Florida’s search for answers in Buster Faulkner’s offense may end up shining a light on one of the most overlooked holdovers from the Billy Napier era: Amir Jackson.
It still feels a little strange that a tight end with Jackson’s profile never really got loose in Napier’s system. Florida leaned on two-tight-end looks, but Jackson rarely became a steady part of the plan. He finished last season with 139 offensive snaps and three catches, a usage pattern that never quite matched the talent the Gators thought they were getting.
Jackson did enter the transfer portal, but Jon Sumrall convinced him to come back to Gainesville. Now the conversation has shifted from whether he would leave to whether he can finally become a real piece of the offense in 2026.
There are reasons for optimism. Sumrall has not spent much time publicly talking about Jackson this fall, but reports out of camp say he has been having a strong week one. That lines up with what Sumrall said in the spring:
"Amir's really kind of a pleasant surprise. We all know he's got length and can run.
He's a willing player at the line of scrimmage, blocking people. That's where he's got to grow, but he didn't turn it down at all.”
Jackson’s summer also brought a notable speed bump - in the good way. Strength coach Rusty Whitt said last week that Jackson had improved his speed, and he hit a top speed of 22.09 MPH.
That’s a pretty intriguing development for a player who arrived with plenty of pedigree. Jackson was a former top-100 prospect nationally and the seventh-ranked tight end in the 247 composite.
He was also Florida’s highest-rated tight end signee since 2012. The upside was always there.
The fit, though, never seemed to fully click under Napier.
The numbers tell that story clearly. Jackson played just 12 snaps in 2024 before climbing to 138 snaps in 2025.
Even then, 58% of his snaps came as a blocker, despite being the lightest tight end on Florida’s roster. On the 42% of plays where he was sent out on routes, he was targeted only six times and finished with three catches for 29 yards.
That’s why Faulkner’s offense makes this such an interesting watch. In theory, a tight end like Jackson should have room to work in space.
At the same time, Florida has also hinted at heavier use of four-wide receiver sets, which could squeeze the tight end out altogether. And when the Gators want more of a blocking presence, a player like Lacota Dippre could be the better fit.
So the picture is still fluid, and fall camp only goes so far. September will tell the real story. But if the early buzz is real, Jackson could end up looking a lot more like the threat Florida expected when it signed him.
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