GAINESVILLE — The sixth in a position-by-position preview of the UF football team leading up to SEC Media Days.
TODAY: INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE
What to expect
Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks transferred from Louisville in 2023 as a project, but could leave the Gators as first-round draft pick if he continues his current trajectory. Banks’ evolution took a quantum leap during the final month of the 2024 season, highlighted by a 2.5-sack day during UF’s Nov. 23 upset of No. 9 Ole Miss. The 6-foot-6, 329-pound redshirt senior now looks to become a disruptive force from the start of the season.
Banks’ production has yet to match his potential. In 2024, he finished with 21 tackles, 7 for loss (4.5 sacks), 2 forced fumbles, but did have 29 quarterback pressures. He managed just 19 tackles (1.5 for loss) during 12 games, including 11 starts, in 2023.
Position coach Gerald Chatman, who arrived from Tulane after the 2023 season, is confident Banks will rise to the challenge.
“It’s getting him to do that from Day 1, and then be consistent throughout the whole year,” Chatman said ahead of 2025 spring practices. “That’s the challenge. You have to work to be that guy that we’ve seen at the tail end of the season. He has a great future ahead of him.
“I do believe he’s going to do it the right way.”
The Gators are banking on it, given the interior line does not return other experienced depth following the loss of Cam Jackson and Des Watson.
Also key will be redshirt sophomore Jamari Lyons’ continued recovery from a broken ankle suffered during Florida’s first intrasquad scrimmage in August. As a reserve in 2023, he logged 20 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, playing both tackle spots. UF hopes to line up the 6-3½, 308-pound native of Cocoa at nose tackle. The other option is massive sophomore Michai Boireau (6-4½, 355) after he made 12 stops in 12 appearances as a true freshman in 2024.
Redshirt sophomore Tarvorise Brown (6-6¾, 290) and senior Brien Taylor Jr. (6-4½, 278) are both athletic junior college transfers who provide depth. Taylor, who finished last season with 14 tackles, including 2 for loss, will spell Banks. Brown logged 26 snaps in three appearances, but aims for an increased a role at nose tackle.
Highly intriguing true freshman Joseph Mbatchou was a 4-star prospect who flipped his commitment from Texas last November much to the delight of Chatman and Co. At 6-4½, 283 pounds, the native of Cameroon has a high ceiling. He did not begin to play football until the 2024 season at Grayson High in Loganville, Ga., where he registered 30 tackles, including 13 for loss, in 14 games.
Fellow true freshman Jeremiah McCloud was a 3-star recruit out of Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County with 108 tackles (31.5 for loss, 13 sacks), and 6 forced fumbles during 20 games in 2023-24. At 6-2¾, 279 pounds, though, he could need to develop physically in order to contribute.
What they’re saying
“It all starts with the mindset first, with any player but specifically defensive linemen. They have to be in the right frame of mind, and I think that they grew into that. They became a closer brotherhood and a tight-knit group, to where they began coaching each other. They bought into the technique and fundamentals, and I think that’s the other huge part about playing the position is you have to be fundamentally sound. Technique, fundamentals, and so they begin to love that as time went on and progressed.” — Chatman on his unit’s development in 2024.
Returnees
Caleb Banks
Tarvorise Brown
Jamari Lyons
Brien Taylor Jr.
Departures
Cam Jackson
D’Antre Robinson
Joey Slackman
Des Watson
New arrivals
Joseph Mbatchou (Grayson, Ga.), true freshman
Jeremiah McCloud (Leesburg, Ga.) true freshman
Projected depth chart (offseason)
Nose guard — Jamari Lyons | Michai Boireau | Tarvorise Brown
Tackle — Caleb Banks | Brien Taylor Jr. | Jeremiah McCloud
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Quarterback
Running back
Tight end
Receiver
Offensive line
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com