When Richard Gouraige joined the Gators as a top-100 recruit in 2018, he was pegged as UF’s left tackle of the future.
After 26 games and 17 starts at left guard in the three seasons since, the future has finally arrived. Gouraige is expected to protect Emory Jones’ blindside this season, and he’s excited to be back at his most natural position.
“Everything’s been going good,” Gouraige said. “Just trying to get better every day with my teammates, still trying to build that good chemistry with everybody else. The quarterbacks have been great, and the O-Line has been great. It’s been great so far.”
Gouraige also took practice reps at right guard and right tackle over the last three years, meaning he played every position except for center at some point. While transitioning from position to position proved challenging at the time, he’s grateful for those experiences now. He thinks knowing the game from different vantage points is an advantage.
“It’s all about challenges, trying to increase my game, [be] more flexible and stuff like that,” he said. “The more I know, the better. So, I’d rather know all five positions, if I can, because I know what certain guys have at certain protections and stuff like that. So, the more you know is better.”
Linemate and friend Ethan White said Gouraige is a more complete player because of his array of experiences. He’s now able to combine the run-blocking techniques he learned from playing guard with his 6-foot-5 frame and athleticism that made him such a coveted pass-protector in high school.
“He kind of takes pride in being able to do everything well,” White said. “He can run-block, obviously, because he played guard, so he’s physical. But now that he’s back out at tackle, I think he’s really worked hard at pass-protection and kind of just taken the next step.”
To take that next step in pass-protection, Gouraige said he regularly stays after practice to get some extra work in. He and White push each other to be better.
Gouraige also watches film of NFL tackles such as Tyron Smith and Joe Thomas every night. He tries to pick up a few things that they do against defensive ends and incorporate them into his own game. He’s noticed an improvement in his skills this offseason.
“Coach [John Hevesy has] been telling me that I’ve been really increasing my game, kicking-wise and stuff like that,” he said. “Every day, I’ve been working on my ladder drills, working on my different angles. It has really been showing during practice.”
Any time you break in a new starting left tackle, there are going to be some anxious moments early on. There’s a reason left tackles are among the highest-paid players in the NFL and generally make more money than the other offensive linemen. A bad left tackle can waste well-executed routes by the receivers. Of course, there’s also the risk of serious injury to the quarterback.
With that being the case, Hevesy sounds as confident in Gouraige as can be expected. The plan was for Gouraige to start at left tackle last year, but a preseason injury to White meant that he was needed on the interior. He got some snaps at tackle later in the season. So, while he’ll make his first start at the position on Sept. 4, he’s very familiar with the spot.
“Last year, he played a bunch in rotation just to get him out there but also the preparation for him this year coming up that he was going to be out there,” Hevesy said. “Even though he’s a returning starter, to go play that position for the first time coming out this year would have been harder on him. So, as you saw toward the end of the season, just rotating him in there, getting him in there to play really helped him through spring practice and fall camp of being out there.”
It’s taken more than three years, but Gouraige is finally back where he belongs.