Three Questions About the Gators Offensive Line Entering 2022

Picture: Florida Gators guard Yousef Mugharbil and offensive line coach Darnell Stapleton; Credit score: Alex Shepherd

With spring soccer squarely within the rearview mirror, and never a lot happening within the realm of faculty sports activities, AllGators has determined to take a jab at going over varied place teams for the Florida Gators and the three urgent questions for every room.

We have already lined the quarterback, operating again, large receiver and tight finish rooms and we’ll wrap up the offensive facet of the ball with the most recent train, posing three questions in want of solutions by the point the season will get underway alongside the offensive line.

Florida uniquely employed two offensive line coaches this offseason upon Billy Napier’s arrival as head coach, with Rob Sale and Darnell Stapleton main the unit. Sale most just lately coached on the NFL stage with the New York Giants, whereas Stapleton is a former Tremendous Bowl-winning beginning guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Each assistants coached underneath Napier at Louisiana for a time period.

Will expertise throughout the road improve consistency?

Florida may have two new starters on its offensive line this 12 months at proper guard and deal with, however the left facet stays intact. 

Redshirt senior Richard Gouraige (6-foot-5, 310 kilos) is getting into his second season as Florida’s beginning left deal with (and third season as a full-time starter general), senior Ethan White (6-foot-5, 334 kilos) is aiming for a wholesome marketing campaign in his second 12 months beginning at left guard, and redshirt junior Kingsley Eguakun (6-foot-4, 305 kilos) is trying to construct upon a formidable first season as UF’s beginning heart in 2021.

Moreover, redshirt junior Michael Tarquin (6-foot-5, 301 kilos) is predicted to take over at beginning proper deal with after showing in 25 video games during the last three years as a result of inconsistency and accidents on the place.

Will the sport expertise amongst these 4 starters, three of which began subsequent to one another final 12 months, show useful for the Gators’ offensive line?

Time will inform, however Florida has to hope that Gouraige, White, Eguakun and Tarquin’s 107 mixed profession appearances (and 52 mixed begins) will assist with communication throughout the entrance and result in a straightforward transition between former head coach Dan Mullen and Napier’s blocking schemes. 

How a lot will O’Cyrus Torrence enhance the unit?

Maybe Florida’s most vital acquisition through the switch portal this offseason, former Louisiana guard O’Cyrus Torrence adopted Napier and Co. to Gainesville in January and has instantly been penciled in because the projected starter at proper guard for the upcoming season.

Torrence, a 6-foot-5, 335-pound senior, took on a beginning position at Louisiana instantly as a freshman and by no means appeared again, showing in 36 video games whereas beginning 35. Having but to permit a sack in his profession, Torrence earned First-Workforce All-Solar Belt Honors in 2021 and Second-Workforce All-Solar Belt Honors in 2020.

“I used to be in a position to coach him for 3 years. Particular younger man, nice participant, good child, nice teammate extra importantly,” Sale mentioned of Torrence throughout spring camp. “The ceiling is excessive for him. He’s received a variety of snaps and he’s aware of the offense … He hit the bottom operating greater than some other participant right here, I’d say.”

Torrence will face new checks on a weekly foundation at Florida, elevating his competitors stage by transferring into the SEC. However supplied his expertise within the scheme and profession accolades, UF is not apprehensive that he’ll battle amid the transition. Neither are professional analysts, as he is emerged as Professional Soccer Focus’ No. 8 guard on the outlet’s early 2023 NFL Draft board.

As a substitute, the hope is Torrence can elevate all the unit’s efficiency given his particular person skill-set and information of the system that he can share with others.

Who will emerge as depth swing linemen?

Napier harassed all through the spring that the Gators lack depth throughout the roster, and whereas that’s true at a variety of completely different spots together with offensive deal with, UF has the posh of a starting-experience guard in Josh Braun set to man the position of swing guard. 

Braun, a rising junior, can play each left and proper guard and has appeared in 24 video games during the last two seasons for Florida, beginning seven in 2021. However with White and Torrence anticipated to start out in 2022, Braun will possible tackle a useful position because the Gators’ No. 1 backup inside lineman.

The story is kind of completely different at deal with, as nobody behind Gouraige and Tarquin presents significant, if any, taking part in expertise.

Will Harrod, a redshirt junior, has performed in 18 video games for UF however primarily as a particular teamer. He was not amongst Florida’s first (Blue staff) or second (Orange staff) items within the spring recreation. He has stable dimension to play deal with at 6-foot-5, however at 333 kilos and with common arm size, he could also be higher suited at guard.

As a substitute, the second-team tackles had been redshirt freshmen Austin Barber and Kamryn Waites, at left and proper deal with respectively. 

Barber, 6-foot-6, 311 kilos, appeared in three video games earlier than redshirting his freshman season at UF in 2021. Waites, at the moment the tallest participant on the Gators’ roster (6-foot-8, 358 kilos), transferred to Florida from Louisiana very like Torrence earlier this 12 months. Just like Barber, Waites performed in three video games earlier than redshirting his 2021 freshman marketing campaign.

Given their inexperience as an entire, Barber and Waites are prone to proceed competing for the swing deal with position into fall camp, except Napier, Sale and Stapleton really feel it’s best for every participant to concentrate on one facet and play at that place when referred to as upon.

One other potential choice at swing deal with is incoming switch Jordan Herman, who is about to enroll this summer time. The 6-foot-8, 370-pound Hutchinson C.C. product dedicated to UF in Could and has 12 video games of expertise, together with ten begins, on the junior school stage.

Because it pertains to heart, may Braun fill-in in a pinch as he might be anticipated to at each guard spots? Relationship again to his highschool profession, Braun has manned each spot on the road besides heart, so UF could need to look elsewhere for Eguakun’s backup.

Richie Leonard IV, a 6-foot-2, 315-pound redshirt sophomore, began at heart for the Blue staff (second unit) in Florida’s spring recreation. He began a recreation instead of Eguakun final season and appeared in eight video games in whole.

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