FLORIDA FOOTBALL: Arlis Boardingham Emerges as True Pass Threat

A big day for TE Arlis Boardingham. GatorBait Photo Credit Chris Spears

Florida football fans haven't seen success in a particular game from a tight end since the Kyle-to-Kyle era when Kyle Pitts would Terrorize opposing defenses and coaches. Arlis Boardingham gave Florida fans a blast from the past on Saturday with his performance.

A drop early in the game is the first thing Boardingham brought up even after his career day.

However, this early misstep turned out to be the lowest point for Boardingham that night. By the end, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound California native had an outstanding performance, finishing with seven receptions for 99 yards and two touchdowns, all career highs.

Boardingham's success wasn't primarily from being a downfield target. He gained most of his yards after the catch, displaying agility in the open field. A lot of Graham Mertz's completions have come on motions and rollouts getting playmakers into open-field situations.

Head coach Billy Napier talked about Boardingham and how versatile he can be as a pass-catcher: "Arlis Boardingham really showed the growth that we've been seeing. That guy is very capable – he's a mismatch type player. Made some really unique plays today."

While Boardingham's athletic abilities were evident, he insisted on crediting the coaching staff and quarterback Graham Mertz for his performance. He emphasized trust in his teammates and extensive practice to be prepared for the game.

"I feel like it's just trusting coaching. Trusting my O-Line, making sure that I know that they're gonna protect me," Boardingham said. "Trusting Graham, knowing that if I'm open he will give me the ball. And, just like I said, going back to the fundamentals in practice, after practice, getting that extra work in, just making sure I'm prepared."

Boardingham acknowledged that his dedication to development since arriving in Gainesville was crucial for his current position.

Despite his potential as an athlete, Boardingham had much to learn about the position, being relatively unfamiliar with it. Additionally, an upper-body injury in his freshman season limited his in-game experience, putting him behind in his development.

Napier explained the challenges Boardingham faced: "He's a kid who hasn't played tight end, so he's a receiver, linebacker. He's a track athlete... There's a ton to learn in there. He's a smart kid, but it's almost like playing quarterback to some degree. There's a mental part that I can't tell you -- it's challenging. You can't overlook that."

To consistently see the field, Boardingham needed to excel not only as a pass-catcher but also as a blocker. He understood that mastering all the necessary skills would take time.

Napier emphasized the newness of the position for Boardingham: "There's a set of fundamentals you have to learn at tight end. It's not like he had any background in that before he showed up, so it was all new... So mentally learning the system and fundamentally the physical component, all of that was new. It's turned out to be a good evaluation."

Looking ahead, Napier believes that Boardingham's addition was a pivotal move for the team, and he anticipates even greater contributions in the future.

With weapons on the outside such as Tre Wilson and Ricky Pearsall along with the duo of Trevor Etienne and Montrell Johnson, this will open up opportunities for Boardingham to capitalize more when defenses are focused on those dynamic guys.

Reflecting on Boardingham's performance, Mertz noted, "That's just how we think. We're always – in this game, you've got to have a growth mindset. Complacency kills, and you've got to look at where you can improve. I thought Arlis had a great week."