Florida football depth chart, Week 1: New-look Gators set to begin 2026 season vs. FAU

Football

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Image Credit: Madilyn Gemme, UAA

With less than a week until kickoff of the 2026 season, the Florida Gators on Monday released their first official depth chart under head coach Jon Sumrall. When the FAU Owls are welcomed into Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday evening, there will be a number of new faces donning orange & blue for the first time, seeking to begin a turnaround under a new regime.

Junior quarterback Aaron Philo won the offseason competition against sophomore Tramell Jones Jr. to start in Week 1, though Sumrall stressed Philo will not hold onto that position through the season by default — he will need to earn it. Behind him, junior Jadan Baugh returns as arguably the best running back in the country, though depth at the position took a significant hit with multiple fresh faces added to the program.

Perhaps most notable, sophomore wide receivers Vernell Brown III and Dallas Wilson both appear to be full-go to start the season after injury issues impacted their respective freshman campaigns (especially Wilson). Senior Eric Singleton Jr. joins them as a first-year transfer from Auburn to round out a receiving corps that may be as talented as any in the SEC.

There are 23 first-year players — transfers and freshmen — on the depth chart overall with only seven “OR” designations across the team, only one when it comes to starting roles.

Let’s take a look at the depth chart ahead of the Gators’ first game of the season.

^ First-year player (transfer or freshman)

Offense

QB: Aaron Philo ^, Tramell Jones Jr.
RB: Jadan Baugh, Evan Pryor ^, Duke Clark, London Montgomery ^ OR Byron Louis
TE(y): Lacota Dippre ^, Heze Kent ^
TE(h): Amir Jackson OR Luke Harpring ^
WR: Dallas Wilson, Micah Mays Jr. ^ OR Kahleil Jackson
WR: Vernell Brown III, Bailey Stockton ^
WR: Eric Singleton Jr. ^, TJ Abrams

LT: Bryce Lovett, Eagan Boyer ^
LG: Knijeah Harris, Roderick Kearney
C: Harrison Moore ^, Jason Zandamela
RG: T Shanahan Jr. ^, TJ Dice Jr.
RT: Emeka Ugorji ^, Caden Jones

Defense

DE: Kamran James OR LJ McCray OR Emmanuel Oyebadejo ^
NG: Brendan Bett, Joseph Mbatchou
DT: Jeremiah McCloud, DK Kalu ^ OR Jamari Lyons
JACK: Jayden Woods, Kofi Asare OR KJ Ford ^
LB: Myles Graham, Myles Johnson
LB: Aaron Chiles, Ty Jackson
LB: Jaden Robinson, TJ Bullard ^

CB: Ben Hanks III, Dijon Johnson
CB: Cormani McClain OR J’Vari Flowers
STAR: Kanye Clark ^, Alfonzo Allen Jr.
S: Bryce Thornton, Cam Dooley ^
S: DJ Coleman ^, Lagonza Hayward

Special teams

KO: Patrick Durkin ^, Brandon Rabasco
PK: Patrick Durkin ^, Brandon Rabasco
P: Alec Clark ^, Nicholas Inglis
H: Alec Clark ^, Nicholas Inglis
LS: Carter Milliron ^, Lincoln Anderson ^
SS: Lincoln Anderon ^, Carter Milliron ^
KR: London Montgomery, J’Vari Flowers
PR: Vernell Brown III, Bailey Stockton ^