With Mazzccua Limited, Florida Freshmen OL in Position to Compete in Camp
Photo: Knijeah Harris; Credit: Alex Shepherd
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Although head coach Billy Napier recently deemed Florida guard Micah Mazzccua to be "on schedule" in his recovery from a spring shoulder injury that required surgery, he won't be a full-go when the Gators launch their 2023 fall training camp on Monday morning.
UF offensive coordinator and co-offensive line coach Rob Sale suggested on Sunday that Mazzccua, who transferred to Florida from Baylor in January, will begin fall practices with a limited status.
"He'll be ready to go soon," Sale said about Mazzccua.
A projected starter at left guard following one season in the same position with his previous team, Mazzccua's limitations will force Florida to toy with its front five in the early days of the fall practice session.
Mazzccua will certainly remain in contention for a first-team spot upon clearance, but the injury has naturally set back his acclimation to his new offense and program.
"I think before his injury, he showed that he's very capable," Napier said of Mazzccua on July 19. "There will be some things that come with missing time."
This reality will allow several younger offensive linemen the opportunity to prove themselves in an elevated role. With junior Richie Leonard IV projected to start opposite at right guard, a squad of underclassmen and inexperienced players is left to fill the temporary void.
Sale raised two anticipated reserves, redshirt sophomore Jake Slaughter and true freshman Knijeah Harris, as members of his unit who have made significant progress over the course of the offseason.
The latter could particularly be in play for Mazzcua's reps as the former has been developed at center throughout his career. Sale complimented the coaching Harris received in high school, at Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, for preparing him for a versatile role at the next level.
"Football comes easy to him," Sale spoke of Harris. "He looks like he's been around here three or four years, and he's a freshman.
"Everybody, it kind of gets them a little bit different, different times. Some kind of need more reps, some kind of get the concept, 'Okay, I get it.' But he's a guy that is a good teammate, good person, obviously a good player."
Harris spent the majority of his playing time with the Ascenders at center, but the Gators first slotted him into the guard position during his debut spring training camp with the team. He will continue to develop there, although Sale sees his flexibility as a commodity, especially at his young age.
"Even though he hasn't played center and put the hand on the ball for us, he can go out there right now and play it, which is hard to do. It's special," Sale expressed.
Another freshman in position to occupy reps in place of Mazzccua is Jalen Farmer, who redshirted his 2022 campaign and at times served as the primary backup to eventual second-round NFL Draft pick, former Gators right guard O'Cyrus Torrence.
Farmer was limited during spring camp with an undisclosed injury, observed wearing a no-contact jersey during the entire period of practices. But Sale acknowledged on Sunday that Farmer has since returned to form, and that he greatly benefitted from UF's offseason workout program in an attempt to reshape his body.
"He's took (sic) a lot of pride and hard work and done a good job with nutrition and [strength and conditioning director Mark] Hocke and transformed his body, taken about 15 pounds off," Sale shared about Farmer. "He's done a really good job.
"I know he was limited in spring, but he's had a great June and July, so he's primed and ready. He's another guy we're looking for big things from."
Mazzccua was one of four offseason transfers Florida acquired for its offensive line after the unit saw eight members from the 2022 roster — four starters and four backups — depart over the course of the offseason.
However, the July 21 exit of offensive tackle transfer Kiyaunta Goodwin — who spent roughly six months with the team before leaving due to a medical emergency in his family — left Mazzccua with former Alabama tackle Damieon George Jr. and former Florida International tackle Lyndell Hudson Jr. as the remaining new veteran contributors along Florida's offensive trenches.
They are joined by three freshmen as newcomers on Florida's offensive line this year: Harris, center Roderick Kearney and tackle Caden Jones.
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