Kingsley Eguakun Leading New-Look Gators Offensive Line in Cohesion Process
Five equals one.
When Rob Sale and Darnell Stapleton arrived in Gainesville last off-season, the duo of experienced offensive line coaches hit the ground running when they took over the reins of the uber-important position group.
Upon introduction, they began to establish a mantra, which now carries considerable weight within the Gators locker room. It's a slogan dedicated to reminding each player occupying a spot in the room that the game goes further than their individual responsibilities. Five pieces comprise one unit. Success can only be reached if each player contributes equally.
It caught on quickly.
Now, after undergoing immense turnover from 2022 to 2023 — forced to incorporate four new starters with several of those feature pieces occupying spots on different rosters a season ago — the Gators' offensive line is working toward maintaining the high-level success it realized in Billy Napier's inaugural campaign.
The lone incumbent starter in the trenches, center Kinglsey Eguakun, is serving as Florida's on-field leader, working to maintain cohesion and production despite the employment of new faces alongside him.
"Our coaches have brought in some great guys, guys who want to learn," Eguakun told reporters at SEC Media Days when asked about the retooled group. "It’s kind of more so about us being a cohesive unit and as the leader of the group, it's up to me to kind of bring everybody together and kind of jell us together so we're working with each other.
"I think everyone they brought in has an eagerness to get better. I think for the group and not only for the group, but for the team, that kind of helps everybody raise their level up."
Sale and Stapleton’s leadership in year one illustrated their ability to elevate the group quickly with their coaching prowess.
The Florida rushing offense took a significant step forward under their tutelage, finishing No. 24 in rushing yards per game (200.2) and No. 7 in yards per carry (5.51), and presented a wall for quarterback Anthony Richardson in pass protection. UF allowed just 17 sacks all season, an average of 1.3 per contest.
Despite the change, maintaining — and even building — on the impressive campaign is the primary focus moving forward.
"I think the biggest thing with continuing the trend the offensive line has been on is making sure everyone is buying into what coach Sale and coach Stapleton are saying and what coach Napier preaches day in and day out and ultimately having the right mindset to attack every opportunity we get."
However, there are still hurdles for Florida to clear to replicate the unit's efficiency beyond the mere fundamental and skillset refinement efforts of the duo of offensive line coaches.
"I would say the biggest challenge associated with that is cohesion and making sure everybody is on the same page at all times," Eguakun said. "On the O-line, things change all the time and you have to change your call in a split second."
Knowing how his teammates beside him will respond goes a long way in making those calls quickly and confidently. In turn, it aids the unit in realizing similar success up front in 2023.
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