Tag: Kingsley Eguakun

NFL draft-bound Gators center accepts Senior Bowl invitation

This former Gator is headed to one of the preeminent pre-draft showcases next month.

Former Florida football starting center [autotag]Kingsley Eguakun[/autotag] accepted his invitation to play in the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl, according to a tweet on the event’s official account Monday night.

Eguakun was an important presence on the offensive line this season when he was on the field, helping to anchor a corps that struggled with consistency. However, the redshirt junior was limited to four starts at center while taking 246 total snaps on the O-line, which left the Gators high and dry at times; even when he played, he was usually not at 100%.

In both 2021 and 2022, the 6-foot-3-inch, 300-pound lineman started all 13 games at center, helping Florida build a veritable wall at the line of scrimmage for the offense to operate behind. The 2021 squad finished with a top-16 offense line that only allowed 14 sacks/1.08 per game — tied for the seventh-lowest in FBS and second in the SEC; the 2022 edition was renowned for its quarterback protection.

The Senior Bowl is scheduled for Feb. 3 at the University of South Alabama’s Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. Kickoff time is set for 1 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on the NFL Network.

“The Reese’s Senior Bowl is widely regarded as the preeminent college football all-star game and the first stage in the NFL draft process,” according to the official website. “The longest continual-running all-star game has taken place in Mobile, Alabama the past 74 years. More than 900 NFL personnel, including key decision-makers from all 32 teams, and over 1100 media members from around the country were credentialed this year.

“This past April, the game produced 100 total picks for the third straight year, representing 40% of the entire NFL draft, including 40 selected on the first two days.”

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Florida football’s starting center declares for 2024 NFL draft

Florida Gators center Kingsley Eguakun will take a shot to go pro, and enter the 2024 NFL draft.

Members of the Florida Gators roster are departing one-by-one, whether it be in the transfer portal or a player going to the pros.

Florida center [autotag]Kingsley Eguakun[/autotag] announced on Tuesday that he’s declaring for the 2024 NFL draft, ending his collegiate career as a junior. Eguakun made a statement by posting on X and Instagram, with an interesting caption.

“The comeback is personal, it’s an apology to myself,” Eguakun wrote, with a “rising stock” emoji at the end.

The junior’s post also included his list of “Thank You’s” to all the important figures in his life, and exclaimed that he enjoyed his experience at UF.

“Dear Gator Nation, My time at The University of Florida has been nothing short of amazing,” Egukun said. “Although this season didn’t go as planned I’m blessed to call myself a Gator Alumnus and will cherish the memories I’ve made forever!”

“Gator Nation is second to none and it’s been an honor sporting the orange and blue, I’m forever grateful!,” Eguakun wrote. “Most importantly, I would like to give all glory to God for blessing me with the talent and opportunity to achieve my dreams and bringing me through the ups and downs of life. I would also like to thank everybody throughout my life that has played a role in me getting to this point, especially my family.”

The Gators center thanked both of the head coaches that he learned under, current Florida head coach Billy Napier and former coach Dan Mullen.

“Additionally, I would like to thank both Coach Mullen and his staff for giving me the chance to be a Gator and Coach Napier and his staff for allowing me to continue on my journey! Finally, I would like to give a huge shoutout to all my teammates for sticking together through the adversity we’ve been through! And helping me grow over the years along this journey! With that being said, I will be declaring for the 2024 NFL draft!”

Eguakun isn’t the only one who announced his departure from the Gators roster. Sophomore defensive lineman Keenan Landry and tight end Andrew Savaiinaea announced they will enter the transfer portal during the offseason.

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Shrine Bowl announces some exciting early commitments

The East-West Shrine Bowl has announced some intriguing 2024 NFL draft prospect commitments for the classic all-star game

The first few commitments for the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl are starting to get out. The postseason all-star game is attracting some exciting prospects to the week of practices and the Shrine Bowl game, which has moved to the Dallas Cowboys training complex in Frisco, Texas for the first time.

One of my personal favorites is Boston College IOL Christian Mahogany. The intense competitor is one of the best on-the-move blockers in the draft class. Mahogany is in the Wyatt Teller mold of physical guard and could be a late Day 2 pick. He’s currently my No. 63 overall player.

One of the top candidates for the fastest player in the draft has also committed. TCU safety Mark Perry, a former Pac-12 100m sprint champion at Colorado while also playing football, can absolutely fly to the point of attack. Perry is a productive tackler who aggressively attacks the run and short passes, and is generally regarded as a late-round prospect at this point.

Looking for a Day 3 sleeper at center? Kingsley Eguakun from Florida is a good one. Eguakun has NFL-ready skills in the pivot, but he’s been out of the scouting spotlight because he missed most of 2023 with an injury. He’s ready to roll in the Shrine Bowl and could be one of the biggest risers of the practice week.

Finally, South Dakota State RB Isaiah Davis figures to be one of the top FCS-level prospects in the draft. I haven’t seen Davis yet in 2023, but he made quite an impression in the 2022 FCS playoffs with his ability to run through tackles and balance after contact. At 220 pounds, Davis is a load to try and tackle in space and he’s shown he can catch the ball out of the backfield, too.

Florida updates depth chart ahead of Georgia, Eguakun set to return

Here’s a look at who is available for this weekend’s big game.

The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party is set to take place Saturday afternoon and the Florida Gators released their Week 9 depth chart.

The Gators are going to need all hands on deck as they challenge the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs. Even without its main source of offensive production, tight end Brock Bowers, UGA can still inflict a beatdown on whoever comes across their path.

Florida will have a few returning pieces to the lineup, including a vital part of the offensive line, center [autotag]Kingsley Eguakun[/autotag]. The redshirt junior will snap the ball after recovering from a lingering ankle injury this fall.

UF head coach Billy Napier said it’s been hard to manage Eguakun’s snaps after sustaining an injury back on Oct. 11. The center has been ruled out five times in the past seven games.

“Kingsley, man, this is the hard thing about injuries, man,” Napier said. “It’s one of the tougher things that you experience as a player or coach, especially in the back end of your career.”

Wide receiver Andy Jean will return to the lineup after missing out on the Gators’ road win over the South Carolina Gamecocks on Oct. 14. The freshman was out with a lower-body injury but will resume his position as the No. 3 wideout behind senior Ricky Pearsall and redshirt sophomore Taylor Spierto.

On the opposite spectrum of the injury report, sophomore wide receiver Caleb Douglas is still listed as “out” with a lower-body injury.  Douglas has been injured since Sept. 30 with Kentucky. Fellow wideout Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman joins the injury list with an “out” label, no thanks to a lower-body injury.

Florida tight end Jonathan Odom is listed as “out” on the depth chart with an upper-body injury. Freshman tight end Arlis Boardingham will continue to lead the tight end room on Saturday.

The showdown between the Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs is set to kick off at 3:30 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports.

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Billy Napier provides status updates on two key Florida linemen

The Florida Gators were missing a good chunk of their offensive line against Charlotte, but the unit could be back at 100% for Kentucky.

Florida spent the first half of Saturday’s game against Charlotte without three of its starting offensive linemen.

Right tackle Damieon George Jr. and right guard Micah Mazzccua were suspended for the first half of the game after getting too rough with the Tennessee players after a late hit a week ago. George came back in to play the second half alongside tight end Dante Zanders, also suspended for the brawl, but Mazzccua sat the entire game.

Napier explained on Saturday that it was a little bit of “in-house discipline,” and confirmed that Mazzccua would be back on Saturday.

The biggest question mark is still the man in the middle, though. Center Kingsley Eguakun sat against Charlotte to rest an ankle injury he suffered during fall camp. Eguakun played against Tennessee after missing the first two games of the year, and he’s expected to participate in practices for the rest of the week.

Still, Napier isn’t speaking as if it’s a certainty that Eguakun plays on Saturday.

“I think it’s to be determined,” Napier said Monday. “I think that he’s made progress. We anticipate him practicing tomorrow. I’ll be able to let you know Wednesday.”

If Eguakun can’t go, Jake Slaughter should start in his place at center once again.

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Florida OL sitting against Charlotte, expected to return next week

The Florida Gators will once again be without starting center Kingsley Eguakun, who will take this week to rest a ankle injury.

Florida got center [autotag]Kingsley Eguakun[/autotag] back for all of one week as the senior offensive lineman returned to the injury list on Wednesday.

But there’s little reason for Florida fans to fear. The Gators are heavy favorites at home against Charlotte this week and Eguakun is expected to return for the Gators’ Week 5 road matchup against Kentucky, according to Swamp247.

Eguakun hurt his ankle during fall camp (Aug. 16), which caused him to miss the first two games of the year. He played all 71 snaps for Florida on offense against Tennessee, though. It’s unclear just how hurt Eguakun still is, but he won’t get too many chances to rest moving forward.

The Vanderbilt game in two weeks could be an option, but the Gators might want to be at full force after falling to the Commodores in 2022.

Eguakun didn’t have his best game against Tennessee. He finished the night with a 46.3 rating on offense — a 52.6 rating as a run blocker and a 41.1 rating as a pass blocker. He was elite against the pass rush in 2022, especially over the first seven games of the season.

Hopefully, the rest will get Eguakun back where he needs to be.

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Florida releases Week 4 depth chart vs. Charlotte

Florida’s Week 4 depth chart looks mostly the same as the week prior’s, but there are a few notable names missing as a clash with Charlotte looms.

After a convincing win over Tennessee in Week 3, the Florida Gators are changing up the depth chart too much for a Week 4 matchup with the Charlotte 49ers.

On offense, the most notable changes come in the trenches.

At right tackle, Damieon George Jr. is listed as the third-string option after starting the first three weeks of the season. He’s not being demoted. George and Micah Mazzccua are suspended for the first half of the game after defending Graham Mertz following a late hit. Lyndell Hudson II will start at right tackle and Richie Leonard IV with start at left guard.

Center Kingsley Eguakun is once again out with a lower-body injury after returning to the field for just one week. Jake Slaughter will start in place of Eguakun with Richie Leonard IV serving as the backup. If Leonard is moved from the left guard spot, redshirt freshman Christian Williams will step in for him.

At tight end, redshirt freshman Arlis Boardingham is now listed ahead of junior Jonathan Odom.

Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman returns to the receiver corps this week, but Eugene “Tre” Wilson III will sit and recover from an upper-body injury suffered against Tennessee.

The only change on defense is a major one. Kamari Wilson, a five-star recruit out of IMG Academy in his second year with Florida, is no longer listed on the depth chart. He was the “or” option to Miguel Mitchell at safety for the first three weeks of the season.

Wilson’s situation is one worth monitoring over the next couple of weeks.

Also, at the SAM linebacker spot, Mannie Nunnery has jumped ahead of Scooby Williams, who is playing more inside linebacker these days.

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Florida’s starting center set to return for Tennessee game

The Florida Gators medical staff clears Kingsley Eguakun in time for upcoming home matchup against the No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers.

After missing the opening two weeks due to an ankle injury, Florida Gators center[autotag] Kingsley Eguakun[/autotag] returns to the starting lineup after being cleared by the Florida medical staff.

Eguakun was listed as day-to-day since sustaining the injury during a practice in late August.

The center was missing during the horrid 24-11 loss to the No. 12 Utah Utes, ending a streak of 26 consecutive games starting at center. The Utes earned five sacks on quarterback Graham Mertz, exposing Eguakun’s absence as a crutch for the Gators.

Backup center Jake Slaughter and the rest of Florida’s offensive line kept Mertz safe and got the run game going during Saturday’s win over the McNeese State Cowboys, 49-7.

Florida welcomes the Tennessee Volunteers to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday night at 7 p.m. EST. The matchup is set to air on ESPN.

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Gators’ injury update has starting center questionable in Week 2

Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier gives injury updates for two members of the offensive line.

The Florida Gators released the depth chart for the home opener against the McNeese State Cowboys and UF head coach Billy Napier gave updates for two key offensive linemen.

Napier told reporters center [autotag]Kingsley Eguakun[/autotag] is still questionable, but backup tackle Lyndell Hudson “will be available” if his services are needed.

Eguakun suffered a right ankle injury during fall camp and was expected to be a key piece for the Florida offensive line.

Gators quarterback Graham Mertz was sacked five times against the No. 12 Utah Utes defense, and one has to wonder if Eguakun’s presence would’ve taken more pressure off Mertz.

The Gators are considerable favorites in the home opener on Saturday, and the Cowboy defense isn’t expected to be a threat against the rest of Florida’s offensive wall. Because this is the case, the Orange and Blue can afford to let Eguakun rest another week and make sure his ankle is at 100%.

Florida International transfer Lyndell Hudson might take a few snaps Saturday night because Napier wants to give his linemen as much experience as possible.

“I think we kind of went into the game with maybe only 13 starts with that group up front,” Napier told reporters. “So that group is inexperienced.”

Hudson brings in plenty of experience after transferring from FIU. The sixth-year senior made 25 starts at tackle but dealt with a back injury for most of 2022. If all goes as planned this week, Hudson might see a few snaps against an FCS program.

Florida releases Week 2 depth chart ahead of McNeese matchup

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Florida football’s starting center remains day-to-day with injury

Will Kingsley Eguakun be at full strength for Thursday night’s game? We still do not know.

Florida football head coach Billy Napier held a press conference on Friday to address some of the concerns surrounding his program heading into the team’s season-opening rematch with the Utah Utes. As expected, the status of injured players was at the forefront of the queries presented to the second-year skipper.

One of the biggest questions — almost literally — heading into Thursday’s game out in Salt Lake City is the health of starting center [autotag]Kingsley Eguakun[/autotag], who sustained a lower-body injury during fall practice on Aug. 16.

Napier simply stated that he “likes the progress” that the 6-foot-3-inch, 300-pound lineman has made in the last week and change, but was non-committal about when he will be back at full strength. Additionally, there has been no update on the situation since Friday’s press conference.

2023 Florida Football Position Preview: Offensive Line (Guards/Centers)

Florida opens its 2023 schedule on the road against the Utah Utes on Thursday, Aug. 31, with a kickoff time of 8 p.m. EDT.

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