Florida football position power rankings for 2023
By Will Thomas
![Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier gestures alongside Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15), Florida Gators running back Montrell Johnson Jr. (2), and Florida Gators running back Trevor Etienne (7) during fall football practice at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 5, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F480a5b26fd88c46cc6584e625d49514ed8d5ea53369dc6ed817b549db865e63c.jpg "Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier gestures alongside Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15), Florida Gators running back Montrell Johnson Jr. (2), and Florida Gators running back Trevor Etienne (7) during fall football practice at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 5, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]")
Florida football position power rankings: No. 8, LB
The Gators have a lot of talent at linebacker, and Austin Armstrong’s defense is going to feature a lot of blitz packages where the backers will be involved in the pass rush.
The reason that I have them low is that there are a lot of new faces at that position, and it’s hard to say exactly how the room is going to shake out.
The only certainty in the room is Shemar James, who had a breakout second half last season and figures to be the most talented guy that the Gators have at that spot.
Other returning players include Derek Wingo and Scooby Williams, who haven’t gotten consistent reps yet. They are familiar with game action and won’t be nervous under the spotlight, but they haven’t gotten the chance to be feature guys.
The rest of the room is full of transfers. Deuce Spurlock (Michigan), Teradja Mitchell (Ohio State), Mannie Nunnery (Temple), and Kenny Anyaehie (Temple) are those new guys, with Spurlock and Mitchell set to get the most action out of the four transfers.
The thing with the linebackers this season is that they may be the position that dictates the overall success of the defense.
If they’re effective in Armstrong’s scheme and disrupt offenses, they can be easily the most important unit on that side of the ball.
But if they struggle and fail to get pressure, that can go the opposite way.
There’s enough talent in that room that we can assume it goes toward a good way, but only time will tell.