Florida Gators football roster breakdown: Tight End
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — It wasn’t long ago when the Florida Gators had a unicorn in the tight-end room. Kyle Pitts was an unstoppable force in 2020 and that season propelled him to the fourth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Gators don’t have that type of dominating presence on the roster. They do have a crowded tight end room with a new position coach in Russ Callaway. What will that combination bring to the table in 2023?
Florida Gators tight end room
Dante Zanders, Redshirt Senior
Keon Zipperer, Senior
Jonathan Odom, Junior
Andrew Savaiinaea, Redshirt Freshman
Arlis Boardingham, Redshirt Freshman
Tony Livingston, Redshirt Freshman
Hayden Hansen, Redshirt Freshman
Scott Isacks III, Redshirt Freshman**
*Denotes walk-on
** Scott Isacks was put on scholarship in the fall and summer. It is not clear that he will remain on scholarship for the fall.
Analysis
Keon Zipperer suffered a knee injury that resulted in surgery. It kept him out of spring camp and will likely prevent him from playing in 2023. Billy Napier confirmed the injury and surgery during spring camp and added that Zipperer would be out for a “significant amount of time.”
Zanders returns to a starting role in 2023. According to Pro Football Focus, Zanders was the lowest-rated player on the Gators’ offense last year. Despite that, he played the seventh most snaps of anybody on offense. More than Ricky Pearsall, Xzavier Henderson, Justin Shorter, Montrell Johnson, and Trevor Etienne. PFF graded Zanders as a poor pass blocker (34.8) but an average run blocker (54.8) and pass catcher (50.2).
Arlis Boardingham took advantage of the opportunities he was given this spring. The athletic tight end should be able to get more playing time in the absence of Zipperer. Boardingham will need to be active in the passing game.
Jonathan Odom underwent knee surgery after the Las Vegas Bowl and was not able to participate in spring camp. Odom excelled as a pass blocker (72.0), per PFF. He made his first catch of the season against South Carolina, including his first career touchdown. Odom hauled in five of his seven receptions in the final two games of the season. He should be able to return to the field this fall.
Hayden Hansen is another young player with a lot of promise. He has the size and athletic ability to contribute in a smaller role.
“He’s done a tremendous job. A former quarterback,” new tight ends coach Russ Callaway said of Hansen. “He’s a very bright young man. Being a quarterback you wouldn’t think he’d be as physical as he is. But he is extremely physical, does a really nice job in the run. To be a bigger guy has smooth and soft hands and can make plays in the pass game.
Tony Livingston and Andrew Savaiinaea should be considered as developmental players for the Gators at this point.
“The young guys — Andrew Savaiinaea and then Tony Livingston — are still kind of picking it up a little bit,” Callaway said. “But Hayden, Arlis, and Scott have done a tremendous job in Year 2. You can see the recall and the ability to go out there and think and play fast.”
Past Breakdowns
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