Florida football awards tracker: C Jake Slaughter named Rimington Trophy finalist
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Florida football senior center Jake Slaughter was named as one of three finalists for the Rimington Trophy, given to college football's top center.
The 6-foot-5, 303-pound Slaughter started all 12 games for the Florida Gators this season and in 748 snaps and allowed just one sack, one quarterback hit and two hurries. Slaughter earned a Pro Football Focus offense grade of 78.9, a run block grade of 82.2 and team-high 87.1 pass block grade. In 12 starts, Slaughter graded 70 or higher as a pass blocker 11 times, per PFF.
A preseason All-American, Slaughter has made 33 career starts at center for UF over the last three seasons and emerged as a leader on UF's offensive line. His PFF offensive grade of 81.1 ranked best of all UF offensive players in 2024.
Iapani Laloulu of Oregon and Logan Jones of Iowa are the other finalists for the award. Slaugther is vying to become the first Florida center to win the Rimington Trophy since Maurkice Pouncey in 2009.
Florida football DT Caleb Banks, Florida football OT Austin Barber earn invites to Reece's Senior Bowl
Florida starting defensive tackle Caleb Banks and starting left tackle Austin Barber accepted invites to the Panini Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on Jan. 31.
After a breakout junior season that included seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 2024, the 6-foot-6, 330-pound Banks appeared in just three games in 2025, missing time with a broken foot. Banks wound up with six tackles in the three games, including one tackle for loss and a fumble recovery.
The 6-foot-6, 314-pound Barber started all 12 games at left tackle for Florida in 2025, posting a a PFF run block grade of 82.2. Overall, Barber has made 38 career starts at left and right tackle for UF over the past four seasons,
The Senior Bowl is considered the nation's top college football all-star game, which will attract coaches, scouts and personnel executives from all 32 NFL Teams. Banks and Barber are both projected to be selected in the 2026 NFL Draft next April.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football postseason awards tracker, which UF players are honored
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