Florida Gators center Harrison Moore picked up another preseason nod on Tuesday, landing on the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award preseason watch list, according to the organization.
The honor adds to a growing list for Moore, who is also on the Rimington Trophy preseason watch list. That award goes to the nation’s top center.
A Southlake, Texas, native, Moore arrives at Florida after spending the last two seasons with Georgia Tech. He played in 21 games for the Yellow Jackets and made nine starts, with eight of those coming at center last season.
That 2025 campaign gave Georgia Tech one of the nation’s most efficient offensive lines. The unit led the ACC and ranked third in the FBS by allowing just 0.69 sacks per game, and the Yellow Jackets gave up only nine sacks over 13 games.
Now Moore is carrying that background into a new job with the Gators, where he’s already been named the starter at center for the opener against FAU on Sept. 5. On Monday, Florida head coach Jon Sumrall revealed his expected starting five and placed Moore between Knijeah Harris at left guard and TJ Shanahan Jr. at right guard.
Still, Sumrall made it clear the lineup could keep shifting early in the season.
"I would probably predict in the first couple games, you're still going to see us play a decent number of guys to work through it and see what gives us our best long-term group. But that's where we are today," Sumrall said on Monday.
Moore steps into a demanding spot after Jake Slaughter handled the center job for Florida last season. Slaughter was a 2024 First-Team All-American, a 2025 Rimington Trophy finalist and a 2026 second-round pick.
But Moore isn’t spending much time measuring himself against that standard. He said his focus is on his own game.
"I kind of just worry about what I can do to be the best version of myself," Moore said.
Slaughter also gave him a message this offseason that helped steady the transition.
"He just was like, ‘I know there’s probably a lot of pressure; just be you, don’t worry about all the external factors.’ That really helped me kind of calm myself down," Moore said.
Florida is looking for Moore to help anchor an offensive line that still has plenty of unknowns heading into the 2026 season. And so far, the transfer center is already making his presence felt.
"He's starting to become a leader, a lot more vocal, and that's very important for what we ask the center to do in this offense," offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner said.
In Other News...
Brent Key Still Sounds Bitter About Floridas Center Move
Georgia Techs offensive line conversation keeps circling back to one familiar name, and it is not hard to see why. Harrison Moore logged meaningful snaps at center and guard for the Yellow Jackets last season before transferring to Florida, following offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner in the process. With Moore gone, Georgia Tech has had to sort through a new look in the middle, and Brent Key made it clear during a recent press conference that the positions instability from a year ago is still fresh in his mind.
For Florida, Moore adds another piece to the roster as the Gators continue building around transfers with experience up front. For Georgia Tech, the search for continuity now turns to Alabama transfer Joseph Ionata, who is set to fill the vacancy left behind. Keys comments suggested the Yellow Jackets have not fully moved past how disruptive the center situation became, even if the roster has already moved on to the next answer. [Read more 🡒]
Floridas First Offensive Depth Chart Hint Fans Will Want To See
Fall camp is in the books, and Florida is moving into the next phase of its preseason buildup with its first depth chart for the 2026 season expected early next week. For a team trying to establish some early order on offense, that release will give a much clearer look at how the Gators line up after weeks of practice and competition across the unit.
Aaron Philo is projected to open as the starting quarterback, but the rest of the offensive picture will be just as closely watched, from the running backs and receivers to the tight ends and offensive line. With spots still being sorted out and roles beginning to settle, the depth chart should offer the first real snapshot of where Florida stands before the season starts to demand answers. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Fans Will Love What Sumrall Is Fixing First
Jon Sumrall is wasting no time trying to tighten up the details that can decide a game in October or November. This weekend, Florida plans to stage a mock game to work through unusual situations and new rules, including the fair catch free kick, with the idea of putting players in scenarios that standard practice periods do not always cover. It is the kind of early emphasis that can reveal how seriously a staff is treating the hidden parts of football, not just the headline-grabbing ones.
For Florida fans, the appeal is obvious after the previous eras special teams issues under Billy Napier. Special teams can flip field position, swing momentum and, in a few strange cases, become the difference between a win and a loss, so Sumralls decision to drill those moments right away signals a more detailed approach to the job. The mock game will not answer every question about the Gators, but it does offer a first look at what this staff believes needs fixing first. [Read more 🡒]