Billy Napier shares state of Florida tight end room

Florida has a talented group of tight ends entering the 2023 season, but it’s also a group that is lacking experience.

Yes, Dante Zanders is back after appearing in all 13 games and making seven starts last year. But Zanders is more of a blocking tight end than a pass-catching threat. Outside of him, others competing for playing time are either true freshmen or redshirt freshmen.

Gators coach Billy Napier recently shared his thoughts on the state of Florida’s tight end room.

“We’ve got really good, young players in that room. I’m very pleased with the progress that they’ve made,” Napier said. “Now can they – new game plan, there’s a lot of information relative to that. The variables change. So we’ll have some growing pains there, but I do think that that group – their attitude, their approach to practice, meetings, walk-throughs has been really good.”

In addition to Zanders, redshirt freshman Hayden Hansen, redshirt freshman Arlis Boardingham and true freshman Tony Livingston are other names to know.

Those three have combined to play in only one college football game. There is sure to be an adjustment period for the freshmen, particularly early in the season. But Napier feels great about the future of the group.

“They’ve really gotten a lot better,” Napier said. “So Hansen, Livingston, Boardingham, really no experience. We do anticipate getting Zanders back. He’ll be able to participate [Friday] and [Saturday]. So we’ll see where he’s at relative to being ready for the game. But that’s one of the positions on our team where we’re going to have young players playing. … But I do have confidence in those guys and their approach.”

Billy Napier reveals Florida center Kingsley Eguakun is ‘day-to-day’ ahead of Utah opener

As Billy Napier mentioned, Dante Zanders is dealing with an injury ahead of Florida’s opener against Utah. Zanders isn’t the only starter battling an injury.

Florida could be without starting center Kingsley Eguakun when it opens the season at Utah next Thursday.

Gators head coach Billy Napier revealed during his press conference on Friday that Eguakun is “day-to-day” heading into the season opener.

“Kingsley’s to be determined. He’s day-to-day,” Napier said. “We do like the progress that he’s making. So he’s gotten a little bit incrementally better as we go here. He’s a very veteran player, too. I think that’s part of the equation. But we’ll let you know when we get to the end of the week.”

Eguakun has served as the starting center for the Gators in each of the past two seasons. He has started all 26 games during that time. The class of 2019 signee has appeared in 40 games overall during his time at Florida.

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