Five Gators Make FWAA Freshman All-American Watch List

Florida leads the nation in players named to the Football Writers Association of America's Midseason Freshman All-American watch list.

Photo: Florida safety Jordan Castell; Credit: Alex Shepherd 

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Five Florida freshmen were included on the Football Writers Association of America's Midseason Freshman All-American watch list this week, the most of any school with 62 selections made from across the FBS. 

Redshirt freshman tight end Arlis Boardingham, freshman interior offensive lineman Knijeah Harris, defensive linemen, redshirt freshman Caleb Banks and freshman TJ Searcy, and freshman defensive back Jordan Castell made the cut for the Gators after strong starts to their playing careers at Florida. 

Of the group, Harris, Searcy and Castell are true rookies after enrolling at UF earlier this year from the high school level. Boardingham joined Florida a year ago but appeared in only one game in 2022, while Banks transferred into the program from Louisville after making nine appearances with the Cardinals last season.

Boardingham's recent breakout has been critical for Florida's offense, as the former receiver-turned-tight end has presented the Gators with a legitimate red zone scoring weapon in recent weeks. He's found the end zone four times since Week 4 and leads the team in receiving touchdowns this season. 

"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," UF head coach Billy Napier described Boardingham on Oct. 9. "I think he's learning the fundamentals of the position."

Of the 16 offensive linemen recognized by the FWAA, Harris is one of only seven true freshmen on the list. The IMG Academy product immediately assumed swing interior blocking duties for Florida this season, having logged a combined 88 snaps at right guard, 49 at left guard and 20 at center in his five appearances offensively. 

Harris started in place of junior right guard Micah Mazzccua in Week 4 when Florida hosted Charlotte, due to an SEC-imposed first-half suspension for the veteran that the Gators increased to a full game.

In the opposite trenches, Banks has shined as a starter on Florida's two-deep defensive front, in a hybrid role between the defensive end and tackle positions. He ranks second on the team with 16 quarterback pressures, per Pro Football Focus, to go with 10 tackles and a sack.

Searcy, meanwhile, has emerged as a key member of Florida's rushing defense in a rotational deployment on the edge. He's accumulated 17 total tackles including 2.5 for loss, nine run stops, seven quarterback pressures and a forced fumble through seven games. 

Castell is Florida's most-utilized true freshman to this point in the 2023 season, as he's logged 323 defensive snaps through seven games, the third-most of any player on the unit. He was recognized as the Freshman of the Week both by the SEC and nationally (via the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award) for his Week 3 performance against Tennessee, in which he posted 10 tackles and a pass breakup.

On the year, Castell has tallied 32 tackles including 1.5 for loss.

"[Castell] has range, can tackle, can cover. He's smart and mature, you know. So I think Jordan is a product of his work," Napier said about Castell on Sept. 27. "His fundamentals are really good for a young player, and I think he's taken the time to learn that system. He knows he's a really good communicator. But, you know, it didn't happen overnight. This guy continues to get better and he's a product of a lot of hard work, and it'll continue to be that way in the future."

The FWAA will unveil its 2023 Freshman All-American Team and its sixth annual Freshman of the Year Award in January.

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