Joey Slackman

Joey Slackman is an American football defensive tackle who currently plays for the Florida Gators. He previously played for the Penn Quakers.

Early life and high school
Slackman grew up in Commack, New York and attended Commack High School, where he was a member of the football and wrestling teams. He was a two-time All-American wrestler in high school. Slackman committed to wrestle at the University of Pennsylvania.

Penn
Slackman initially was a member of the Penn Quakers wrestling team. He tore his ACL and meniscus during his freshman season. While recovering from his injury he joined the roster of the Penn football team. After the Ivy League announced that they would cancel athletics for the 2020–21 academic due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Slackman took a gap year and interned at the Attorney General of Delaware's office while also volunteering for a wrestling-focused non-profit in Philadelphia.

Slackman had 16 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble in his first football season. As a junior, he made 49 tackles with 9.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and two passes defended and was named honorable mention All-Ivy League. As a senior, Slackman was named the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-Ivy League after finishing the season with 50 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks. After the season, Slackman decided to utilize the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes who were active during the 2020-2021 school year due to the coronavirus pandemic and entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Florida
Slackman ultimately transferred to Florida.