Florida football is right around the corner, with fall camp set to begin on Aug. 5. Gator Country’s roster preview series continues with a look at the tight end room. If you missed it, be sure to check out our running back preview.
The Gators’ offensive line is arguably the biggest question mark on the roster. It’s a unit that doesn’t have a ton of experience, and it wasn’t recruited at a high level under the previous staff. Although recruiting is trending in the right direction under new offensive line coach Phil Trautwein, Florida still enters the 2026 season with uncertainty up front.
Let’s take a look at the strengths and areas of concern.
Confidence in the interior offensive line
Head coach Jon Sumrall named two players who have set the tone in Florida’s offensive line room: Harrison Moore and TJ Shanahan Jr. Both play on the interior.
Moore, a junior transfer from Georgia Tech, started nine games last season, logging 427 snaps at center and 254 at left guard. As a true freshman in 2024, he appeared in 10 games with one start, primarily at left guard. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound offensive lineman has not allowed a sack across 405 career pass-blocking snaps. Florida has primarily repped Moore at center, but his versatility gives the Gators options along the offensive line if needed. His familiarity with the system is another significant advantage.
Shanahan Jr., a redshirt junior transfer from Penn State, saw action in 13 games last season including five starts, splitting time between left and right guard. He did not allow a sack all season and graded as Penn State’s third best pass blocker. The 6-foot-4, 311-pound offensive lineman was praised by Sumrall for his physical presence along the offensive line, something that has been missing from Florida’s front. I expect Shanahan to start at right guard in 2026.
Senior offensive lineman Knijeah Harris is another experienced player Florida has along the interior. Harris has started all 25 games for Florida at left guard the last two seasons.
A player who could push Harris for the starting left guard job is Roderick Kearney, a redshirt junior who has seen limited playing time over his first three seasons. Kearney logged a career-high 132 snaps last season, and reports out of summer workouts suggest he’s firmly in the mix.
Two more names worth keeping tabs on right now: Bryce Lovett and Jason Zandamela.
Lovett has flipped between tackle and guard throughout his career, but he primarily repped at guard during spring camp, and that appears to be where he’ll play this season. Trautwein likes his quickness and ability to pull but noted that Lovett also needs to be capable of playing tackle. The redshirt junior has appeared in 25 career games, making two starts at right tackle and three at right guard.
Zandamela, a former five-star recruit, has played in just one game in two seasons at Florida. I expect him to be the backup center in 2026.
Competition at tackle
Florida’s tackle competition will be one of the most intriguing position battles to watch during fall camp. Four players appear to be competing for the two starting spots: Eagan Boyer, Caden Jones, Emeka Ugorji and TJ Dice Jr.
Boyer, a redshirt sophomore transfer from Penn State, appeared in eight games with one start last season, logging 82 snaps at left tackle. He arrived in college weighing 230 pounds but has since developed into a 6-foot-8, 300-pound offensive lineman.
Jones, a redshirt junior, was Florida’s primary right tackle last season. He allowed just one sack across 309 pass-blocking snaps but surrendered a team-high 27 pressures. The next-highest total belonged to Austin Barber, who allowed 17 pressures despite playing more than 100 additional pass-blocking snaps. The 6-foot-8, 348-pound offensive lineman repped at both right and left tackle during spring camp.
Ugorji enters his first season at Florida after transferring from Stanford, where he started eight games as a true freshman in 2025. He appeared in 10 games overall, logging snaps at both right guard and right tackle. His 523 offensive snaps were the most by a true freshman in the ACC and ranked 10th nationally.
According to Pro Football Focus, Ugorji posted a 27.6 pass-blocking grade after allowing 24 pressures and seven sacks across 302 pass-blocking snaps. However, he played primarily at right guard at Stanford, despite tackle being his more natural position. Florida’s staff loves the upside Ugorji brings to the tackle room.
Redshirt freshman TJ Dice Jr. is another player firmly in the mix at tackle. Dice has yet to appear in a game, but Trautwein loves his athleticism and length at the position. He’ll need to add some weight, and he may have done so during the summer, but his athletic traits and ability to play in space give Florida’s staff an intriguing developmental piece to work with.
Redshirt sophomore Fletcher Westphal could be another option at tackle moving forward, but he has been limited this offseason while recovering from a wrist injury.
Successful summer in the weight room?
Jon Sumrall bluntly stated after spring camp that Florida had “no chance” if the offensive line did not have a great summer in the weight room. He was understandably not pleased with the strength of the room upon his arrival.
At SEC Media Days, Sumrall noted that he was pleased with the offensive line’s growth over the summer, particularly in the weight room. That development could prove to be even more significant than the personnel decisions Florida’s staff will need to make.
Final thoughts
Regardless of where you stand on the quarterback competition, it’s difficult to see Florida competing for more than bowl eligibility if the offensive line isn’t a serviceable unit. On the other hand, if the Gators can get consistent production from the offensive line, this is a team with the talent to compete for a playoff spot.
I feel confident in the depth and experience Florida has along the interior of the offensive line, but the questions at tackle remain the biggest concern heading into the season.
I really hope Westphal is healed and can take that LT position. Ugorji though young has been owned any time he played tackle including a couple of times in the spring game and Boyer looks flat footed out there. That is going to be a big problem in SEC play imo if it’s Ugorji or Boyer unless they make really good improvement in camp.