With the 2022 college football season now just 3 weeks away, Gator country gives you an in-depth breakdown of the current tight end room as well as a projected depth chart.
Tight End
As of this past spring, the tight end position has been a concern. Not only did Kemore Gamble transfer to UCF, but multiple injuries kept players sidelined for most of spring practice. Fortunately for Florida, all those players are back at practice and have been ready to go for the past week or so.
Keon Zipperer
With the departure of former TE Kemore Gamble, Junior TE Keon Zipperer looks to take over the reins at that position this year for the Gators. Standing at 6-1, 246 pounds, Zipperer racked up a total of 25 receptions for 309 yards and three touchdowns in his three years so far at UF. Just this last year, Zipperer managed to only get 11 receptions for 133 yards and no touchdowns. Zipperer is poised to make a big statement this year.
Dante Zanders
Dante Zanders has had a very interesting career to say the least. Zanders was originally a three-star tight end from Boca Raton, FL who enrolled at Florida in 2018. That following year the Gators were hit with multiple injuries on the defensive line, which forced former head coach Dan Mullen to switch Zanders’s position to DE/DL. Shortly after the firing of Dan Mullen, Zanders put his name in the transfer portal as he saw limited playing time at the defensive line position and didn’t see Florida as a fit for him anymore. Everything changed once again for Zanders when Billy Napier was hired, and the tight end position was hit with the same devastating injuries the defensive line went down with just two years ago. After speaking with Coach Napier, Zanders took his name out of the portal as Napier was convinced Zanders was a tight end and loves what he brings to the table. Zanders is someone Coach Napier is very high on, and I’d expect him to be very productive for that position this year, if not the most productive.
Jonathan Odom
Weighing in at 6-5, 237 pounds, Jonathan Odom looks to see some more action than he did last season in his reserve tight end roll where he appeared in eight games. The former three-star tight end looks to have more of an impact in this year’s offense after waiting his turn. Prior to last year, and his freshman season at Florida where he appeared in four games, Odom attended Jesuit High School where he put up 467 career yards and 11 career touchdowns. Odom later went on to commit to Florida and Dan Mullen over Alabama, Iowa, and others. His father, Jason Odom, was a four-year starter on the offensive line for the Gators from 1992 – 1995.
Nick Elksnis
One player fans are ready to see step on the field is 6-6, 234-pound redshirt freshman Nick Elksnis who looks to slowly be getting back to normal after breaking his scapula in spring practice. Elksnis recently posted a video on Instagram of him shoulder pressing 135lbs for five reps where he wrote “I’ll be damned if I’m not ready to go to war with my team come week one”. You could say the former four-star is ready to go and get after it heading into the final weeks of fall camp. Elksnis was someone who was expected to rise up the depth chart heading into the spring.
Arlis Boardingham
One of Billy Napier’s biggest gets in the 2022 transition class was four-star ATH Arlis Boardingham out of Van Nuys, California. During a time of need at the tight end position for the Gators, Coach Napier managed to keep the 6-3, 235 lb athlete from taking his talents to Eugene, Oregon. I’d expect the true freshman to get very significant playing time this year.
Hayden Hansen
Hayden Hansen was also another big steal for Billy Napier’s 2022 transition class during a major time of need for the position due to spring practice injuries. The big bodied 6-6, 256 lb tight end out of Weatherford, Texas was named first team 3-6A All-district, where he caught 38 passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns his senior year. Hanson is someone the Gators really needed heading into the 2022 football season in terms of depth. I wouldn’t be surprised if Hanson gets significant playing time this year also.
Projected depth chart
1st team:
TE Keon Zipperer
Double TE set:
TE Keon Zipperer
TE Dante Zanders
2nd team:
TE Dante Zanders
Double TE set:
TE Dante Zanders
TE Nick Elksnis (if 100% healthy) or TE Jonathan Odom
Out of Odom, Boardingham, and Hansen, it’s honestly a guessing game on who gets that second TE slot on second team. I’d look for multiple tight ends to get many significant snaps this year to showcase their talents compared to past years. This year’s tight end room has loads of young talent that are eagerly waiting to step on the field.