One key returning defender gives Florida flexibility 2026 opponents won’t enjoy

In the modern era of college football, players now announce that they are officially returning to their school rather than it just being assumed. Welcome to 2025.

But if players are going to announce they are coming back, then teams want to retain as much high-end talent as possible, and on Tuesday, the Gators announced that Aaron Chiles would be returning for the 2026 campaign.

Aaron Chiles to return to Florida for 2026

Chiles came to Gainesville along with Myles Graham as part of the class of 2024 as part of a highly rated linebacker duo. In fact Chiles was the third highest rated player out of that class for Florida, only behind DJ Lagway and LJ McCray.

Florida coaches dubbed Chiles an “alien” during fall camp ahead of the 2024 season for his athletic traits and ability to be everywhere on the field, but Chiles only played 130 snaps for his freshman season.

He saw the field way more in 2025, taking 472 snaps. He was credited with 52 total tackles and half of a sack this season. His PFF grade wasn’t anything amazing, as he graded out at just 62.5 for the season. His best game of the season came against USF, and he also had solid outings against Texas A&M and Mississippi State.

But listed at 6’3” and 244 pounds, Chiles feels like the type of player who needs to be played closer to the line of scrimmage, and that just didn’t happen in the Ron Roberts-led defense. The now-former DC for Florida preferred to play soft and seldom blitz. Once Billy Napier was fired after the Mississippi State game, there was a notable difference in Florida’s defense, and it is no accident that Chiles' production fell off a cliff in November.

We still don’t know for sure how Jon Sumrall will set up his defense along with new DC Brad White. The defenses at Kentucky, where White came from, also tended to play soft zones, and that would be a disaster for Chiles. But there is a belief that Florida’s defense will be a bit more blended and not just a copycat of Kentucky’s defense, which would suit Chiles well.

Chiles will enter the 2026 season as a junior.