Updated postseason all-star commitments for UF players
Five Florida Gators have thus far accepted invitations to play in postseason bowl games. Three are headed to the Panini Senior Bowl, which is Jan. 31 in Mobile, Ala. Two more are bound for the 101st East-West Shrine Bowl. That game is Jan. 27 and will be played in the metro Dallas area. Here’s a look at the UF players headed to those respective games:
Player | Bowl Game | Position | Years at UF | Games started at UF | Key numbers | Accolades |
| Jake Slaughter | Panini Senior Bowl | Center | 2021-25 | 33 | 748 offensive snaps with a PFF pass block grade of 87.1 (2025) | -All-American (2024) -1st-team All-SEC (2025) -Rimington Finalist (2025) |
| Caleb Banks | Panini Senior Bowl | Defensive Line | 2023-25 | 24 | 8.0 TFL, 4.5 sacks over 16 games in 2024, ’25 | -Chuck Bednarik Watch List (2025) -Bronko Nagurski Watch List (2025) |
| Austin Barber | Panini Senior Bowl | Offensive tackle | 2021-25 | 38 | 750 offensive snaps with a PFF run block grade of 82.2 (2025) | -All-SEC Third Team (2025) -Outland Trophy Watch List (2025) |
| Tommy Doman | East-West Shrine Bowl | Punter | 2025 | 12 | 50 punts, 44.04 average | -PFF 2025 All-SEC Team |
| Trey Smack | East-West Shrine Bowl | Placekicker | 2022-25 | 37 games as UF’s primary PK | 53 of 64 (long of 56 yards and 10 makes of 50-plus) | Lou Groza Semifinalist (2023, ’25) All-SEC Third Team (2025) |
Jake Slaughter just wrapped up a stellar Florida Gators career
Of this group, Slaughter has received the most accolades during his UF career. Earlier this week, the Ocala (Fla.) native was named as a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, which is given each year to the best center in college football.
Slaughter has been the Gators’ starting center the past three seasons. He earned eight starts for UF in 2023, but his breakout came the next season, when he was a Consensus All-American while helping the Gators go 8-5.
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Despite UF’s struggles in 2025, Slaughter allowed just one sack, one quarterback hit and two hurries. That earned him a Pro Football Focus offensive grade of 78.9 and a run block grade of 82.2. He had a 70.0 or higher pass block grade in 11 of the Gators’ games this season, which gave him an overall 87.1 grade in that category
Among centers, Slaughter ranks eighth in the country for his PFF run block, pass block, and offense grades, and is fifth for his zone run block grade of 80.3.