Preseason depth chart prediction on defense for Florida Football ahead of opener

As is the case with the offense, some positions for Florida Football on defense feel locked in stone while others feel like they are still up for grabs heading into the 2024 opener against Miami.

Considering reports from training camp and our gut instinct, the following is our prediction of who Billy Napier will trot out on the field on defense on August 31 against Miami.

Defensive Ends

Starters

Justus Boone

T.J. Searcy

Backups

Tyreak Sapp

LJ McCray

George Gumbs

The starter tag might be semantics for this group, and it wouldn't be shocking to see snaps get distributed more evenly compared to some other positions. Justus Boone and Tyreak Sapp have been fighting it out for snaps at the JACK spot, while T.J. Searcy looks like he will for sure start at EDGE.

Five-star prospect LJ McCray feels like he will for sure get some snaps early, and transfer George Gumbs, who was a project the Gators took on in the transfer portal, keeps having his name pop up.

Defensive Tackle

Starters

Cam Jackson

Caleb Banks

Backups

Joey Slackman

Kelby Collins

Desmond Watson

It's hard to get a read on Joey Slackman. Everyone has ranted and raved about him, yet he has been working mostly with the second team through spring and into training camp.

Part of it is he is healing from an injury, and like with the defensive ends, the designation of starter might just be semantics as he rotates with Caleb Banks and Cam Jackson.

Linebacker

Starters

Shemar James

Pup Howard

Backups

Derek Wingo

Aaron Chiles

Myles Graham

This might be the one group we here at Hail Florida Hail have genuine excitement for compared to how the group looked last year. We all know what Shemar James can do when healthy, but we have real hope that Pup Howard is going to be the complimentary player James never had last year.

The pecking order for backups will be an interesting point of discussion. Derek Wingo has the experience, while Aaron Chiles and Myles Graham have the hype.

If James and Howard stay healthy, it wouldn't shock us to see either Chiles or Graham redshirt the 2024 season.

Cornerbacks

Starters

Jason Marshall

Devin Moore

Sharif Denson

Backups

Ja'Keem Jackson

Aaron Gates

Dijon Johnson

The starters have felt set in stone since the turn of the calendar in January. Jason Marshall is hoping for a bounce-back year, while Devin Moore and Sharif Denson are ready to step up in increased roles.

Moore, however, has missed time during camp after getting his tonsils removed, so don't be shocked to see Ja'Keem Jackson get snaps against Miami.

All the backups have solid high school pedigrees and, if developed, should all be capable, but this also doesn't feel like a deep group compared to some others.

Of note, we aren't sure how much of Cormani McClain we will actually see in 2024. The former five-star prospect has been mostly a mystery since arriving in Gainesville and has been sidelined recently with an eye injury.

Safeties

Starters

Jordan Castell

Asa Turner

Backups

Trikweze Bridges

DJ Douglas

Bryce Thornton

Jordan Castell is the safe bet to be a starter for 2024. Who plays alongside him still feels like a mystery. Asa Turner, the transfer from Washington, feels like the safest bet. But Turner also hasn't had his name pop up a ton during camp.

Fellow transfer Trikweze Bridges is in that same boat. The third transfer in the group, DJ Douglas, also has plenty of experience and will probably be leaned on early in the year.

Bryce Thornton feels like he will probably push ahead of someone before the end of the season, though he was recently spotted at practice in a no-contact jersey.