Florida’s biggest position battles on defense heading into spring camp

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators return 15 of their 22 starters this year, including seven on defense and eight on offense. UF has also multiple positions up for grabs.

Here are the biggest position battles on defense heading into spring camp.

Position Previews: DL | EDGE | LB | CB | S

Nose tackle

The biggest question mark for the Gators’ defense is at nose tackle, where they lost their top two players from the last two seasons in starter Cam Jackson and Desmond Watson. It remains to be seen who will take over for Jackson in the starting lineup.

The leading candidate to win the job, redshirt junior Jamari Lyons, was primed for a larger role last year after appearing in all 12 games in 2023 with one start and 20 tackles (10 solo). Unfortunately, Lyons suffered a broken ankle in fall camp and missed the 2024 season.

His biggest competition is Michai Boireau. He played regularly during his true freshman season, appearing in 12 games and making 15 tackles. Boireau has the ideal size and skillset to play nose tackle, but is he ready to take on a starting role as a sophomore?

Boireau will get every opportunity in the spring, especially if Lyons is limited in any way. I’m interested to see what Lyons looks like coming off injury and how soon he can get back to the level that he was last fall, when he had surpassed Watson on the depth chart.

Will LB

The Gators return starting MIKE linebacker Pup Howard, but they have to replace Shemar James at the WILL LB position. The top two players in contention to replace James are junior Jaden Robinson and sophomore Myles Graham.

Robinson started the final four games last year at MIKE LB after the season-ending ankle injury to Howard. Robinson logged 52 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks and a PFF tackle grade of 80.9, which ranked second on the team behind Howard (90.3, which led the SEC).

Graham graded out as one of Florida’s top 10 players on defense (69.2 PFF grade). The Freshman All-SEC selection was James’ backup and made 30 tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss and one sack in 13 games played. He recorded 18 of his tackles (60%) in the final four games.

Robinson has been much productive to this point, but Graham boasts a higher ceiling and could be hard to keep off the field. Regardless, both will play plenty of snaps at the position and early enrollee Ty Jackson will likely contribute as a true freshman as well.

Cornerback

This position might be the most competitive on defense because both cornerback spots are up for grabs. Don’t forget, Florida’s Week 1 starters last year were Jason Marshall Jr. and Ja’Keem Jackson before their season-ending injuries, and both are gone now.

Senior Devin Moore and junior Dijon Johnson are the projected starters in 2025, but they will have to compete to win those jobs. Both Moore and Johnson also had shoulder surgery after the season and their status for the spring remains to seen. They could be non-contact or limited in practice.

Vying for starting roles will also be Micheal Caraway Jr. and Cormani McClain, who played in three games last year with one start. The former five-star recruit is now on scholarship and has had a strong offseason. Caraway is a top-300 transfer (No. 277 overall) from Southern Miss.

Florida needs both Caraway and McClain to be ready, especially given Moore’s injury history. He’s been a top UF defender when healthy, but could McClain eventually beat him out? Jackson was able to. Johnson may be the safest bet to start, and the Gators also have On3 five-star Ben Hanks III.

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