Florida football’s defensive is the lone group that its position coach from the previous staff.
The main reasons that first-year coach Jon Sumrall opted to keep Gerald Chatman is because of his success on the recruiting trails and in developing players on the field.
On paper, the front arguably has the most depth and talent on the defensive side of the ball. However in 2026, the Gators only totaled 26 sacks last year which was ranked No. 11 in the SEC. With a new strength program and in a 3-4 scheme it’s safe to assume that Florida’s line will be benefit quickly.
Here are the biggest questions for the defensive line entering Florida’s 2026 fall camp.
What will a healthy d-line look like?
Last season, Florida’s defensive line was supposed to be one of the most talented last season. But eventual first-round pick Caleb Banks had his season cut short with a broken foot leaving a sense of what-if for last year’s team.
LJ McCray also had a broken foot that ended his season last year during the USF game. In the offseason, McCray has been praised by his teammates for how he has bounced back from the injury.
Another name who looks to be fully healthy is Jamari Lyons, who suffered a leg injury back in 2024. Last season, Lyons recorded just 18 tackles.
The silver lining to their absences is that it allowed for Joseph Mbatchou and Jeremiah McCloud to gain valuable experience. The duo combined for 24 tackles last season.
Not to mention, Baylor transfer Brendan Bett, who was ejected for spitting on an opposing player in the eventual USF loss last year, should be a key anchor on the interior line.
Despite the incident, Bett had a productive first year with the Gators, totaling 39 tackles and three sacks.
Can Jayden Woods live up to the hype?
Woods was Florida’s top priority to retain after he hit the transfer portal. The young edge rusher recorded 28 tackles and led UF with 3 1/2 sacks last season. He also came up with an interception, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.
Those numbers led to him receiving freshman All-SEC honors at the end of last year as well as a spot on the 2026 Preseason All-SEC third team.
Woods, who stands at 6-foot-3, 245 pounds, is expected to be part of the star power. He turned heads with a viral video that featured easily completing a 405-pound power clean roughly a week ago.
According to PFF, his 10.6% quarterback pressure rate ranked 10th-most among all freshmen. The combination of his production and upside is why keeping Woods was a necessary decision for this coming season.
Reach Florida Gators writer Andrew Abadie at AAbadie@usatodayco.com or on X (formerly Twitter) at @AndrewAbadie. You can also find him on Facebook at Andrew Abadie Sports Reporter or on Instagram @andrewabadie_sports.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Biggest questions for Florida football defensive line heading into fall camp
Reporting by Andrew Abadie, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Andrew Abadie, Gainesville Sun | USA TODAY Network
