Florida Assistant Coach Rob Sale Talks Offensive Line, Gator Football in 2023

Gators assistant football coach Rob Sale is excited about his offensive line. Having lost AP All-American guard O’Cyrus Torrence to the draft, Florida will need new pass blockers to step up in 2023. Sale said that he was satisfied and happy with what he has to work with and mentioned that opportunities will be available for guys to step up throughout the summer.

“Every play, every period we want to dominate and change the mindset of some of these young guys,” Sale said.

This squad is full of young players and transfers, the offensive line specifically. Eight players in the offensive line room are underclassmen or transfers. Rather than looking at this negatively, Sale looks at it as an opportunity. He said that the Gators’ linemen have a lot to work on before the season in the fall, but he’s happy about the talent and potential of the group right now.

He stressed the importance of his guys’ mindset day-to-day, their “readiness to attack” on the field and how they go about their process every day.

The Players

Sale raved about returning lineman Austin Barber. He said that Barber has improved significantly as a player heading into the 2023 season and praised his work off the field, as well.

“You sign a bunch of Austin Barber’s around here and you’re going to have a good football team,” Sale said.

Additionally, Sale spoke about Kentucky transfer Kiyaunta Goodwin, talking about his physical attributes along with the versatility he brings to the field.

The former four-star recruit measures at 6-foot-8-inches and weighs 353 pounds. The Louisville native brings a lot of raw talent to the team that Sale hopes will translate to the field.

Micah Mazzuccua, another new face on campus, is highly thought of by Sale. According to Ourlads, Mazzuccua is a projected starter for the Gators after starting for the Baylor Bears in 2022.  Sale compared Mazzuccua’s learning tendencies to those of Torrence. Sale said that “football comes easy to him like O’Cyrus.”

Another player to look out for is Alabama transfer Dameion George Jr. He is a potential starter for the Gators after spending two years in Tuscaloosa under Nick Saban. Kingsley Eguakun, one of the returnees from 2022, is also expected to have a solid 2023 season.

He also spoke positively about rising players Richie Leonard, Knijeah Harris and Jake Slaughter as young talents on the interior line. Other guys rising through the ranks include Christian Williams, Roderick Kearney, Jalen Farmer and Jordan Herman.

While there will be a lot of turnover on the line this season, the new-look Florida offensive line will hope to limit them in 2023.