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Florida Football: Kiyaunta Goodwin to Gators might salvage Graham Mertz

By Benjamin Henderson

Five-star offensive tackle Kiyaunta Goodwin was all smiles after he made the decision to play football at Kentucky instead of Michigan State during a signing ceremony at the Aspirations gym in Louisville, Ky. on Dec. 15, 2021.Goodwin03 Sam
Five-star offensive tackle Kiyaunta Goodwin was all smiles after he made the decision to play football at Kentucky instead of Michigan State during a signing ceremony at the Aspirations gym in Louisville, Ky. on Dec. 15, 2021.Goodwin03 Sam /
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We mused a couple of days ago that the offensive line for Florida football was in limbo following the injury over the weekend to Kamryn Waites. The injury left the Gators without a complete offensive line, not to mention the complete lack of depth following multiple departures in the offseason.

The offensive line for the Florida Gators still lacks depth, on paper, but grabbing Kiyaunta Goodwin out of the transfer portal has given Florida football an imposing line that might just give Florida a competent offense in 2023.

Florida Football: The Great Wall of Gainesville

Goodwin was a top-tier prospect in 2022 that signed with Kentucky. Listed at 6-8, 351 pounds, Goodwin didn’t see action in Lexington and opted to enter the transfer portal at the end of the season.

Goodwin’s addition rounds out a starting offensive line that, if healthy, should be a strong suit for the Gators in 2023:

LT – George – 6-6, 339 pounds

LG – Mazzccua – 6-5, 331 pounds

C – Eguakun – 6-3, 301 pounds

RG – Barber – 6-6, 312 pounds

RT – Goodwin, 6-8, 351 pounds

This line brings size, but also experience into next year. Eguakun started last year, Barber has meaningful snaps when Tarquin was injured, and Mazzccua started at Baylor. George and Goodwin will be inexperienced at tackle, but have an entire offseason to work together as size is not a concern.

Mertz to benefit

Graham Mertz is probably the largest benefactor from the signing of Goodwin. Florida should have a solid run game it can lean on and can be a run first, pass second offense. There are still plenty of concerns about Mertz, but he didn’t have the benefit of a run game as dangerous as Florida’s last year. Despite being 19th in the country in percentage of plays that were a running play (58%), Wisconsin was 48th in yards per attempt.

Worse, when Wisconsin did pass it rarely used play action.

With Montrell Johnson and Trevor Etienne running the ball behind a rebuilt offensive line, Mertz should have the benefit of catching on looking linebackers that get sucked in to the run game. If he can find just enough accuracy to find Ricky Pearsall on intermediate routes, or find incoming freshman Eugene Wilson as a safety value, Florida might be able to keep the ball moving just enough to have a competent offense.

As Georgia and Stetson Bennent showed, a team doesn’t have to have an NFL ready QB to be successful. They just have to keep him upright and surround him with top level talent.

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