GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida tight end Arlis Boardingham has been named SEC Co-Freshman of the Week, as announced by the league office Monday morning. Boardingham, the redshirt freshman, earned this honor for this first time in his young career, the second freshman to win the award (Jordan Castell Week 3) and is the fourth Gator to win an SEC Player of the Week award during the 2023 season.
Two weeks after scoring his first career touchdown against Charlotte, Boardingham found the end zone twice during the Gators Week 6 victory at home against Vanderbilt.
His first touchdown came in the second quarter breaking the 7-7 tie between the Gators and Commodores. Boardingham also scored the final Gators touchdown on Saturday as Graham Mertz found the speedy tight end for a 15-yard score.
“Arlis Boardingham really showed the growth that we’ve been seeing,” Head Coach Billy Napier said postgame. “That guy is a very capable — he’s a mismatch type player. Made some really unique plays today.”
In addition to the two touchdowns scored, the Van Nuys, California native totaled seven receptions and nighty-nine yards receiving. This marks the most receptions by a Florida tight end since Kyle Pitts totaled eight in 2020. Boardingham also totaled the most receiving yards by a Florida tight end since Kemore Gamble recorded 122 in 2021.
His totals in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns were all career highs.
“For a freshman to be able to do go what he did the other day I think is impressive,” Napier said during Monday’s press conference.
In addition to providing steady production throughout Saturday’s contest, Boardingham accounted for four of Florida’s twelve explosive plays on Saturday, recording receptions of fifteen, nineteen, twenty and twenty-three yards.
“He had a little bit of an injury last year that set back his development because all this tight end stuff was new, but we do think that this guy has a future. And it’s good to see some of that,” Napier said on Monday.
“This guy, he’s a good run-after-catch player. And I think he’s a guy that’s capable of running a full route tree. He can play inside and outside. Smart enough to handle it. I think he’s learning the fundamentals of the position,” Napier added on Boardingham.
The Florida tight end looks to continue his 2023 success as the Gators travel to Columbia, South Carolina for a matchup with the South Carolina Gamecocks on October 14.