Florida football 2026 position preview: Defensive line and JACK

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Florida football 2026 position preview: Defensive line and JACK

David Rosenberg, Gators Wire · Gators Wire

Thu, Sep 3, 2026 ·

13 min read

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Florida returns nearly 60% of its defensive-line snaps from 2025, but the Gators still have to replace Caleb Banks, Tyreak Sapp and Michai Boireau.

Defensive line coach Gerald Chatman was the lone defensive assistant retained by Jon Sumrall. Florida has plenty of bodies and positional flexibility across the front, but the unit still has to prove it can improve after finishing near the bottom of the SEC in sacks and run defense.

Brad White's front features several different roles. The defensive line includes the interior tackles and bigger defensive ends, while the JACK is a hybrid edge position that primarily attacks from the boundary but can also drop into coverage. Several players can move between those spots depending on the package, which is why the groups are being previewed together.

Sumrall has emphasized that the rotation will be package-dependent and that a large number of players are expected to see meaningful snaps.

Here's a closer look at Florida's defensive line and JACK room heading into the 2026 season.

Check out Gators Wire's other position previews:

Starting JACK: No. 0 Jayden Woods (So.)

Season	Tackles	TFL	Sacks	QBH	PBU	FR	INT
2025	28	5.0	3.5	2	1	1	1

Woods is the clear headliner of the defensive front after a strong true freshman season in which he played 448 defensive snaps. Woods garnered so much transfer interest that he actually entered the portal before withdrawing. Sumrall and Co. worked hard to retain him, so he'll be the most heavily featured part of the pass rush.

His combination of athleticism and work ethic earned him a spot on The Athletic's Freaks List entering the season, and Sumrall believes Woods still has plenty of room to grow.

"He has a really, really high ceiling," Sumrall said. "He works as hard as anyone I've ever been around in my entire life. When you coach guys like that, it's fun."

Starting Nose Tackle: No. 90 Brendan Bett (Sr.)

* = at Baylor

Season	Tackles	TFL	Sacks	PBU
2023*	9	1.0	1.0	2
2024*	0	0.0	0.0	0
2025	39	4.0	3.0	0
Career	48	5.0	4.0	2

Bett got a ton of experience in the interior after Banks went down last year, and it's not a surprise to see him listed as the starting nose tackle entering Week 1. At 6-feet-4-inches and 319 pounds, he's the right size to clog up the rushing lanes at nose, but he can also penetrate the line if Brad White wants to use him as a three-technique.

Bett played 346 snaps last year and led Florida's defensive linemen in tackles. He's a vocal leader of the unit, and White expects the D-line to lean on him heavily this season. Bett was ejected for spitting on an opponent against USF last year, but the incident is now viewed as a growth point for him, one that he's responded to well.

"I've always been very demanding with him," Chatman said. "He's had to grow a lot, and I do believe he's grown. And there's new challenges. There's new challenges each year with each player. He's taking on more of a leadership role, but as a leader, his teammates have to have his back as well. They have to help him carry the load. I think he's going through that phase right now where he's had to grow as an individual, and now, he's viewed as a leader."

Starting Defensive Ends: No. 24 Kamran James (Sr.), No. 11 LJ McCray (Jr.) and No. 99 Emmanuel Oyebadejo (5th)

Florida has some depth at defensive end, including a trio of players competing for the primary starting role. It's one of those positions that's going to be figured out over the first few weeks, with James, McCray and Oyebadejo all contributing throughout the season.

Kamran James

Season	Tackles	TFL	Sacks	PBU	FF
2023	4	0.0	0.0	0	0
2024	28	4.0	2.0	0	1
2025	44	4.5	3.5	2	1
Career	76	8.5	5.5	2	2

James is a long, heavy defensive end with experience on the strong side. He played in all 12 games in 2025, putting together a career-best season despite backing up Tyreak Sapp. He's added lean mass this offseason and can kick inside when the package requires it.

"Kam James, I've been proud of him," White said at the beginning of fall camp. "Having the offseason surgery, it's hard to be that vocal leader when you're not actually out there playing or participating. But now that he's been cleared, he's ready to go. You hear him, and you feel him more."

LJ McCray

Season	Tackles	TFL	Sacks
2024	13	1.0	0.5
2025	0	0.0	0.0
Career	13	1.0	0.5

McCray was one of Florida's highest-rated defensive signees in the 2024 recruiting cycle. He played in all 13 games as a true freshman but missed most of last year with multiple injuries. Now healthy, McCray has moved from JACK to field defensive end, allowing him to pass rush more often rather than dropping back. He can still play JACK if needed.

"I think that was a great change for me," McCray said. "Getting just to rush the quarterback, not having to drop back as much really, getting to do what I do."

He's undergone a body transformation, too, making The Athletic's Freaks List along with Woods. McCray added 21 pounds of muscle and improved his top speed from 18.5 mph to 20.31 mph. He can also power clean 365 pounds, meaning he has the strength to get past SEC tackles.

"He's a leaner, stronger version of himself," Sumrall said. "And he's got confidence too. He plays like he's believing what he can become."

Emmanuel Oyebadejo

* = at Jacksonville State

Season	Tackles	TFL	Sacks	PBU	FF
2025*	43	6.5	4.5	5	2

Oyebadejo was one of Florida's top defensive-line additions from the transfer portal, standing at an impressive 6-feet-6-inches and 299 pounds. He was a first-team All-Conference USA selection with Jacksonville State. Although he's a fifth-year, Oyebadejo is a bit raw, but the upside is hard to miss. He'll work his way into a larger rotation role over the season.

"Oh, he's a freak," McCray said. "Literally, he's huge. He's a guy. He's soft-spoken. He's a great guy."

Starting Defensive Tackle: No. 91 Jeramiah McCloud (So.)

Season	Tackles	TFL	Sacks	PBU
2025	13	0.5	0.0	2

McCloud carved out a rotational role immediately as a true freshman, appearing in 11 games and playing 159 defensive snaps. The former linebacker still moves unusually well for an interior lineman, and that athleticism has helped him climb to the top of the depth chart at defensive tackle entering Week 1. He'll be Florida's primary three-technique in White's defense and should see a significant increase in snaps this season.

Interior Rotation: No. 97 Joseph Mbatchou (So.), No. 95 Jamari Lyons (5th) and No. 93 DK Kalu (Sr.)

With so many roles to fill on Florida's defensive line, these second-teamers should see a decent amount of snaps this year. It's a mix of young and veteran talent with unique skillsets.

Joseph Mbatchou

Season	Tackles	TFL	Sacks
2025	11	1.0	0.0

Mbatchou is another player who got snaps as a freshman, playing in nine games last season. He was a bit of a late bloomer at the prep level and is working on his agility, but both Chatman and Sumrall expect him to take on a larger role in the rotation.

At 6-feet-5-inches and 321 pounds, Mbatchou fits the profile for a nose tackle, and he'll be able to learn behind Bett this season. Chatman has also praised his ability to convert power into pass rush, giving him some three-technique upside in certain packages.

"He's a big man," Sumrall said. "He's a strong, strong guy in the weight room. He's really dedicated himself to his craft physically. He needs to play. He's going to have to play more."

Jamari Lyons

Season	Tackles	TFL	Sacks
2022	2	0.0	0.0
2023	20	2.5	0.0
2025	18	1.0	0.0
Career	40	3.5	0.0

Lyons has plenty of experience, playing in 27 career games with seven starts. He was poised to break out in 2024, but a major ankle injury kept him out all year and set back his development.

At 6-feet-4-inches and 312 pounds, Lyons has the size to hold up inside and should remain part of the defensive tackle rotation. His value comes less from pass-rush production and more from his experience, toughness and ability to eat snaps against the run. He can also give Florida additional depth at nose tackle when needed.

DK Kalu

* = at Baylor

Season	Tackles	TFL	Sacks
2024*	1	0.0	0.0
2025*	11	0.5	0.0
Career	12	0.5	0.0

Kalu arrived from Baylor through the transfer portal. He's poised to back up McCloud at three-technique and brings six career starts of experience. Kalu is also versatile enough to slide over to nose tackle if needed. He secured his spot in the rotation with a strong spring and should get plenty of snaps.

Kalu dealt with a minor ankle injury late in fall camp, so Florida could ease him in early, but Sumrall indicated the issue wasn't considered serious.

Edge Rotation: No. 22 Kofi Asare (5th), No. 14 KJ Ford (Fr.), No. 49 Jalen Wiggins (So.) and No. 96 JaReylan McCoy (Fr.)

Kofi Asare

* = at UMass

Season	Tackles	TFL	Sacks	PBU	FF	FR
2024*	23	5.5	3.0	1	1	1

Asare transferred to Florida after two seasons at UMass, where he developed into a productive edge defender in 2024. At 6-feet-5-inches and 247 pounds, he has the length and frame to fit naturally at JACK and gives Florida another experienced pass-rush option behind Woods.

Asare has made a late push during fall camp and appears to have secured a meaningful role in the rotation. He's listed as one of the primary backups at JACK entering Week 1 and also figures to contribute heavily on special teams.

"I thought Kofi Asare played really good," Sumrall said. "Kofi has played great the last 10 days. He's probably kind of been the unsung surprise of training camp so far, special teams-wise and on defense the last week and a half."

KJ Ford

Ford is a freshman, but he's worked his way into the two-deep in a backup role alongside Asare. He was a four-star recruit, ranked No. 145 nationally and No. 17 at his position by Rivals. At the high school level, Ford posted 130 tackles, 42 tackles for loss and 41 quarterback hurries, plus two forced fumbles and a defensive score.

At 6-feet-4-inches and 250 pounds, Ford already has the physicality and frame to contribute right away. He'll still have to earn snaps in a deep room, but his spot on the two-deep gives him a legitimate path to early playing time.

"I think KJ Ford is doing a great job," McCray said during fall camp. "I think we've got a lot of good freshmen, though. I think we signed a good class. They all come in with a different mindset of, like, 'We have to work here. We've got great guys in front of us,' and doing what they need to do."

Jalen Wiggins

Season	Tackles	TFL	Sacks
2025	2	0.0	0.0

Wiggins saw limited action as a freshman, appearing in three games and recording two tackles. The former top-200 recruit used the year primarily to develop physically and has added significant weight since arriving at Florida.

Now at 6-feet-5-inches and 271 pounds, Wiggins has the length to play defensive end and enough size to slide inside in certain packages. He's buried a little deeper in a crowded rotation entering the season, but his versatility gives Florida another developmental option who could earn a larger role as the year progresses.

JaReylan McCoy

McCoy was one of the highest-rated members of Florida's 2026 recruiting class, earning five-star status from ESPN as the No. 12 overall player and No. 3 defensive lineman in the country. He totaled 176 tackles, 47.5 tackles for loss, 22 sacks and 40 quarterback hurries during his high school career.

At 6-feet-7-inches and 268 pounds, McCoy brings rare length to the defensive end room. He's still developing physically and has plenty of experienced players ahead of him, but his size and production give Florida another high-upside option to develop along the edge.

Veteran Reserve: No. 98 Mason Clinton (Sr.)

* = at Louisiana

** = at Southern Miss

Season	Tackles	TFL	Sacks	PBU	QBH
2023*	0	0.0	0.0	0	0
2025**	16	1.5	0.0	1	1
Career	16	1.5	0.0	1	1

Clinton has had an interesting path to the SEC. He started with Louisiana, spent 2024 at East Mississippi Community College and then played in all 12 games at Southern Miss last season, recording 16 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.

Clinton is another veteran option and has the size — 6-feet-5-inches and 293 pounds — to give Florida depth at defensive end while also sliding inside in certain looks. He missed spring practice while recovering from knee surgery, so he enters the season further down the rotation than some of the other veterans.

Freshmen: No. 94 Kendall Guervil (Fr.), No. 56 Stive-Bentley Keumajou-Yondui (Fr.)

Kendall Guervil

Guervil is a four-star recruit from Fort Myers, ranking No. 193 nationally and No. 22 among defensive linemen according to Rivals. He finished high school with 172 career tackles, 26 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks along with four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

At 6-feet-5-inches and 309 pounds, Guervil already has the size to develop into an SEC interior lineman. A major knee injury limited him to one game as a senior and caused him to miss camp. He has returned to practice and remains a developmental piece.

Stive-Bentley Keumajou-Yondui

Originally a 2027 commit, Keumajou-Yondui reclassified into the 2026 class. He moved from England to the United States in 2025 and became a quick riser as he adjusted to the sport. At 6 feet 3 inches and 295 pounds, Keumajou-Yondui has exceptional movement skills for his size.

"His athletic ability shows," Sumrall said. "The game is newer to him, so the development, he's still got a lot of development left out in front of him. But he's got the right size. He's really hard-working, passionate about the game."

Walk-Ons: No. 92 Sebastian Scott (Sr.), No. 17 Titus Bullard (Jr.), No. 48 Erich Seager (Jr.) and No. 55 Charles Emanuel III (Jr.)

Sebastian Scott

Scott joined Florida as a preferred walk-on in 2023 and has appeared in two games over the past two seasons. He logged five defensive snaps in the 2024 Gasparilla Bowl and three more in the 2025 season opener against LIU.

At 6-feet-2-inches and 360 pounds, Scott gives Florida a massive developmental body at nose tackle. He remains well down the depth chart, but his size makes him a natural emergency option in the middle of the defensive front.

Titus Bullard

Season	Tackles	TFL	Sacks
2025	1	0.0	0.0

Bullard joined Florida as a walk-on in 2024 and has seen limited action through his first two seasons. He made his collegiate debut in the Gasparilla Bowl that year before appearing in one game last season and recording a solo tackle.

At 6-feet-4-inches and 239 pounds, Bullard gives Florida additional depth at JACK and should continue to contribute primarily in a reserve and special-teams role. He also comes from a strong Florida football family, with his father, Thaddeus Bullard, and uncle, Earnest Graham, both having played for the Gators.

Erich Seager

Seager joined Florida as a walk-on in 2025 and did not appear in a game during his first season with the program. At 6-feet-3-inches and 233 pounds, he provides additional depth at JACK but enters 2026 well behind the primary rotation.

Charles Emanuel III

Emanuel joined Florida as a walk-on in 2024 and has yet to appear in a game. At 6 feet 3 inches and 235 pounds, he provides additional depth at JACK and should remain primarily a developmental and special-teams option.

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida football 2026 position preview: Defensive line and JACK

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