Jake Slaughter
Jake Slaughter  C  Florida | NFL Draft 2026 Souting Report - Portrait Image
Jake Slaughter
Height
6-5
Weight
308
College
Florida
Position
C
Class
Junior
Home town
Sparr, FL
87.5/100
Player Rating
4
PositionRank (OL)
5.2
FortyYD Time

Jake Slaughter C Florida | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Jake Slaughter C Florida
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

SUB-POSITION: Center
Last Updated: 05/07/2025
Draft Year: 2026
40 time: 5.20 seconds (62%*)
Age: 22.4 DOB: 12/12/2002
Measurables:
Height: 6-5 (82%*) Weight: 308 (69%*)
Forty: 5.20 (O) (62%*)
0% 100%
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other (HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
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SUB-POSITION: Center
Last Updated: 05/07/2025
Draft Year: 2026
40 time: 5.20 seconds (62%*)
Age: 22.4 DOB: 12/12/2002
Measurables:
0% 100%
Height: 6-5 (82%*) Weight: 308 (69%*)
Forty: 5.20 (O) (62%*)
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other
(HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
Overall Rating: 87.5 / 100
Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced
Defense Rating:
77%
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects.
Pass Blocking:
92%
Run Blocking:
88%
DRAFT PROJECTION: 1st - Mid
Overall Rank: #23 Position rank: #4
College Games: 27 College Snaps: 1397
Grade: 3 ESPN  Stars 3 ESPN  Stars ESPN RATING: 77/100
Grade: 247 Sports 3  Stars 247 Sports 85 Stars 247 RATING: 85/100
Grade: 3 Stars 3 Stars RIVALS RATING: 5.7 (93%)
Player Comparison* (Similarity level)
Luke Wypler - Ohio State
84%
Sedrick Van Pran - Georgia
84%
Luke Fortner - Kentucky
80%
Draft Profile: Bio
Growing up in the small community of Sparr in rural Marion County, Jake Slaughter started his football journey as a 6-year-old snapping the ball during flag football at Wrigley Field Park. Slaughter developed into one of college football's premier centers. The 6'5", 308-pound pivot man started his Florida career primarily on special teams before seizing the center position and never looking back.

Slaughter's football journey took him from Ocala's Trinity Catholic High School to Gainesville, where he blossomed under coach Billy Napier's system. After playing in all 13 games primarily on special teams in 2022, Slaughter stepped into a larger role in 2023, appearing in 12 games with eight starts at center. His final collegiate season cemented his blue-chip status, earning First Team All-American honors from AP and PFF while starting all 13 games. Logging an impressive 800 offensive snaps, Slaughter anchored a Florida offensive line that surrendered just one sack with him at the helm.

What stands out beyond the accolades is Slaughter's remarkable consistency and progression. His pass blocking grade jumped from 75.9 in 2023 to an elite 83.9 in 2024, while his run blocking similarly improved to a 79.0 mark that ranked seventh nationally among centers. The three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection and Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society member brought intellectual heft to the position, consistently making the right protection calls and adjustments at the line of scrimmage.
Scouting Report: Strengths
  • Possesses surgical pass protection technique with exceptional core strength to anchor against power rushers, stonewalling even the SEC's most disruptive interior defenders while allowing just one sack in 800 snaps.
  • Demonstrates savant-level mental processing when diagnosing blitzes, consistently identifying defensive fronts pre-snap and communicating adjustments that kept his quarterback clean throughout multiple hostile SEC environments.
  • Exhibits powerful initial punch in run blocking with excellent timing that consistently jolts defenders backward, creating immediate vertical displacement that translated directly to Florida's improved ground attack.
  • Shows rare competitive toughness working in combination blocks, maintaining control through contact transitions while keeping eyes downfield for incoming linebackers, truly nasty when climbing to the second level.
  • Brings exceptional movement skills when pulling on counters and traps, demonstrating loose hips and natural balance that allow him to square up defenders in space without lunging or sacrificing power.
  • Maintains outstanding leverage throughout entire blocks due to natural knee bend and core flexibility, playing with consistently lower pad level than opponents which translates to sustainable drive in the run game.
  • Demonstrates iron man durability, answering the bell for every offensive snap in critical situations while maintaining elite performance levels deep into the fourth quarter of physically demanding SEC contests.
  • Exhibits leadership qualities that transcend statistics, commanding respect in the huddle and setting the tone for Florida's offensive identity through relentless finish and attention to technical details.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
  • Can occasionally rely too heavily on upper body strength rather than resetting feet against counter moves, creating recovery issues against elite interior defenders with advanced pass rush arsenals.
  • Shows periodic inconsistency maintaining blocks through the echo of the whistle, particularly when defenders employ late hand fighting techniques to disengage when plays extend beyond design.
  • Struggles at times reaching the landmark against especially quick three-techniques in outside zone concepts, forcing running backs to adjust tracks and limiting explosive play potential.
  • Displays moments of over-aggression that lead to lunging, particularly against stunts and twists where patience would better serve to maintain blocking integrity against coordinated defensive line movement.
  • Would benefit from adding functional mass to his lower half to enhance anchor against NFL-caliber nose tackles who will test his base strength with bull rushes on critical passing downs.
Scouting Report: Summary
Slaughter possesses a compelling blend of intellect and physicality that will have NFL scouting departments salivating. His film shows a technically sound center with natural leverage who consistently wins the pad-level battle against interior defenders. While he excels at climbing to the second level with bad intentions, there are still moments where he'll need to improve sustaining those blocks against elite athletes at the next level. When studying his protection adjustments, you see a center who processes information quickly, though occasionally he'll sacrifice technique for aggression when faced with complex defensive movements.

His scheme versatility remains a significant selling point, functioning effectively in both gap and zone concepts. The Texas A&M and Georgia games revealed a player comfortable executing reach blocks and working combination blocks with equal proficiency, though he'll face a learning curve against NFL defensive tackles with superior lateral quickness. NFL coordinators will appreciate his communication skills and pre-snap recognition, but must acknowledge he'll need time adjusting to the increased complexity of professional fronts and the elite athleticism he'll face weekly. The film shows promising flashes that suggest considerable upside.

His exceptional pass protection metrics and demonstrated growth trajectory suggest a prospect with legitimate starting potential from day one. Teams that prioritize intelligent offensive line play will value Slaughter's ability to diagnose and communicate defensive adjustments at an advanced level. His combination of football IQ, physical tools, and technical refinement point toward a player who could anchor an offensive line for years, with Pro Bowl upside if he continues his current development arc.
Written By:
Bill Miller (SEC)

How other scouting services rate Jake Slaughter (Overall Rank)

All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
48.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
4.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance. For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.

*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.