ESPN's cast of college football writers named an under-the-radar contributor for each of the teams listed in the site's post-spring Top 25. Florida, as the 19th-ranked team on ESPN's Top 25, had a sleeper breakout player listed.
With a large portion of last season's offensive production returning, it's not too surprising to see ESPN select a defensive player, picking rising sophomore linebacker Myles Graham.
"We saw what Graham was capable of as a freshman for the Gators with 30 tackles. He also had three tackles for loss, one sack, an interception and a forced fumble. With a line that should only be stronger in front of him, along with playing next to Grayson Howard, Graham has the potential to take another step in 2025. The great Florida teams of the 21st century have all had good linebacker play, and it feels like Graham could play that part for this team as it looks to rise again"Harry Lyles Jr
Myles Graham pegged sleeper for Florida in 2025
Graham handled the fourth most snaps among Gator linebackers as a freshman, but with 2024 starter Shemar James no longer in the picture, expect Graham to push for a starting spot and potentially grow into the top option at linebacker.
Despite a minor role, Graham was incredibly productive. He finished with a 68.2 PFF Grade, the best of any Florida linebacker, while also leading the unit in rush defense and coverage grades. His efforts warranted a spot on the Freshman All-SEC team despite coming off the bench in all 13 games.
Graham's excellent first season didn't come out of nowhere, though. The Gainesville native earned a five-star rating and was labeled the top linebacker in his high school class by Rivals. He'll face competition for snaps from returning linebackers Jaden Robinson and Howard, but Graham's mixture of untapped potential and proven production, he should have a leg up on the competition.