Gators Assistant Football Coach Rob Sale is excited about his offensive line. After Florida lost AP All-American guard O’Cyrus Torrence by draft, he’ll need new pass blockers in 2023 to move up. Sale said he’s content and happy with what he has to work with, mentioning there will be opportunities for guys to step up throughout the summer.
“Every game, every period, we want to dominate and change the mindset of some of these young people,” Sale said.
This squad is full of young players and transfers, especially the offensive line. Eight players in the offensive line room are underclassmen or transfers. Instead of seeing this as a negative, Sale sees it as an opportunity. He said the Gators linemen still have work to do ahead of the fall season, but he’s excited about the group’s talent and potential right now.
He stressed the importance of his boys’ daily attitude, their “attacking spirit” on the field and how they go about it every day.
The players
Sale gushed about returning lineman Austin Barber. He said Barber has improved significantly as a player heading into the 2023 season and also praised his work off the field.
“If you sign a couple of Austin Barbers here, you’ve got a good football team,” Sale said.
Additionally, Sale opened up about Kiyaunta Goodwin’s Kentucky transfer and spoke about his physical attributes as well as the versatility he brings to the field.
The former four-star recruit measures 6ft 8in and weighs 353lbs. The Louisville native brings a lot of raw talent to the team that Sale hopes will translate to the field.
Micah Mazzuccua, another new face on campus, is well received by Sale. According to Ourlads, Mazzuccua is a planned starter for the Gators after starting for the Baylor Bears in 2022. Sale compared Mazzuccua’s learning tendencies to Torrence’s. Sale said that “Football for him is just like O’Cyrus”.
Another player to watch out for is Alabama transfer Dameion George Jr. He’s a potential starter for the Gators after spending two years in Tuscaloosa under Nick Saban. Kingsley Eguakun, one of the returnees from 2022, is also expected to have a solid 2023 season.
He also spoke positively of up-and-coming players Richie Leonard, Knijeah Harris and Jake Slaughter as young talents on the inside line. Other guys moving up the ranks are Christian Williams, Roderick Kearney, Jalen Farmer and Jordan Herman.
While there will be plenty of fluctuations on the line this season, the redesigned Florida offensive line hopes to limit them in 2023.