Kearney), Caden (Jones) and Bryce (Lovett), are coming along as well.”
While it’s easy to be excited about Florida’s offense with DJ Lagway at the helm and the speed at receiver, Florida won’t sniff their potential without an elite offensive line. The one thing all recent National Champions have in common is dominant offensive line play.
“I think our offense will be as good as our line is,” Harris said. “That’s the biggest thing, you know, focusing on us being a more veteran group this year. Like, being leaders and taking hold of that, and kind of setting the tone for the offense, so to speak.”