Florida football: 3 most impactful newcomers for 2023
![Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15) throws the ball during spring football practice at Sanders Outdoor Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]Ncaa Football Florida Gators Spring Football PracticeSyndication Gator Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F5bff35b3fa20081c2045e27c06386891e840031b5c6f38e845d3f708c6679e88.jpg "Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15) throws the ball during spring football practice at Sanders Outdoor Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]Ncaa Football Florida Gators Spring Football PracticeSyndication Gator Sports")
Cam’Ron Jackson was one of the best defensive linemen in the portal this offseason and you knew when Florida snagged him from Memphis that he’d have a major impact immediately.
Obviously that has yet to be seen, but when the season starts, I do think that Jackson is going to be a problem for opposing offensive lines. He became one of the better defensive linemen in the Group of Five in 2022, racking up 41 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and a pass breakup. And it feels like he’s just scratching the surface.
Jackson should be a starter on that line this season for the Gators at defensive tackle and he may have to battle it out with fellow talented transfer Caleb Banks for the starting job.
With Gervon Dexter gone, however, I think the starting job will be Jackson’s to lose and he’ll start alongside Chris McClellan and Princely Umanmielen up front. Florida should have a really good defensive line again and Jackson could lead the way.
This is a dude that I’m really high on.