Tight end Dante Zanders slimmed down and improved speed during offseason

Another player who has seen the positive impact of Mark Hocke’s strength and conditioning program is tight end Dante Zanders.

The sixth-year redshirt senior has slimmed down and appears to be much faster through the first three weeks of spring football.

“My speed to be completely honest with you,” Zanders said on his biggest improvement. “Last year I was heavier, so I was like really sluggish when I ran routes and everything, but losing all the weight, slimming down, and conditioning a lot over the break made me a little bit faster which is going to elevate my game.”

Zanders sits at 248-249 pounds after weighing 262 pounds in 2022 and 291 pounds in 2021. The former defensive lineman credits his ability to fluctuate his weight to high school wrestling.

 “I used to wrestle in high school so my body, I can fluctuate the weight,” Zanders said. “I used to have to cut weight to wrestle certain pound weights and then gain weight to wrestle for different competitions, so my body is kind of used to it.”

With former Gators’ tight end coach William Peagler taking a job in the NFL, Zanders now relies on newly hired Russ Callaway for development, Zanders’ fourth position coach in his six-year career (Larry Scott, David Turner, William Peagler, Russ Callaway).

“It was a little difficult losing coach Peagler, but congrats to him on getting his job in the NFL and everything,” Zanders said. “Coach Russ a great dude. He has a lot of experience, he came in, helps us understand everything, he was already here so, I’m really glad to see him get a raise up in his location without having to leave.”

Zanders said that Callaway has placed an emphasis on route running in spring practice.

“He definitely works on a lot of end of the breaks in our routes and everything,” Zanders said. “Before we focused mainly on our footwork, and hands, and trying to make sure we know how to block really good, but he focuses on a little bit more of both.”

With Keon Zipperer out for the season, Zanders is bound to have a huge role for the Gators in 2023.

Florida will also need to rely on some of the younger and less experienced tight ends on the roster.

Redshirt freshman Hayden Hansen is one player Florida could turn to for depth in 2023. The 6-6, 259 pounder is physically ready to hit the field for the Gators.

Hayden {Hansen}, he’s improved drastically,” Zanders said. “His confidence skyrocketed, that’s the main thing with every player. If you have no confidence, you not really gonna excel, but the moment you get any time of confidence, your game is gonna elevate.”

Freshman tight end Tony Livingston is putting his talent on display through the first three weeks of spring practice. The Tampa native sits at 6-5, 240 pounds and holds a versatile skillset with tons of raw talent.

“Tony is going to be a guy,” Zanders said. “He just needs to get his body under control, get a few years in the system, he’s going to be a great player.”

Arlis Boardingham is another player that’s expected to contribute in 2023. The second-year tight end spent most of his freshman season dealing with an injury, limiting his chances at seeing the field. Boardingham made his collegiate debut against Oregon State in the Las Vegas Bowl.

The second spring football under Billy Napier has been much eaiser for Zanders.

“The difference is I know it now,” Zanders said. “Last year I got switched in the middle of spring to tight end like after three days of practice. So just knowing it a little bit better makes everything super easy.”

Dante Zanders looks much more like a tight end than he did last season. His route running and speed have improved drastically over the offseason. The Florida Gators need someone in the tight end room to step up as a consistent vertical threat.

 

 

 

 

Nick Marcinko
Nick is a recent graduate from the University of Florida with a degree in Telecommunications. He is passionate about all sports but specifically baseball and football. Nick interned at Inside the Gators and worked part time with Knights247 before joining the Gator Country family. Nick enjoys spending his free time golfing and at the beach.

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