Florida’s offensive line is the focus of all attention as the Gators go through spring practice. After adding four freshmen and two transfers, the unit will look very different in 2024.
Jake Slaughter, Austin Barber, and Damieon George, who started 27 games last season, return for the Gators. George had 11 starts at tackle in 2023 but switched to guard this offseason, where Rob Sale believes he is more suited.
Gator Country brings you everything offensive line coach Rob Sale had to say after Florida’s third spring practice.
. Offensive line, construction of it?
“I agree they are a hungry group, they are a group that wants to come to work every day. There’s no egos in there. They are a pleasure to coach. It really is, it’s a new year, a new group, these young two groups that we recruited, two classes are now older and bigger and stronger. I think we hit on all those guys, they have the intangibles we’re looking for they are big guys that can bend and move and I do like the two guys we got in the portal, Devon (Manuel) and Brandon (Crenshaw-Dickson) they got really character they are really good people and they are really good players, too.”
Q. What do you see from Brandon particularly?
“Long and athletic he can slide his feet, he’s played both at San Diego State, played left and right, We have him at right right now, he had some length and athleticism at that position, so, we’re able to move Dameion in at guard, that’s what he’s more suited for.”
Q. Dameion George Jr. moving from tackle to guard?
Good he’s done a really good job taking care of his body, he’s lost some weight. He’s doing really good. Had two practices in, had spring break, came back today, but, moving around well in there, he has power. That’s where he’s suited. So we’re really excited about him at that position.”
Q. George more of a straight on blocker? Why he’s better suited there?
“He’s just a bigger guy has a lot of mass, I think right now he’s 350, 354 something like that but, he can knock a three-technique back right, can slide his feet and he can run so, when it comes to outside zone, doing the things we like to do, but he’s more suited there.”
Q. What’s it looking like at the other guard, opposite him?
Right now we’ve got Knijeah playing left guard, Knijeah Harris is doing a really good job, you know he played a lot of snaps last year, and then we’ve got Christian Williams backing him up as well.”
Q. Austin Barber being out, competition at left tackle?
“I mean even if Austin was back we have tackle depth now which we haven’t had in the past, which is, it gives you so many more variables to get a starting lineup, who is the best five, like last year, we had so many different lineups, it was what is was, you know and so right now we got six, seven tackles that we can count on to go play winning football, Caden Jones is a young guy that’s going to be a really good player, Bryce Lovett can play tackle, it’s just hard to play as freshmen, it really is, a small handful can do it but we’ve got more tackle depth, you’ve got Devin, you’ve got Kam Waites who has done a good job losing weight right now he’s at left tackle, Brandon is at right so, we have tackle depth.”
Q. How key is it to have Jake (Slaughter) back at center?
“He’s just a great leader, does everything the right way. Communicates. He has presence in there, takes a lot of Graham’s plate, calm up front, giving the mike ID, obviously Graham has the trump card to check the play however we want but Jake just does a really good job, makes everyone around him better, and communication from inside and out, and Rod (Kearney) is doing a really good job pushing him.”
Q. How are things going with Jonathan Decoster?
“It’s going good, he’s only been here a week I guess, I think you know but getting on the same page, communication, going through all of the, some of the Browns stuff, some of the individuals, stealing some ideas, what can we do to tweak what we’re doing a little bit, might be a word key, I mean drills or drills, what fits your system, what do like but it’s really good it’s given us another set of eyes and ears and perspective on the position.”
Q. Rod pushing Jake, how much have you seen him improve and embrace scout team role last year?
“Rod last year he knew he was probably going to come in and redshirt, he led those guys over there, you ask the defense, who is the guy that brought it every single day, it was Rod Kearney. A leader leads, I don’t care if you are a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior, and that’s what he does. And now it’s just a transition where it’s time to go compete and get a starting job.”
