CFN names Eight Gators to preseason All-SEC teams

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — College Football Network (CFN) has selected eight Florida Gators to the publication’s All-SEC teams, CFN announced on Monday. One Gator, Jake Slaughter, received an Honorable Mention to the All-American Team. Redshirt junior center Jake Slaughter led the way by being named to Second-Team, All-American Honorable Mention.

Florida Gators named to CFN preseason teams

Jake Slaughter | Offensive Lineman/Center | R-Jr. | Sparr, Fla. | CFN All-SEC Second-Team, All-American Honorable Mention

Jake Slaughter Enters his Redshirt-Junior season after a 2023 campaign in which he saw action in all twelve games, including eight starts at Center, as he filled in for injuries on Florida’s offensive line. In those opportunities at center, Slaughter graded out as the No. 14 center in the FBS with a 75.9 PFF grade across 622 total snaps. He looks to continue last years success in 2024 with a more solidified role.

Montrell Johnson Jr. | Running Back | Sr. | New Orleans, La. | CFN All-SEC Second-Team

Johnson Jr. enters his senior season after starting 11 games in 2023 and leading the Gators in rushing each of the last two seasons. His 817 rushing yards was good for 10th in the conference last season, and the Louisiana native is one of just two players in last season’s top-10 that will be returning to the conference next season. Johnson was second among SEC running backs in receiving yards in the 2023 season. He has recorded six 100-yard rushing games as a Gator and enters this season with 2,496 career rushing yards, with three consecutive seasons of 800 yards or more.

Jason Marshall Jr. | Corner Back | Sr. | Miami, Fla. | CFN All-SEC Second-Team

Marshall Jr. enters his senior season at Florida after 28-straight starts at CB for Florida over the last three seasons. He led the team with 10 pass breakups in his junior season, the most of any player returning to the Southeastern Conference next season. He was also named to other preseason all-conference lists, including the SEC Media Days Poll Third-Team, the Athlon Sports second-team defense and Phil Steele second-team defense.

Jeremy Crawshaw | Punter | Sr. | Emu Plains, New South Wales, Australia | CFN All-SEC Second-Team

Crawshaw returns for his fifth season with Florida and third as the Gators starting punter. The 2023 campaign saw Crashaw set career and single season program records in average yards per punt (46.7) and yards per attempt (48.9). The Australian native was named to the AP All-SEC Second Team in 2023. Crashaw also earned preseason honors from the SEC Media Days Poll, Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.

Eugene Wilson III | Wide Reciever | Soph. | Tampa, Fla. | CFN All-SEC Third Team

Wilson III enters his sophomore campaign in 2024 after emerging as one of the nation’s most promising freshman playmakers last season. In 2023, Wilson III caught the ninth-most passes in the conference with 61. He led all SEC freshmen with six touchdowns on his way to a 2023 SEC All-Freshman selection. He is expected to remain a top target for quarterback Graham Mertz in 2024, even Florida’s new-look wide receivers room.

Trey Smack | Kicker | Jr. | Severna Park, Md. | CFN All-SEC Third Team

Smack was named the Gators starting kicker going into the team’s 2023 week three match up against No. 11 Tennessee. Smack would go on to make 17-21 field goal attempts while boasting a 100% extra point percentage on 29 attempts. In week four against Charlotte, Smack drilled a career-high 54-yard field goal, good for the seventh-longest in program history. He finished the day with five field goals, the first time that a Gator had done so since 2017. In week seven, he was perfect on four field goals and three extra points, scoring 15 points in a 41-39 win over South Carolina. He was recently named to the 2024 Lou Groza Award Watch List.

Caleb Banks | Defensive Line | R-Jr. | Detroit, Mich. | CFN All-SEC Honorable Mention

In 2023, Caleb Banks appeared in all 12 games while starting in 11. He recorded 19 tackles (7 solo), 1.5 TFL and one sack in those appearances. During Spring Practice in 2024, Banks emerged as a standout among returners, garnering the Danny Wuerffel Most Improved Player award from Florida’s Staff at the Orange and Blue spring game. With the help of new Defensive Line coach Gerald Chatman, Banks is Expected to Emerge as one of Florida’s top defensive performers.

Devin Moore | Cornerback | Jr. | Naples, Fla. | CFN All-SEC Honorable Mention

Despite being limited due to Injury each of his last two campaigns in Gainesville, Devin Moore enters 2024 healthy, and emerging as another top option at cornerback to compliment Marshall. In 12 career games, Moore has collected 12 total tackles, nine solo tackles, four pass breakups, and recorded his first career interception against Tennessee last season.