Over the next couple of days, Inside the Gators will review how each position on Florida's roster has performed up to this point in the 2016 season with a matchup against Iowa in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 2 on the horizon. Today, we look at the offensive line.

OVERVIEW: A number of Florida's younger contributors were thrown into the fire during the 2015 season. After having just six available scholarship linemen during that spring, the Gators' rotation combined for just 10 previous starts (all coming from Trip Thurman) in their college careers. That group struggled to get much of a push in the run game throughout the year while allowing a nation-high 45 sacks.

Plenty of those contributors from last year, including left tackle David Sharpe, left guard/left tackle Martez Ivey, right guard/center Tyler Jordan, center Cameron Dillard and right tackle/right guard Fred Johnson once again saw prominent roles after having a year of experience under their belts. During the first week of fall camp, redshirt junior left guard Antonio Riles suffered a torn ACL.

The improvement along the offensive line has been gradual, not significant, this year - and ultimately, the group was fairly inconsistent. While the Gators found success with their running game against a handful of opponents, the offensive line couldn't get much of a push up front against Arkansas, FSU and Alabama. Florida finished middle of the pack nationally allowing 25 sacks on the year.

Returning from two offseason shoulder surgeries, Ivey has stayed healthy for the majority of the year and been effective for the Gators playing at both guard and tackle, when not dealing with an ankle injury. Johnson struggled from the get-go at right tackle but eventually grew comfortable in a role primary at right guard. Dillard each have had their share of ups and downs when they've not been dealing with injuries, while Sharpe has been inconsistent on the left side throughout his junior season.