Florida Gators News: Injury on O-line, more recruits offered scholarship
Billy Napier has spent the off-season trying to rebuild the office of line for the Florida Gators. With four linemen from the 2022 squad either in the transfer portal or declaring for the NFL draft, Austin, Barber is the only returning lineman with any real playing time.
Napier hit the transfer portal to pick up multiple linemen and it looked like the gators would have a competent unit heading in the 2023. The unit took a hit when it was reported yesterday by Swamp247 that Kamryn Waites tore his Achilles during spring workouts.
BREAKING: Florida offensive lineman Kamryn Waites has suffered a torn Achilles tendon, sources told Swamp247. Huge bummer for a really promising player.https://t.co/BC7S2hXftT pic.twitter.com/Y7PwZgBhPD
— Jacob Rudner (@JacobRudner) January 21, 2023
Waites came to Gainesville from Louisiana with Napier in 2022, and started along the offensive line the Las Vegas Bowl. Normal people can recover from a torn Achilles in six months, however, depending on the severity, it can take up to 11 months for a football player.
Florida Gators offer multiple recruits
Napier and crew also had an array of high school recruits on campus yesterday for the class of 2024 and beyond. As part of their Junior Day, Napier made offers to several recruits.
AGTG ✞ Blessed to earn a offer from THE University of Florida! #GoGators🐊 @kearycolbert pic.twitter.com/eTOl7mqCP9
— Naeem “Tha Dream” Burroughs 2026 WR/ATH (@ThaDr3am__) January 21, 2023
Blessed🙏🏾 and honored to have received an offer from the University of Florida🟠🔵🐊 #GoGators @Mandarin_HS_FB @coach_bnapier @Harrison2121 @ChadSimmons_ @DemetricDWarren @fbscout_florida @adamgorney @RWrightRivals @CoachMPeterson @acbtrainin @MohrRecruiting @Blake_Alderman pic.twitter.com/i59xaE1hjx
— Hylton ”Drake” Stubbs (@Drakestubbs1) January 21, 2023
After a great visit an talk with @coach_bnapier I am truly blessed to receive an offer from the University of Florida @adamgorney@SWiltfong247 @SeanW_Rivals @RWrightRivals @AL6AFootball
— josephphillips_2 (@D1joe22) January 21, 2023
@GasCrew7v7 @CoachLAoneal12 @ChadSimmons_ @On3sports @CoachMPeterson pic.twitter.com/jT2HktYI8h
Joseph Philips is the only junior among those three offered, as there were sophomores and freshmen on campus yesterday.
Philips is a three star linebacker out of Alabama, but at 6-3, 225 pounds, it is easy to project that he will have SEC size for the position.
Ben Shelton back in action
Former Florida Gators, tennis star Ben Shelton has had quite the debut at the Australian Open. Shelton find himself in the round of 16 and will take on fellow American JJ Wolf tonight.
The only bad part about Sheltons run, is that because of time zones, and when his matches take place, most of his matches have been in the middle of the night. Tonight‘s match will be a slightly more manageable. 10 PM start time for those hoping to check in on his tournament run.
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