Snubbed by SEC coaches, Slaughter makes first team All-America
When it comes to Florida center Jake Slaughter, you have to ask what the hell are 15 coaches in the Southeastern Conference seeing and thinking? The coaches didn’t see fit to put Slaughter on either the first, second or third team All-SEC. The Associated Press and USA Today voters had him first team. Not only that the AP voted Slaughter first team All-America as did Pro Football Focus. Slaughter made second team All-America for CBS Sports and College Football News.
Per Pro Football Focus, Slaughter graded out as the top center in the SEC. He played 728 snaps, allowing just one sack, one quarterback hit and only six quarterback hurries. He committed only three penalties all season. Although he played significantly more snaps (150) in 2024, Slaughter allowed fewer sacks and committed fewer penalties.
In Tampa, where the Gators (7-5) are preparing for Friday’s Gasparilla Bowl matchup (3:30 p.m., ESPN2 with Tulane (9-4), Florida coach Billy Napier shrugged off what the other coaches in the league think and pointed to the Pro Football Focus analytics.
“I think the statistics speak for themselves ... to be a first-year starter, to be the highest-graded center in the country by PFF, and obviously well-respected out there as a player,” Napier said. “So look, Jake's gonna play this game for a long time, and he ain’t worried about that, I can promise you that, but it has been good to be able to recognize him in front of his peers. And, you know, it's pretty cool to be an All-American, right, and, not many of those and, and he’ll always be able to look back at that and be proud of it.”
By making first team All-America, Slaughter has earned a brick in the sidewalk at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. A redshirt junior from Sparr who prepped at Trinity Catholic in Ocala, Slaughter is the third University of Florida center (Bill Carr and Maurkice Pouncey were the others) to earn first team honors.
Kudos to Cam Jackson
Jackson is a senior who figures to be taken in the NFL Draft, particularly after the way he finished the 2024 season. Although he’s not at 100 percent after the regular season, Jackson is playing in the bowl game like several other Gators whose last game in a UF uniform will be Friday.
“Cam has been a little bit limited in bowl practice, you know,” Napier said Monday. “He got banged up in the Florida State game, but just in general, for him to, you know, finish the season with his team, be around for bowl practice, and obviously he's a Senior Bowl invite. He'll be an NFL Draft pick, but look, these guys enjoy being around each other. I think that's part of the positive here is, like, you got, you know, sometimes you’ll have a guy pack it up and head off and start training, but I think these guys enjoy each other's company, you know. And I think this team, when we look back at it, I think this ‘24 team, what they were able to accomplish, the way they finished, I think would be significant in the future.”
SEC FOOTBALL: PORTAL DEPARTURES/ARRIVALS
Alabama: LB Keanu Koht (RJR) to Vanderbilt; CB Jahlil Hurley (FR) to Kansas; WR Kobe Prentice (JR); DL Jehiem Oatis (JR) to Colorado; WR Kendrick Law (JR); OT Miles McVay (FR); WR Caleb Odom (FR); OT Naquil Betrand RFR); DL Hunter Osborne (FR); QB Dylan Lonergan (RFR); LB Braylon Chatman (SO); RB Justice Haynes (SO); CB Devonta Smith (RJR) to Notre Dame; CB Jaylen Mbakwe (FR) to Ole Miss; WR Emmanuel Henderson Jr. (JR)
Arkansas: WR Jaedon Wilson (RJR) to UCLA; QB Malachi Singleton (FR); TE Tyrus Washington (SO); TE Var’keyes Gumms (JR); OG Patrick Kutas (JR) to Ole Miss; TE Luke Hasz (SO) to Ole Miss; S Nico Davillier (JR); WR Kamron Bibby (SO); LB Kaden Henley (SO); LB Alex Sanford (SO); WR Davion Dozier (RFR); S Dallas Young (FR); P Sam Dubwig (FR); RB Emmanuel Crawford (FR); LS Eli Stein to Wisconsin; S Tevis Metcalf (SO) to Michigan; CB TJ Metcalf (FR) to Michigan; LB Carson Dean (FR); RB Isaiah Sategna (RSO); OG Joshua Braun (RSR) to Kentucky; DL Ty’kieast Crawford (SR); EDGE Brad Spence (SO) to Texas; OG Addison Nichols (RSO); OT Jac’Qawn McCray (FR) from Oregon; CB Jaylon Braxton (SO) to Ole Miss; WR Raylen Sharpe (RJR) from Fresno State; EDGE Ken Talley (RSO) from Michigan State
Auburn: DL Gage Keys (RJR); TE Grant Hidalgo (RJR); QB Holden Geriner (RSO); OG EJ Harris (SO); P Gabe Russo (FR); WR Camden Brown (JR); TE Micah Riley (SO) to Texas A&M; EDGE T.J. Lindsey (FR); S Caleb Wooden (JR); QB Hank Brown (RFR) to Iowa; CB Antonio Kite (SO); WR Horatio Fields (RJR) from Wake Forest; QB Maalik Murphy (RSO) from Texas; LB Phoenix Jackson (RJR) from Fresno State; LB Laquan Robinson (JR); QB Jackson Arnold (SO) from Oklahoma; RB Durrell Robinson (SO) from UConn; P Hudson Haak (SO) from Oklahoma State; QB Walker White (FR); OT Xavier Chaplin (from Virginia Tech; S Taye Seymore (SO) from Georgia Tech; CB Raion Strader (SO) from Miami (OH); EDGE Amaris Williams (FR); QB Ashton Daniels (JR) from Syracuse
FLORIDA: DE Justus Boone (RJR); OL Mike Williams (RFR); EDGE Quincy Ivory (RJR); EDGE Bryce Capers (SO); WR Andy Jean (RFR); CB Ja’Keem Jackson (SO) to LSU; DL Kelby Collins (SO); OG Christian Williams (RSO); TE Arlis Boardingham (RSO); LB Deuce Spurlock (RSO); QB Parker Leise; EDGE Jack Pyburn (RSO) to LSU; TE Gavin Hill (RFR); P Tommy Doman (SR) from Michigan
Georgia: CB Julian Humphrey (SO) to Texas A&M; WR Nitro Tuggle (FR); David Daniel-Sisavanh; WR Michael Jackson III (SR); DL Jamaal Jarrett (SO); EDGE Samuel M’Pemba (SO); LB Troy Bowles (SO); CB Justyn Rhett (RFR); S Jake Pope (RSO); WR Rara Thomas (SR)
Kentucky: DL Keeshawn Silver (RJR); LS Walker Himebauch (SO); CB Avery Stuart (FR); WR Dane Key (JR); LB Jayvant Brown (SO); EDGE Tommy Ziesmer (FR) to Eastern Kentucky; TE Khamari Anderson (SO); TE Tanner Lemaster (FR); OT Courtland Ford (SR); WR Barion Brown (JR) to LSU; WR Anthony Brown-Stephens (SO); OT Ben Cristman (RJR); EDGE Noah Matthews (SO); EDGE Tyreese Fearby (RSO); QB Gavin Wimsatt (RJR); S Jarard Mosely (JR); RB Chip Trayanum (RSR); EDGE Caleb Redd (FR); WR Brandon White (RSO); EDGE Sam Greene (RFR) from Southern California; LB Landyn Watson (RJR) from Marshall; OT Alexander Wollschlaer (SR) to Kentucky; OG Joshua Braun (RSR) from Arkansas
LSU: WR London Ibieta (SO); QB Rickie Collins (RFR); WR CJ Daniels (RJR); S Kylin Jackson (FR); WR Shelton Sampson JR (FR); LB Xavier Atkins (FR); CB JK Johnson (JR); PK Nathan Dibert (JR); S Jordan Allen (RSO); CB Jalailin Johnson (RJR); TE Ka’Morreun Pimpton (SO); CB Bernard Causey (FR); DL Jay’viar Suggs (RSR); S Sage Ryan (RJR); DE Da’Shawn Womack (SO) to Ole Miss; TE Bauer Sharp (JR) from Oklahoma; CB Ja’Keem Jackson (SO) from Florida; WR Barion Brown (JR) from Kentucky; S Jordan Allen (JR) to Houston; EDGE Jimari Butler (RJR) from Nebraska; QB Michael Van Buren Jr. from Mississippi State; EDGE Jack Pyburn (RSO) from Florida; CB Mansoor Delane (JR) from Virginia Tech;
Mississippi State: QB Chris Parson (RFR); WR Creed Whittemore (SO) to Utah; WR JJ Harrell (FR); CB Jayven Williams (SO) from Kennesaw State; EDGE Ty Cooper (JR) to Tulane; LB John Lewis (RJR); OT Makylan Pounders (JR) to Louisville; LB Tabias Hinton (FR); WR Antonio Harmon (JR); LB Marcus Ross (JR); WR Mario Craver (FR); CB Raydarious Jones (SR); CB Khamauri Rogers (SO); CB Brice Pollock (SO) to Texas Tech; DL Gabe Moore (FR); LB Jarvae Gilmore (RSO); DL Eric Taylor (SR); Christopher Keys (RSR); QB Michael Van Buren Jr. to LSU; EDGE Redd Hibbler (SR) from North Carolina State; S Jahron Manning (JR) from Old Dominion; CB Kevin Coleman (JR) to Missouri; EDGE Nevaeh Sanders (RJR) from Northern Illinois; WR Brenen Thompson (JR) from Oklahoma; WR Jaron Glover (RSO) from Michigan State; OT Jesse Ramil (JR) from James Madison
Missouri: LB Brayshawn Littlejon (FR); P Will Safris (FR); WR Mekhi Miller (JR); PK Brody Boehm (FR); P Orion Phillips (SO); S Phillip Roche (SO); IOL Jack McGarry (RSO); EDGE Jaylen Brown (FR) to South Carolina; CB Kevin Coleman (JR) from Mississippi State; EDGE Williams Nwaneri (FR) to Nebraska; QB Aidan Glover (FR); RB Kewan Lacy (FR) to Ole Miss; S Santana Banner (FR) from Northern Illinois; LB Josiah Trotter (RFR) from West Virginia; LB Mikai Gbayor (JR) from Nebraska
Oklahoma: WR Jaquaize Pettaway (SO); QB Jackson Arnold (SO) to Auburn; RB Kalib Hicks (FR) to Oklahoma State; WR Nic Anderson (SO); RB Emeka Megwa (JR); TE Bauer Sharp (JR) to LSU; CB Makari Vickers (SO); RB Chapman McKown (FR); CB Kani Walker (RJR); OG Geirean Hatchett (SR) to Washington; CB Jayden Rowe (SO) to Kansas State; OT Kenny Wermy (RFR); IOL Joshua Bates (RFR); WR JJ Hester (RSR); WR Jalil Farooq (SR); S Makari Vickers (SO); WR Andrel Anthony (SR); TE Josh Fanuiel (RSO); LB Phil Picciotti (RFR); QB Brendan Zurbrugg (FR); WR Brenen Thompson (JR) to Mississippi State; S Dasan McCullough (JR); QB John Mateer (RSO) from Washington State; IOL Eugene Brooks (FR)
Ole Miss: S Key Lawrence (RSR); QB Walker Howard (RSO) to Louisiana; OT Cam East (RSO); OT Mana Taimani (RSR); OT Jack Mills (SR); LB Rodney Groce Jr. (SR); OT PJ Wilkins (RFR) from Charlotte; EDGE Da’Shawn Womack (SO) from LSU; OG Patrick Kutas (JR) from Arkansas; CB Jaylon Braxton (SO) from Arkansas; TE Luke Haasz (SO) from Arkansas; EDGE Princewill Umanmielen (SO) from Nebraska; RB Kewan Lacy (FR) from Missouri; CB Jaylen Mbakwe (FR) from Alabama
South Carolina: LB Bangally Kamara (RSR) to Kansas; LB Mohamed Kaba (RSR); WR Tyshawn Russell (SO); TE Connor Cox (SO); TE Nick Elksnis (RJR); WR CJ Adams (RFR); QB Robby Ashford (RJR); DL Jamaal Whyce (RSO); DL Elijah Davis (SR); EDGE Jaylen Brown (FR) from Missouri; IOL Nick Sharpe (RJR) from Wake Forest; WR Debron Gatling (FR) to Georgia Tech
Tennessee: OG Vysen Lang (FR); RB Khalifa Keith (SO); WR Kaleb Webb (SO) to Wake Forest; CB Jordan Matthews (RFR); LB Jalen Smith (RFR); WR Chas Nimrod (SO); QB Ryan Damron (FR); WR Nathan Leacock (RFR); TE Luke Shouse (RSR); WR Nate Spillman (RFR)
Texas: WR Johntay Cook II (SO); DL Jaray Bledsoe (RSO); DL Aaron Bryant (SO); LB Derion Gullette (FR); EDGE Tausill Akana (FR); DL Tiaoalii Savea (SR); CB Jay’vion Cole (JR); P Jack Bouwmeester (RJR) from Utah; Edge Justice Finkley (JR); DL Cole Brevard (RSR) from Purdue; EDGE Brad Spence (SO) from Arkansas; DL Sydir Mitchell (SO)
Texas A&M: DL Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy (SO); QB Conner Weigman (RSO) to Houston; WR Cyrus Allen (JR) to Cincinnati; TE Jaden Platt (FR); QB Jaylen Henderson (JR); OT Aki Ogunbiyi (JR);OT Hunter Erb (SO); CB Kevin Longstreet Jr. (FR); EDGE Malick Sylia (JR); LB Martrell Harris Jr. (JR); WR Micah Tease (SO); OG TJ Shanahan (FR); P Keegan Andrews (JR); LB Chantz Johnson (SO); OG Cam Dewberry (JR); EDGE Josh Celiscar (RSR); QB Jacob Zeno (RSR) from UAB; WR Jake Bostick (RSO); CB Donovan Saunders (JR) to Utah; EDGE Enai White (JR); WR Jacob Bostick (RSO); DL Samu Taumanupepe (RFR) to Baylor; CB Julian Humphrey (SO) from Georgia; WR Micah Hudson (from Texas Tech
Vanderbilt: LB Jeffrey Ugochukwu (JR); QB Nate Johnson (JR); EDGE BJ Diakate (JR); LB Steve Sannieniola (JR); DL Devin Lee (SR); OT Gunnar Hansen (SR); CB Alan Wright (SR); EDGE Darren Agu (JR); TE Tyler Fortenberry; PK Will Faris (SR); WR Ezra McAllister; CB Alvin Williamson Jr. (FR); EDGE Evan Hermann (SO); EDGE Callahan Blair (FR); LB Keanu Koht (RJR) from Alabama; P Nick Haberer (RJR) from Washington State
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