For the Gators to improve, the O-line will have to be much better

A few thoughts to jump start your Thursday morning:

If you base your assumptions solely on last year’s numbers, then Florida’s 2024 offensive line is deserving of its low ranking by Athlon Sports. Athlon ranks the Gators’ O-line No. 14 in its preseason unit rankings. Lindy’s isn’t much better, ranking UF No. 11. Phil Steele ranks the Gators No. 8.

After a 2022 in which the Gators averaged 200.23 rushing yards (24th nationally) per game (5.51 per carry, 7thnationally) while allowing only 17 sacks in 13 games (26th nationally), the Gators regressed in 2023. The rushing yardage fell off nearly 51 yards per game (149.83) and average per carry fell off to 4.27. The rushing totals would have been better except the Gators allowed a whopping 39 sacks, 11th in the SEC and 115thnationally.

Injuries and inconsistency played a big role in Florida’s offensive line problems last year which is why Billy Napier made rebuilding the line a priority. He brought in three transfers in tackles Brandon Crenshaw Dickson (6-7, 315, from San Diego State) and Devon Manuel (6-7, 319, from Arkansas) and guard Jason Zandamela (6-3, 306, from Southern Cal), plus added freshman tackle Fletcher Westphal (6-8, 325), who should be in the rotation early on.

Returning starters from the 2023 team are left tackle Austin Barber (6-6, 316), who was limited to eight games due to a shoulder injury, center Jake Slaughter (6-5, 302) and Damieon George Jr. (6-6, 348), who is moving from right tackle to right guard. George had some struggles making the move to the inside during the spring which may have something to do with Kamryn Waites (6-8, 341) making the move inside where he could challenge George for playing time.

The Gators are longer and perhaps more mobile at the tackles and they should be rock solid up the gut, particularly if Slaughter continues to improve game-to-game as much as he did in 2023.

The Gators are as talented at the skill positions than they have been in quite some time, but to move the ball and put points on the scoreboard, the offensive line is going to be required to up its game considerably from what we saw a year ago. For the Gators to shock the SEC as some analysts have suggested is entirely possible, it will start offensively with the guys up front.

This team figures to be better than a year ago, but improvement has to be shown in the won-lost column as well. If the line does it’s part, the Gators are going to be capable of shocking the world.

Here is a look at a potential two-deep:

LT: Crenshaw-Dickson (6-7, 310, GR/TR); Caden Jones (6-8, 336, RFR) or Westphal (6-8, 325, FR)

LG: Knijeah Harris (6-3, 323, SO); Zandamela (6-3, 306, FR)

C: Slaughter (6-5, 302, RSO); Roderick Kearney

RG: George (6-6, 348, RJR) or Waites (6-8, 341, RJR)

RT: Austin Barber (6-6, 316, RJR) or Devon Manuel (6-7, 319, RSO)

UF BASEBALL: Gators add impressive slugger

Kevin O’Sullivan continued his rebuild of the Florida baseball roster Wednesday when he landed transfer Bobby Boser (JR, 6-1, 210), who played both infield and outfield at South Florida. During an injury-plagued 2024, Boser started 17 games at second base, 11 at shortstop and two at third base. Despite the injuries, Boser was a first team All-American Athletic Conference selection. In 55 games as a sophomore in 2023, Boser started 33 games in center field and 18 in the infield.

Limited to 34 games and 117 at bats due to injuries in 2024, Boser hit .299 with 12 home runs and 32 RBI. As a sophomore in 2023, Boser hit .323 with 15 homers and 41 RBI in 55 games. For his South Florida career, Boser hit .286 with 31 home runs and 85 RBI. Boser is currently playing for Wareham in the Cape Cod Summer League where he is hitting .319 with two homers and eight RBI through 21 games.

Boser joins an impressive transfer class of CF Kyle Jones (FR, Stetson, .355, 5 HR 32 RBI), LF Blake Cyr (Miami, SO, career .298, 24 HR, 84 RBI), INF Justin Nadeau (SO, Jacksonville, .332, 3 HR, 58 RBI), INF Landon Stripling (FR, Texas Tech, .253,  4 HR, 20 RBI), RHP Billy Barlow (JR, Clemson, 6-1, 4.28 ERA in 2024), RHP Matt Jenkins (FR, Santa Fe College, 7-5, 4.74 ERA) and LHP Mason Laurito (FR, Gulf Coast State College, 2-1, 3.34 ERA).

Signing updates: Jac Caglianone’s signing bonus with the Kansas City Royals was $7.5 million. He was slotted for $7.21 million … Still unsigned is reliever Brandon Neely, the third round pick of the Boston Red Sox. His slot value is $878,800.

UF BASKETBALL: Young Gators impressive in Euro U20 Tournament

Rising sophomore Kaijus Kublickas and incoming freshman Urban Klavzar were both very impressive in the FIBA European Under-20 Tournament, adding a little bit more speculation that Todd Golden’s Gators are going to be a top 20 team when the season cranks up in the fall.

Incoming freshman Urban Klavzar (6-1, 185) led Slovenia to a runner-up place finish averaging 16.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 38.3 percent from the 3-point line. In the championship game against France, Klavzar scored 23 points with three rebounds and three assists while hitting 4-8 from the 3-point line. In a semifinal against Belgium he hit 5-8 on his 3-pointers.

Playing for Lithuania, which finished fifth, rising sophomore point guard Kaijus Kublickas (6-1, 186) averaged 11.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. Against Turkey in a round of 16 game, Kublickas had 15 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: If you were of the opinion that the run of conference realignment that destroyed the Pac-12 while adding four left coast teams to the Big Ten, four to the Big 12 and two to the ACC was a sign that all hell has broken loose in collegiate sports, then brace yourself for 2025-26. The new anti-trust settlement between Division I and the United States House of Representatives will be ratified this week, ushering in wholesale changes in scholarships in every sport.

Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports reports that the new scholarship number for college football will be 105, an increase of 20 from the current limitations. Basketball, both men’s and women’s will be increasing from 13 scholarships to 15. Baseball, which has operated for years with this insane 11.7 scholarship restriction, will increase to 34. Softball will go from 12 to 25 scholarships, while volleyball, currently capped at 12 scholarships, will increase to 18. Scholarship numbers will increase in all sports but those five sports will result in 60 more available scholarships.

There is the question of how to pay for more scholarships. This is where revenue sharing, which is part of the anti-trust settlement, comes into play. Each school is expected to receive something like $25 million in Division I. No sport will get a decrease in scholarships and partial scholarships will be available. As part of the settlement, Dellenger reports that schools will have the choice to use all or simply some of the scholarship allotment.  

It all sounds good on paper, but there are potholes in the road ahead. Nobody has yet to figure out exactly how to deal with Title IX and that is going to be a real issue. The women’s sports will demand equality, not only in the number of scholarships but their fair share of the revenue sharing. Title IX is federal law so there is no way for schools or conferences to play games with the numbers for fear of getting jacked up in court.

Equally important is what happens at the Group of Five level. For example, if all 16 SEC schools increase football scholarships by 20, imagine the ripple effect that will be felt downline. This could lead to some of the Group of Five schools dropping down to the D1AA level or to the possibility of a playoff system set up for the schools that can’t afford to sign full scholarship allotments.

And, we haven’t even begun to approach the idea that athletes could become employees. The athletes don’t want that. They like the current free agency where they can come and go as they please and sell themselves to the highest bidder. Once they are employees, they are under contract which will have an effect on their ability to move freely.

As paid employees, athletes will be able to unionize and go on strike for higher wages. They could also be fired and perhaps traded to another school. The possibilities are endless.

Most everyone will be happy with more scholarships at the highest levels, but before any of these changes are officially implemented, the schools need to slow down, take some time to discuss matters with their downline brethren. Everything sounds so good on paper, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to punch holes in just about every proposal.

Meanwhile, get ready for the chaos because it is sure to follow.