PFF ranks Florida Gators D-Line No. 4 in college football

Much of the hype with the Florida Gators in 2025 centers around quarterback DJ Lagway and a potentially high-powered offense. But the defense has some players, too. And on that side of the ball, everything starts up front with a defensive line Pro Football Focus ranks No. 4 in the country.

Wrote PFF’s Max Chadwick:

The Gators return two potential first-round picks on their defensive line in edge defender Tyreak Sapp and interior defender Caleb Banks. Sapp is my No. 7 edge rusher in college football and was ninth in the nation with a 90.4 PFF grade in 2024. Banks was my honorable mention defensive tackle and leads all returning Power Four interior defenders with 53 pressures since 2023. 

Florida also returned another starter in edge defender George Gumbs. Sophomore defensive tackle LJ McCray is also expected to break out as he was a top-10 overall recruit from the 2024 high school class.

The Clemson defensive line, which returns multiple players projected by many to be first-round picks, came in at No. 1. “Two projected top-10 picks in defensive tackle Peter Woods and edge defender T.J. Parker spearhead the Tigers’ defensive front. Woods is my top returning interior defender and leads all returning Power Four defensive tackles in run-defense grade (89.7) and pass-rush win rate (14.9%) since 2023. Parker is my No. 3 edge rusher and led all returning Power Four edge defenders with 12 sacks last season,” Chadwick said.

The Florida Gators have top-five lines on offense and defense

The full top 10 looks like this:

1. Clemson
2. Alabama
3. Texas Tech
4. Florida
5. Penn State
6. Michigan
7. Georgia
8. Miami
9. Oklahoma
10. Texas

The Gators also were No. 4 in PFF’s offensive line rankings. Florida, Clemson, Alabama and Miami are the only schools to have both of their respective offensive and defensive lines in the top 10.

Here is what Zach Abolverdi of Gators Online recently wrote about the players up front for the Florida defense:

UF has plenty of talent at edge

EDGE — Florida’s deep EDGE room starts with Tyreak Sapp. His 90.0 PFF grade last season not only led the team but was the highest by a UF defender since Jonathan Greenard in 2019 (90.5) and ranked as the third highest among SEC edge defenders and ninth in FBS. Sapp made 47 tackles and led the team in sacks (7.0) and TFLs (13.0). 

Fellow redshirt senior George Gumbs Jr., who was second on the team last year in sacks (5.0) and TFLs (8.0), will become a starter this season at JACK (OLB) after the Gators’ top two outside linebackers transferred.

UF has an elite two-deep with Kamran James (F) and LJ McCray (JACK), both of whom will play big roles in 2025. The EDGE position also includes transfer Kofi Asare and early enrollee Jayden Woods, who was a standout freshman during spring camp.

Caleb Banks finished his junior season strong

DEFENSIVE LINE — This group is led by Caleb Banks, who returned for his senior season and has already received early first-round projections for 2026. Banks had breakout performances in the final two SEC wins over LSU and Ole Miss, earning SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week against the Rebels. Banks finished with 21 tackles, 7.0 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a recovery before a foot injury at FSU sidelined him for the bowl game and spring camp.

Florida lost its top two nose tackles in Cam Jackson and Desmond Watson, and how well UF can replace them is the biggest question mark on defense. The projected starter is Jamari Lyons, who’s back in action after a season-ending broken ankle in fall camp last year. With Lyons still limited this spring, Michai Boireau worked the first-team NT in camp and was named the team’s top defensive lineman.

The position also includes Bayler transfer Brendan Bett and senior Brien Taylor Jr.