Deeper Florida football defensive line could improve in 2023. We break it down

Florida football didn't get as many big plays as it wanted from its defensive line in 2022, but there were reasons why.
A lack of depth in the position group resulted in an inability to create consistent rotations. As a result, some players were bogged down by playing too many snaps. For example, departed UF defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr., a second-round pick of the Chicago Bears, appeared in 682 out of UF's 932 defensive snaps last season.
"We've got to kind of balance that, and you balance that with depth," Florida defensive line coach Sean Spencer said.
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Despite losing the talented Dexter, a deeper, more experienced defensive line could make more of an impact in 2023. Florida addressed the defensive line both in the transfer portal and in recruiting. Several new faces could end up contributing across the defensive front, with hopes of the unit being fresher at the end of games this season.
"When you have that type of depth, I think you can create the reps that you want," Spencer said.
Here's a look at the Florida defensive line heading into the 2023 season:
Florida football defensive tackles
Desmond Watson is back at the nose after recording 25 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Watson appeared in all 13 games for the Gators last season, making 10 starts, and at 6-5 and 439 pounds occupies blockers inside. Chris McClellan (6-3, 325 pounds) showed growth as a freshman with 23 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and one fumble recovery in 13 games. McClellan should get more opportunities for snaps this season.
Watson and McClellan will be pushed by a pair of transfers, Cam'Ron Jackson (Memphis) and Caleb Banks (Louisville) as Florida will look to establish a four-tackle rotation. Jackson, at 6-6 and 321 pounds, made 13 starts last season and has posted 5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in two seasons at Memphis.
Banks (6-6, 323 pounds), played in six games at Louisville last season, recording a sack and a fumble recovery against Wake Forest and showed his athletic abilty in spring drills.
“Tremendous athlete,” Spencer said. “I mean, he’s 6-foot-6, I think he’s 300 pounds, he can bend, he can touch the ground easy. He’s a basketball player. He’s a natural athlete. He’s exciting to watch right now. He moves like a little guy.”
The ends
Princely Umanmielen is back as UF's top pass rush threat from the edge. The 6-5, 254 pound Umanmielen started 11 of 13 games last season, finishing with 9.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles. He earned preseason All-SEC third team honors last week from the media and switched his uniform number from 33 to 1 this season.
Tyreak Sapp and Justus Boone will line up on the opposite side. Sapp (6-3, 271 pounds) appeared in all 13 games for the Gators last season and finished the year with 20 tackles, Boone (6-4, 263 pounds) started 2 of 13 games for the Gators, finishing with 24 tackles and a sack.
The future
Freshman T.J. Searcy (6-5, 244) was all over the field as an edge rusher in UF's spring game last April with two tackles for loss, a sack and a fumble recovery. Fellow freshman Kelby Collins (6-4, 272) had five tackles in the spring game and demonstrated high upside during spring drills.