Coming out of the spring, we thought we had a pretty good idea of what the Gators’ starting lineup on the offensive line would look like this season.
Richard Gouraige and Jean Delance received most of the first-team reps at tackle, while Ethan White, Stewart Reese and Josh Braun seemed to lock down the three interior spots. The only real question entering fall camp was whether Reese or White would be the one snapping to Emory Jones.
Since good offensive line play requires terrific chemistry and communication among the five players, it would stand to reason that you would go with the same five in the fall as you did in the spring. Otherwise, you’re basically hitting the reset button four weeks before the season, right?
Well, Kingsley Eguakun has taken that narrative and thrown it out the window. The redshirt sophomore from Jacksonville took first-team reps at center in portions of practice available for viewing on Instagram Live this week, with Reese sliding over to right guard.
Head coach Dan Mullen said that move is more than an early camp experiment. It sounds like there’s a very good chance that Eguakun will trot onto Spurrier-Florida Field for the first play against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 4.
“Kingsley’s really been a guy that’s embraced it,” Mullen said. “In spring, we rotate a lot of guys through because you’ve got to have depth at that position. The other positions, you’ve got to block, but there’s an extra skill involved with the snap at that position. So, you want to create depth. He’s a guy that really kind of jumped and embraced that role.
“He’s a guy that, ‘I’m not here getting reps. I’m not here preparing.’ Really, to me, his approach since last spring is, ‘I’m here to be the starting center.’ He’s really approached it with that kind of attitude and mindset, and it shows. With the mental aspect that goes with it, the leadership, he’s embraced everything that comes with being the center and wanting to go be the starter.”
Eguakun certainly looks the part at 6-foot-4 and 303 pounds. He was a three-star recruit in the class of 2019 who originally committed to Miami before flipping to Florida after receiving an offer just a few weeks before the early signing period.
He only played in two games in 2019 and redshirted. He played in all 12 games in 2020, primarily on special teams.
So, if he indeed does win the starting job at center, this will be a huge step up for him. He’ll go from playing in garbage time to lining up against Alabama’s defensive front in week three.
While he might be light on playing experience, Mullen has been impressed with his leadership skills since the day he stepped foot on campus. He was chosen to serve on a University Athletic Association leadership council as a true freshman who hadn’t contributed anything.
“I just think you look at guys, find guys that are going to fit that mold in the future,” Mullen said. “He’s extremely intelligent. He has a very high care factor, really loves being a Florida Gator and represents the program well.”
Eguakun might get to represent the program in a much more visible way in a few weeks.