Three Florida football linemen earn spots on prestigious 2025 award watch lists
On Tuesday, the Gators placed a pair of offensive linemen–center Jake Slaughter and tackle Austin Barber–on the 2025 Outland Trophy watch list, an award honoring the top interior lineman in college football.
Slaughter started all 13 games at center last season for the Orange and Blue and led Florida's offensive line in offensive snaps with 800. He led the Gators in Pro Football Focus' offense, pass-block and run-block grades.
Pro Football Focus also regarded Slaughter as the SEC's top offensive player heading into the 2025 season.
Barber, a left tackle, also started all 13 games last season for the Gators. He logged a total of 729 offensive snaps with a run block grade of 70.0 according to Pro Football Focus. He was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week during Week 4 after scoring his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter against Mississippi State.
Defensive tackle Caleb Banks picked up his own preseason nod, landing on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list.
The Nagurski is awarded annually to the nation's best defensive player, regardless of position, and has been one of the highest marks of individual defensive excellence in the sport.
Last season, Banks logged 21 tackles (10 solo) that included seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a recovered fumble in 10 starts. He also set a career-high in snaps played (56) against Tennessee.
The Outland field will be narrowed to six or seven semifinalists on Nov. 19, with three finalists named on Nov. 25. The winner will be revealed during the Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 12.
For the Nagurski, four finalists will be announced in mid-to-late November before the trophy is presented on Dec. 8. Both honors fall under the umbrella of the National College Football Awards Association and stand as benchmarks of elite play in the sport.
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
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