Jake Slaughter C Florida |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #66 SUB-POSITION: Center | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/23/2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 5.10 seconds (82%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 23.7 DOB: 12/12/2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #66 | |
| SUB-POSITION: Center | |
| Last Updated: 03/23/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| Forty time: 5.10 seconds (82%*) | |
| Age: 23.7 DOB: 12/12/2002 | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
| Overall Rating: | 85.1 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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83% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Pass Blocking: |
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92% |
| Run Blocking: |
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87% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
2nd - Late
Overall Rank:
#53
Position rank:
#13 (OL)
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| College Games: 39 College Snaps: 2145 | ||
ESPN RATING: 77/100
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247 RATING: 85/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.7 (93%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Luke Wypler - Ohio State |
|
91% |
| Sedrick Van Pran - Georgia |
|
84% |
| Zach Tom - Wake Forest |
|
80% |
Drafted: ROUND: 2 - Pick Number: 63 (LAC)
Draft Profile: Bio
At Trinity Catholic High School in Ocala, Florida, Jake Slaughter earned All-County first-team honors as a senior and helped pave the way for a 2,200-yard rusher. He had been snapping footballs since age six growing up in Sparr, a rural pocket of Marion County. He initially committed to Florida State before flipping to Florida and arrived in Gainesville as a three-star recruit in 2021. He redshirted his first year and spent 2022 on special teams.His breakthrough came in 2023 when he started eight of 12 games at center and locked down the job for the rest of his college career. In 2024, he started all 13 games, led the offensive line with 800 snaps, and allowed just one sack. He earned AP and PFF All-American First Team honors along with AP All-SEC First Team recognition.
Slaughter returned for 2025 as a team captain and started all 12 games against one of the toughest schedules in the country. He allowed one sack and one quarterback hit across 422 pass protection reps, earning Rimington Trophy Finalist honors and Second-Team All-American nods from The Athletic and USA Today. He graduated with a degree in Agricultural Education and Communication and was a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Pass protection anchor is outstanding, with serious core strength and clean hip sink against power.
- Processes the game quickly, identifying stunts pre-snap and adjusting protections without hesitation.
- Generates real push in the run game when he catches defenders clean with hands inside.
- Finishes blocks with intent and climbs to the second level with good effort and urgency.
- Pulls cleaner than expected for a 305-pound center, staying balanced through moving targets.
- Plays with consistent knee bend and low pad level, understanding leverage throughout the rep.
- Started every game over two full seasons and never missed time against physical SEC fronts.
- Two-time captain who handled all line calls and set the standard through preparation and effort.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Leans on his hands against quick counters instead of chopping feet to stay square.
- Lets defenders disengage late in the play when the quarterback extends beyond the design.
- Struggles reaching quick three-techniques on stretch plays when they shoot gaps hard.
- Gets too aggressive on stunts and lunges rather than trusting his footwork to stay patient.
- Could use more mass in his lower half to hold up better against pure power on bull rushes.
Scouting Report: Summary
Slaughter's pass protection is NFL-ready. The tape against Georgia, Texas, and Ole Miss tells the story: he diagnosed pressures, handled interior stunts, and kept his quarterback upright against some of the best defensive fronts in the country. His anchor strength, hand timing, and ability to reset when rushers cross his face should all translate from day one. The mental processing stands out just as much. He makes the calls, adjusts protections late, and rarely looks lost against complex looks. Offenses built around quick-game concepts and drop-back passing will get immediate value from him.The run blocking is not at the same level, and that gap matters. He generates movement when he catches defenders cleanly and climbs to linebackers with intent, but against interior defenders with quick hands and gap-shooting ability, he struggles to sustain and finish. Outside zone asks him to reach laterally in ways that do not come naturally, and he gets aggressive when defenders move on him. He fits better in gap schemes or inside zone where he can work vertically and use his leverage.
The floor is an immediate starter who handles pass protection at a high level and gives a coaching staff a dependable anchor in the middle. The ceiling, if the run blocking continues to develop the way it has over the last three years, is the kind of center who holds down that spot for the better part of a decade. The Senior Bowl reinforced his projection, and the consistency he showed across three seasons against top-tier SEC competition carries real weight. He is a safe investment with legitimate upside.
Written By:
Bill Miller (SEC)
Jake Slaughter percentiles vs other Centers (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Jake Slaughter (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
87.9
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
20.0
*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.
*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.