ESPN included Florida football center Jake Slaughter in its top 100 college football players of the 2025 season, ranking the veteran offensive lineman at No. 85. For a position that rarely draws headlines, the recognition speaks volumes about Slaughter’s consistency and importance to Florida‘s offense.
Slaughter quietly became one of the most reliable players on Florida’s roster. The redshirt senior started all 12 games at center during the 2025 season and anchored an offensive line that leaned heavily on experience and communication. Slaughter logged nearly 750 offensive snaps, served as the point man for protections and adjustments and posted strong pass-blocking grades throughout the year. His presence helped stabilize an offense that faced elite defensive fronts week after week in the SEC.
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That reliability didn’t come out of nowhere. Slaughter’s 2024 season set the foundation for his rise into national conversations. He started every game at center that year as well, leading Florida’s offensive line in snaps while grading among the top centers in the country in both pass protection and overall efficiency. By season’s end, he had earned first-team All-SEC honors and multiple All-America selections, turning what was once an under-the-radar role into one of the Gators’ biggest strengths.
Beyond the on-field impact, Slaughter’s leadership has been just as important. A multi-year starter and team captain earlier in his career, he has been a constant voice in the locker room and on the practice field. That leadership helped Florida navigate the grind of the SEC schedule and maintain continuity up front even as other parts of the roster evolved.
While No. 85 might not come with much flash, for an offensive lineman, it’s a powerful statement about just how valuable he’s been to the Orange and Blue.
Here is everything ESPN’s Bill Connelly said about Slaughter.
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What ESPN said about Slaughter
“Florida’s offense might have been unreliable this season, but none of that was Slaughter’s fault. The fifth-year Gator, who originally committed to Dan Mullen in July 2020, earned first-team all-SEC and second-team All-American honors and was named a finalist for the Rimington Trophy. The 6-foot-4-inch, 303-pound center from Sparr, Florida, finished his career with 33 starts, including the last 28 games of his college career. He was attributed just five blown run blocks in 13 games in 2025.”
ESPN’s top 10 college football players
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QB Fernando Mendoza (Indiana Hoosiers)
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DL Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami Hurricanes)
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OLB David Bailey (Texas Tech Red Raiders)
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LB Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech Red Raiders)
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CB Caleb Downs (Ohio State Buckeyes)
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RB Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame Fighting Irish)
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QB Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss Rebels)
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WR Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State Buckeyes)
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QB Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt Commodores)
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DL Cashius Howell (Texas A&M Aggies)
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida football’s Jake Slaughter on ESPN’s top 100 players rankings
