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Florida Football: Top five concerns for the Gators in 2023

By Benjamin Henderson

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 08: A general view of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium before the start of a game between the Florida Gators and the Missouri Tigers on October 08, 2022 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 08: A general view of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium before the start of a game between the Florida Gators and the Missouri Tigers on October 08, 2022 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /
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Florida Gators assistant coach for offensive line Darnell Stapleton, left, encourages his players as Florida Gators offensive lineman Christian Williams (56) explodes form the line to block Florida Gators offensive lineman Jordan Herman (79) during practice at Sanders Practice Fields Tuesday morning, August 8, 2023. Their first game is against the Utah Utes on Thursday August 31, in Salt Lake City, Utah. [Doug Engle/Ocala Star Banner]2023 /

Florida Football Concern No. 1: Offensive Line

The Gators have two great running backs, a handful of explosive receivers, and a pathway to move the ball as long as Mertz doesn’t try and do too much.

Florida can go 8-4 or 9-3 this season by running the ball down the opponent’s throats and allowing Mertz to use play action to make game-manager-like completions.

This entire narrative falls apart if the offensive line doesn’t gel together.

Part of the disaster that we saw at the Spring Game was Florida missing two projected starters if everyone is healthy. The problem is that two weeks out, there are still question marks as to if the projected five starters are healthy.

Micah Mazzccua is the biggest wildcard of this group. The Baylor transfer will dictate a major part of the success or failure of the Gators in 2023. He had surgery back in the Spring after Florida caught a previously undiagnosed injury.

He has been taking part in practice and has gotten rid of his non-contact jersey.

Combined with Kamryn Waites returning from a torn Achilles he suffered in the offseason, along with the departure of Kiyaunta Goodwin to be closer to home, it seems like the offseason in regards to the offensive line for Florida football has been just one bad news story after another.

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