Florida Gators fall camp breakdown: Tight End
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators are just 35 days away from the start of the 2023 college football season. Florida will kick off the season against the two-time defending Pac-12 Champion Utah Utes. In preparation for the 2023 season, the Gators will open fall camp on Monday, July 31.
Leading up to fall camp, Gators Online will go through every position group and break down what the Gators have as well as project the depth chart for each group.
The Gators have a packed tight end room with a brand new coach in Russ Callaway. Let’s take a look at what the room has and how they can impact the offense.
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
Projected depth chart
Starter: Dante Zanders
Backup: Arlis Boardingham / Jonathan Odom
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 as the most veteran player here but Arlis Boardingham is the most intriguing. Physically he’s 6-3, 245 pounds. He has developed as a blocker and he’s the most athletic tight end the Gators have.
“He’s extremely gifted,” tight ends coach He’s a unique player that can do a lot of different things. He can run block, he can pass block, he can run routes, he can catch the ball, he can make plays with the ball in his hand.”
The other player that needs to show up is Jonathan Odom. The junior has had multiple injuries throughout his career and missed spring camp after knee surgery. He’ll be back and will play a lot for the Gators in 2023. Odom saw action at tight end in nine games this season, totaling seven receptions for 69 yards and two touchdowns.
Hayden Hansen took a redshirt in 2023 and has a promising future, but probably doesn’t make a huge impact on the field this season.
“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.
Past Breakdowns
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