if White isn’t going to be a 1-2 round pick, i dont see him leaving. A one year starter on the OL rarely gets drafted high unless they’re SPECIAL and I can’t think of any recent tbh.
I think there are a few teams that have to cultivate that type of model, not just OL but the team in general. Beamer at Va Tech, Alavarez at Wiscy....solid teams every year but would get that really good vet team every 3-4 years. I don't think UF really does/should fall into that category. I could see Stoops build that at UK if they let him.
yep Stoops at UK is probably the best current example of that. They need to leave him be and his seat should be about the coldest in the SEC if they knew what was best for them if they want to be formidable in football. Dont make the mistake Kansas did with Mangino even though he kiiiiiinda played a hand in his “dismissal”
Agree. Last year’s injury to White pushed any NFL aspirations out one year. I think he’ll have an NFL career, but will go higher in the draft w an additional year.
yea i wanna say LaShawn “Maurkice” Pouncey has been the only interior OL from UF who left early from the NFL draft. Not too many interior OL leave early for the NFL draft now that i think about it
My view on the OL: 1. We should always have 15 OL on the roster. 2. We should play out to a 2 deep depth chart with 5 in development. 3. We should expect OL to be with UF 4/5 years. 4. There will be attrition so recruit 4-5 OL per class based on needs. Where I differ with our coaches comments is when the coaches say they have 6-7 OL ready to go play including cross training. As I said in 2 above, I'd like to see UF play out to a 2 deep so the players can stay fresh in games. Some will deserve and get more snaps than others and they should, but play out to 10 players deep, not 6-7. Bobby, it's not that UF should have a good OL every 3-4 years. It's that UF should have a good OL every year. With the coaches in place and the classes stacking up on each other with Mullen recruited players, I hope consistently good OLs is exactly what the future holds. It all depends on player development and coaching. The OL is the slowest position of all position groups to develop. 2021? I think UF's OL is ready to rock & roll.
I agree with that line of thinking of maybe every 3rd series, get a back up or two in there just to get their feet week. We understand that OL is THEE unit that needs the most continuity and rapport, but gotta somehow prepare the underclassmen who’ll be prominent in 2022 ready in 2021 with game experience. we’re going to be as good as our interior is IMO
Took a look at the 21 OL roster: Ship OL: 1. Stewart Reese 2. Gerald Mincey 3. Jean Delance 4. Austin Barber 5. Riley Simonds 6. Kingly Eguakun 7. Jake Slaughter 8. Richie Leonard 9. Michael Tarquin 10. Josh Braun 11. Will Harrod 12. Richard Gouraige 13. Ethan White 14. Yousef Mugharbil Preferred Walk On: 15. Kaleb Boateng (Clemson Transfer) Walk On: 16. Mark Pitts 17. Haydon Clem Boateng would be the 15th ship if he were eligible for 21 and we had a counter we could have given him. I'm thinking he'll work hard and earn it for 22. The roster is getting to just the right place for good OL play and OL development every year. UF's OL should be playing to a grade of B under Mullen every year starting with this 21 season. If a few A's get sprinkled in, I'd be okay with that. The only known OL leaving after the 21 season are Jean Delance and Stewart Reese. We have 2 OL commitments to date. Of the following, who might make the jump in performance and decide to try for the NFL: Kingly Eguakun - Probable Starting RSo Center Richard Gouraige - Probable Starting RJr LT Ethan White - Probable Starting Jr LG If none leave early for the NFL, the next look would be at attrition for anyone who hasn't worked out. Given the closed practices, I don't know how that can be determined. If none leave early for the NFL and there is no attrition, are we already done with 2 commitments on the OL for 22 class and especially so with Kaleb Boateng waiting in line for a ship in 22? Bottom line, if the staff signs more than 3 counting Boateng for 22, I'd have to think there are things in the works we fans are unaware of.
Swamp247 is projecting Josh Braun to share RG with Stewart Reese and possibly get the starter spot if Reese due to his cross training is asked to help at another spot on the line if someone is injured or doesn't play up to expectations.
Saw that. I think Braun is at worst our 2nd-3rd best lineman. He’s got to be on the field as a starter. Given the opportunity he may be our best or 1B to White. Just hope he gets consistent opportunity.
I think the problem for Braun starting will be if Mullen is expecting to be run heavy this year. the one thing Delance does better than some others on the line is blocking for the run game. I don't know that either Braun or Stewart are going to be so much better at pass pro that Delance's experience will take a seat. Long term Braun has the high ceiling, but at the beginning of this year, I am skeptical he starts at RT. And losing Stewart's size inside may keep them from sliding him outside to be less effective.
Why did UF miss on Julian Armella out of St. Thomas? That’s the kind of OL player they need to start landing.
Armella is a nolie legacy. His father played at FSU in the early 90s during FSU's famous top 5 run under Bowden. I'd bet on FSU, but he isn't committed to anyone yet. UF offered Armella, but he hasn't visited while he has visited FSU, LSU, and Miami. Insofar as who to land for the OL, that's up to the coaches. However, in the case of Armella, he doesn't fit the description of a "miss." The offers UF put out that have been tweeted about this week have been to 23 class OL. UF appears to have moved on.
I don't think people realize just how much damage Sharkboy did to this team. We are just now climbing out of that hole.
yea i never considered UF “in” it for him regardless of him having us in his top 7. Even if he visits on an OV, I see it as him treating it as a free weekend. Nonar, Eston Harris, Neto, and Agbo seem like the last of the HS recruits we’re after for the 2022 class
I'd have liked our chances better if Armalla had showed up for FNL. At this point, he's something other than Gator to me. Since we have the Clemson transfer and 2 high schoolers, I can see Mullen taking another high schooler if he is 100% sold on the player. Otherwise, he could hold his powder for the transfer portal.
The nice thing about the Clemson transfer is that he has a lot of eligibility left and Mullen/Hev have a few months to evaluate the Clemson transfer before having to make a decision on giving away one or two more high school scholarships to OL that may or may not come good.
