PFF Names SEC's Best Offensive Player in 2025

PFF Names SEC's Best Offensive Player in 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The SEC has long been known as the premier conference in college football. It houses some of the best players in the sport on both sides of the ball. Before the 2025 season, Pro Football Focus labeled the top player on both offense and defense in the SEC. The publication tabbed Florida Gators center Jake Slaughter as the best in the conference on offense.

Slaughter, who is entering his fifth season with the Gators, had one of the greatest single-season performances of any offensive lineman in program history last year.

Now, with another offseason under his belt, Slaughter is hoping for an even bigger year in 2025.

The Sparr, Florida, native was incredible up front for the Gators in 2024. He started all 13 games at center for Florida, logging an offensive line-high 800 snaps.

"Slaughter was the only Power Four center to earn 80.0-plus PFF grades as a pass blocker and a run blocker in 2024," PFF's Dalton Wasserman wrote. "His 85.8 PFF overall grade since 2023 trails only Jackson Powers-Johnson among Power Four centers. He moves very well at 6-foot-4 and 308 pounds, allowing him to dominate in a zone-blocking scheme."

These impressive numbers earned Slaughter an AP All-American First Team selection, becoming just the third center in school history to earn a brick outside of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Along with Florida's front man on offense, PFF labeled Texas Longhorns edge defender Colin Simmons as the SEC's best defensive player in 2025.

With star quarterback DJ Lagway entering his sophomore season and a loaded running back room, head coach Billy Napier is expecting extraordinary things from Slaughter in what will be his last year donning the orange and blue.

Related: ESPN Names Florida’s ‘Ifs’ for 2025 National Title Contention

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared.