​Florida returns nearly 60% of its defensive-line snaps from 2025, but the Gators still have to replace Caleb Banks, Tyreak Sapp and Michai Boireau.Defensive line coach Gerald Chatman was the lone defensive assistant retained by Jon Sumrall. Florida has plenty of bodies and positional flexibility across the front, but the unit still has to prove it can improve after finishing near the bottom of the SEC in sacks and run defense.Brad White’s front features several different roles. The defensive line includes the interior tackles and bigger defensive ends, while the JACK is a hybrid edge position that primarily attacks from the boundary but can also drop into coverage. Several players can move between those spots depending on the package, which is why the groups are being previewed together.Sumrall has emphasized that the rotation will be package-dependent and that a large number of players are expected to see meaningful snaps.Here’s a closer look at Florida’s defensive line and JACK room heading into the 2026 season.Check out Gators Wire’s other position previews:QuarterbacksRunning BacksWide ReceiversTight EndsOffensive TacklesInterior Offensive LineStarting JACK: No. 0 Jayden Woods (So.)SeasonTacklesTFLSacksQBHPBUFRINT2025285.03.52111Woods is the clear headliner of the defensive front after a strong true freshman season in which he played 448 defensive snaps. Woods garnered so much transfer interest that he actually entered the portal before withdrawing. Sumrall and Co. worked hard to retain him, so he’ll be the most heavily featured part of the pass rush. His combination of athleticism and work ethic earned him a spot on The Athletic’s Freaks List entering the season, and Sumrall believes Woods still has plenty of room to grow.“He has a really, really high ceiling,” Sumrall said. “He works as hard as anyone I’ve ever been around in my entire life. When you coach guys like that, it’s fun.”Starting Nose Tackle: No. 90 Brendan Bett (Sr.)* = at BaylorSeasonTacklesTFLSacksPBU2023*91.01.022024*00.00.002025394.03.00Career485.04.02Bett got a ton of experience in the interior after Banks went down last year, and it’s not a surprise to see him listed as the starting nose tackle entering Week 1. At 6-feet-4-inches and 319 pounds, he’s the right size to clog up the rushing lanes at nose, but he can also penetrate the line if Brad White wants to use him as a three-technique.Bett played 346 snaps last year and led Florida’s defensive linemen in tackles. He’s a vocal leader of the unit, and White expects the D-line to lean on him heavily this season. Bett was ejected for spitting on an opponent against USF last year, but the incident is now viewed as a growth point for him, one that he’s responded to well.“I’ve always been very demanding with him,” Chatman said. “He’s had to grow a lot, and I do believe he’s grown. And there’s new challenges. There’s new challenges each year with each player. He’s taking on more of a leadership role, but as a leader, his