Florida Gators depth chart projections entering fall camp: Offense

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The 2024 season is just over a month away for the Florida Gators. The team reports for fall training camp Tuesday and begins practicing on Wednesday.

Florida will open the season at home against rival Miami on Aug. 31 at 3:30 PM. Here is Gators Online’s projected depth chart on offense entering fall camp.

Quarterback

Starter: Graham Mertz (R-Sr.)
Backup: DJ Lagway (Fr.)
The skinny: The Gators boast one of the top quarterback rooms in the country with Mertz and Lagway. Mertz is back as Florida’s first returning starter at QB in four years and looks to build on his breakout season in 2023, throwing for a career-high 2,903 yards and 20 touchdowns while leading the SEC in completion percentage (72.9%) and fewest interceptions (3). Lagway showed in the spring game that he’s capable of contributing as a true freshman, and the staff plans to play him in some packages on a situational basis to utilize his dual-threat ability.

Running Back

Starter: Montrell Johnson Jr. (Sr.)
Backup: Treyaun Webb (So.) or Jadan Baugh (Fr.)
The skinny: Johnson is preseason first team All-SEC pick by Phil Steele and Lindy’s Sports. After leading UF in rushing in each of the last two years with 800-plus yards, this season he could Florida’s first 1,000-yard back since 2015 with Trevor Etienne out of the picture. The Gators a few players in the mix for carries behind Johnson. Webb will likely back him up after rushing for 163 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries in 2023. However, Baugh is expected to earn a role in the rotation after he was a standout freshman in the spring and “put on a show” in the Orange & Blue Game.

Receiver

Starters: Z Eugene Wilson III (So.), X Elijhah Badger (R-Sr.), H Chimere Dike (R-Sr.)
Backups: Z Aidan Mizell (R-Fr.), X Marcus Burke (R-Jr.), H Kahleil Jackson (R-Jr.)
The skinny: This room is led by Wilson, an On3 True Freshman All-American last season, and Dike, Mertz’s former go-to target at Wisconsin in 2022. They are the team’s two receivers at this time, and then it’s a battle for spots 3-6 on the depth chart. We expect Badger, a top-100 transfer, to ultimately beat out Jackson, Burke and the four freshmen, but he was a late arrival in the summer and there will be a stiff competition in fall camp at the position. Burke and Mizell have both had days this offseason where they “go off” during OTAs, according to sources.

Tight End

Starters: Y Hayden Hansen (R-So.), H Arlis Boardingham (R-So.)
Backup: Y Caleb Rillos (R-Sr.), H Tony Livingston (So.)
The skinny: Hansen resumes his role at the Y position, where he started nine games last fall and made 12 receptions for 150 yards with two touchdowns. Boardingham made two starts in 2023 and caught 26 passes for 289 yards and four TDs. Senior tight end Keon Zipperer had a setback in his recovery from knee surgery and did not practice in the spring. With his injury status, we expect Livingston to move to the H position and Rillos to become the backup to Hansen. The Gators also added top-100 recruit Amir Jackson, but he could be a redshirt candidate this year.

Offensive Line

Starters: LT Austin Barber, LG Knijeah Harris, C Jake Slaughter, RG Damieon George, RT Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson
Backups: LT Devon Manuel , LG Bryce Lovett, C Roderick Kearney, RG Kamryn Waites, RT Caden Jones
The skinny: The Gators return their starting center in Slaughter, who is rated by PFF among the nation’s top returning interior linemen. Barber missed the spring but he’s now healthy and will resume his starting role at left tackle. Harris is expected to start at left guard, but the right side of Florida’s offensive line is still to be determined. Waites has moved back to right guard and will compete with George for the starting job, while Crenshaw-Dickson and Jones are in a “heated battle” at right tackle.

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