Top 25 of 2025: Hansen leads a three-headed tight end group

Please Read: Welcome to the new-look Inside the Gators

• Commitment Burn Barometer
• Mock Signing Class 5.0
• Early Entry Review: Woods’ name rang out
• Getting to Know: Daniel Pierre Louis
• Getting to Know: Onis Konanbanny
• Post-Spring/Transfer Portal Ranking of Florida position-by-position
• Getting to Know: Byron Louis
• First Five off the Bus
• 15 Pre-Spring Class of 2026 Out-of-State Names to Know
• 20 Pre-Spring Class of 2026 In-State Names to Know
• Impact Analysis: Where Florida Football Signees Come From

The summer is flying by, and the Florida Gators’ 2025 campaign is quickly approaching. As the players and coaches prepare for their August 30 kickoff against Long Island, Inside the Gators’ staff members took stock of the roster to break down our list of the ’25 most valuable players’ for the 2025 season.

It is based on who we believe are the 25 most valuable players. These are not necessarily the best players, but the most valuable in relation to the team having a successful 2025 season.

Christian Alvis, Lance Williams, and Mark Wheeler compiled their list of the 25 most valuable Florida players, combined them, assigned a point value (25 points for a #1 vote down to 1 point for a #25 vote), and here’s how the final tally worked out (ballots and points in parentheses).

Note: The ranking isn’t based on a straight points system (25 points for a #1 placement down to 1 point for a #25 placement). A consensus mattered more, so one person’s opinion didn’t carry more weight than the group as a whole. This way, a player who appears on all three ballots, but has fewer overall points, will be higher than a player who appears on two ballots with more points.

THE 25 MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS FOR 2025

No. 18-J’Kobi Jackson (3-ballots | 18-points)

• Position: Running Back
• Class: Senior (RS-TR)
• Size: 5-foot-11, 214-pounds

Alvis Analysis: I think Ja’Kobi Jackson was one of the most underappreciated parts of the team last year. The combination of him and Jadan Baugh is going to be a serious 1-2 punch in the SEC this year. (Voted: No. 17)

Lance’s Last Word: Running back Ja’Kobi Jackson was a heartwarming story in 2024. Initially buried on the depth chart behind Montrell Johnson Jr. and highly touted running back recruits, the junior college transfer emerged as a dynamic back for the Gators, rushing for over 500 yards and collecting seven touchdowns. Jackson should be the week one running back two. (Voted: No. 25)

On the Mark: He has an interesting back story, to be sure. He was headed to UNC Charlotte when Florida took him out of JUCO. That first year, he was a healthy scratch for each game. I pretty much wrote him off at that point, but then he rebounded to have a ‘take notice’ type of 2024 campaign. Because he really didn’t get his shot until Montrell Johnson Jr. went down, his 500 yards aren’t all that eye-opening. His yard per carry average, though, was upper level in the league. (Voted: No. 18)

No. 17-Hayden Hansen (3-ballots | 25-points)

• Position: Tight End
• Class: Junior (RS)
• Size: 6-foot-6, 269-pounds

Alvis Analysis: Tight end Hayden Hanson is someone who I hope to see a little more involved in the pass catching this season. 15 catches the whole season is nowhere near what you need from your starting tight end. On the other hand, he did not allow a sack on any of his blocking assignments, which is amazing, but we need to still see him get some more catches and be a little bit more of a factor on the offense. (Voted: No. 15)

Lance’s Last Word: Hayden Hansen is the clear-cut starting tight end in Gainesville with Arlis Boardingham’s transfer to Bowling Green. He’s been excellent as a pass blocker; perhaps he’ll develop as a receiver in 2025. (Voted: No. 16)

On the Mark: I don’t want this to seem misplaced criticism. I don’t want to put the burden on one player because of Florida’s inability to comprehend that they don’t have enough talent at tight end to justify so many 12-personnel packages. Give Haden Hansen credit, he looked a lot more fleet of foot last year than he did in his first two, but still, UF’s fifth or sixth best receiver would be a better option than a tight end whose best season to date is 15 catches (in 13 games) for 207 yards. He had some big catches, but without seeing the All-22, was it his ability to get open against a defender, or the defense playing off of him, conceding that they don’t think that he could hurt them enough to justify concentrating on him? Though he is a starter, I have him so low on my list because is there a big drop-off from Hansen to Tony Livingston and/or Amir Jackson? (Voted: No. 22)

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