Florida Gators football depth chart, injuries: DJ Lagway to start, Kahleil Jackson out for season

Football

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Image Credit: UAA

Kickoff to the 2024 season did not go as the Florida Gators expected last week. Neither did the team’s health coming out of a devastating 41-17 home loss. When Florida welcomes the FCS Samford Bulldogs to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday night, there will be some significant changes as to how the Gators line up on the field.

None will be more prominent than freshman quarterback DJ Lagway stepping in for redshirt senior quarterback Graham Mertz, who remained in concussion protocol late into the week. Lagway did not receive a package of plays in Week 1 — as was expected all offseason — but he did step in for Mertz late in the third quarter playing through the end of the game. In that time, Lagway led a touchdown drive, ran for 20 yards and completed 3 of 6 passes for 31 yards with an interception. 

There are more significant changes to the Week 2 depth chart beyond the signal caller position, though.

Notably missing from the depth chart is redshirt senior safety Asa Turner, a Week 1 starter and transfer from Washington who suffered an undisclosed, non-contact lower-body injury in The Swamp. He is one of numerous defenders who will not suit up this week.

Redshirt junior wide receiver Kahleil Jackson, who started nine games in 2023, has also been ruled out for the season with a knee injury.

Let’s take a look at the depth chart and roster updates ahead of the Gators’ second game of the season.

* On injury report | ^ First-year player (transfer or freshman)

Offense

QB: DJ Lagway^, Clay Millen^, Aidan Warner^
RB: Montrell Johnson Jr., Treyaun Webb, Jadan Baugh^ OR KD Daniels^ OR Ja’Kobi Jackson
TE: Arlis Boardingham, Amir Jackson^ OR Tony Livingston
TE: Hayden Hansen, Scott Isacks OR Tony Livingston
WR: Eugene Wilson III, TJ Abrams OR Tank Hawkins
WR: Chimere Dike^, Aidan Mizell
WR: Elijhah Badger^, Marcus Burke

LT: Austin Barber, Devon Manuel^, Fletcher Westphal^
LG: Knijeah Harris OR Bryce Lovett, Roderick Kearney
C: Jake Slaughter, Roderick Kearney, Jason Zandamela^
RG: Damieon George Jr., Kamryn Waites, Christian Williams
RT: Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson^, Kamryn Waites, Caden Jones

Crenshaw-Dickson has been elevated into a starting role with Waites now serving as the backup for both right-side offensive line positions. Lovett also moved up into an “OR” designation alongside Harris.

Defense

F: Justus Boone OR Kamran James OR Tyreak Sapp, LJ McCray^
NT: Desmond Watson OR Cam Jackson, Michai Boireau^
DE: Caleb Banks, Kelby Collins
JACK: T.J. Searcy OR George Gumbs Jr.^, Jack Pyburn
LB: Shemar James, Myles Graham^ OR R.J. Moten
LB: Grayson Howard^ OR Derek Wingo, Jaden Robinson
SAM: George Gumbs Jr.^, Aaron Chiles^, Ja’Markis Weston

CB: Jason Marshall Jr., Teddy Foster
CB: Ja’Keem Jackson, Dijon Johnson, Jameer Grimsley^
STAR: Sharif Denson OR Aaron Gates
S: Jordan Castell, Trikweze Bridges^,
S: DJ Douglas^, Gregory Smith III

Junior cornerback Devin Moore (shoulder), redshirt senior defensive end Joey Slackman (undisclosed), sophomore Star Sharif Denson (undisclosed) and sophomore defensive back Bryce Thornton (undisclosed) are off the depth chart. Sophomore Ja’Keem Jackson stepped into a starting role with Moore unavailable.

Special teams

KO: Trey Smack, Brandon Rabasco^
PK: Trey Smack, Brandon Rabasco^
P: Jeremy Crawshaw, Nicholas Inglis^
H: Jeremy Crawshaw, Nicholas Inglis^
LS: Rocco Underwood, Gannon Burt
KR: Montrell Johnson Jr. OR Elijhah Badger^ OR Jadan Baugh^ OR Ja’Kobi Jackson
PR: Eugene Wilson III OR Chimere Dike^