Through four recruiting cycles, fourth-year Florida football coach Billy Napier has built a roster that’s deeper and more competitive.
Fall camp will present an opportunity for several players from the Florida Gators to prove they can be trusted for more time on the field in 2025.
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“Player retention is extremely important,” Napier said. “Got a lot of players that are in year two, three, four in this program, these systems, offense, defense and special teams. And when I look around the room, I see individuals that I have extensive experience with, going all the way back to the recruiting process.”
Florida will grind through 17 practices over the next three plus weeks through the late July and early August heat to prepare for its season opener on Aug. 30 against Long Island University at The Swamp (7 p.m., SEC Network Plus).
“We’ve had a good off season, and we’ve got a good roster coming back, but now it’s time to go perform,” Napier said.
Here are five players to watch for UF this fall:
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Florida football edge rusher L.J. McCray
After posting 13 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and half a sack as a true freshman, McCray attacked the weight room during the offseason and is entering fall camp at 6-foot-6 and 268 pounds.
Florida strength coach Tyler Miles said McCray improved his personal bests by 40 pounds on most of his lifts during the summer.
“You can see it in his arms,” Miles said. “He’s thicker and more muscle. He had a phenomenal offseason and really I’ll say this last offseason L.J. it was the weight room wasn’t his favorite, but he really attacked it this year.”
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A top ten national recruit out of Daytona Beach, McCray will try to translate that strength into becoming a more impactful pass rusher. He will compete for playing time in a crowded jack position depth chart that includes senior George Gumbs Jr. (five sacks last season), UMass transfer Kofi Asare and incoming freshmen Jayden Woods and Jalen Wiggins.
“He’s got a tremendous skill set,” Florida defensive coordinator Ron Roberts said. “Very talented. Yeah, you can see the growth, potential what he did. He changed his body.”
Florida football CB Cormani McClain
McClain has also made singificant strength gains. After arriving on campus at 165 pounds, McClain has bulked up to 189 pounds.
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A transfer from Colorado and former five-star recruit from Lakeland, McClain showed flashes of his potential last season, returning an interception for a TD against Kentucky. He will compete with returning cornerback Dijon Johnson for the starting job opposite cornerback Devin Moore after Johnson started the final five games of the 2024 season.
“Cormani has taken the feedback and tried to get better,” Napier said. “He needs to become a better tackler. I think the weight room helps that. His physicality, his play strength. Obviously he’s gotta be a better communicator. And he’s gotta have a thorough understanding of the play book.”
Florida football LB Myles Graham
An Under Armour All-American, Graham flashed at the end of the freshman season, finishing the year with 30 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception and 1 forced fumble. The 6-foot-1, 228-pound Graham has followed that up with a strong spring and summer and appears poised to take on a leadership role on the defense,
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With returning starting linebacker Grayson Howard limited to start fall camp, Graham should get even more snaps while competing with junior Jaden Robinson and sophomore Aaron Chiles.
“Myles is in a position where he’s gotta communicate,” Napier said. “There’s going to be more snaps on his plate. And then obviously got a leadership role, and I think he’s got the traits to be a really good leader.”
Florida football OL Bryce Lovett
The 6-foot-5, 321-pound Lovett started three games last season, all at right guard, to earn All-SEC freshman honors as a redshirt freshman last season.
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This season, Lovett will shift over to right tackle as a new starter on an offensive line that returns four starters, including All-American center Jake Slaughter and senior left tackle Austin Barber.
“He’s grown into himself,” Barber said of Lovett. “He looks really good out there. And, you know, he could play all five, in my opinion, I think, like, but, you know, he’s very athletic, very long, strong. He can go out there and play some ball, for sure.”
Florida football WR Aidan Mizell
Mizell displayed his blazing speed as a true freshman last season with 12 catches for 202 yards and 2 TDs, including a 43-yard TD catch against Georgia.
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Coming from a track and field background at Boone High in Orlando, Mizell will look to continue to hone his route running skills this fall while fending off a talented group of young receivers for playing time. He’s an ideal deep threat target for Florida sophomore quarterback D.J. Lagway when Lagway is healthy and is capable of generating yards after the catch as well.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Players to watch for Florida football in fall camp
