One time top prospect for Florida medically retires from football

Football can be a cruel and unforgiving game sometimes. Even if one does everything right, one small moment can alter the trajectory of a career, no matter how bright a future may have been.

Former top prospect Keon Zipperer has had to go down that road, and yesterday, he announced he is stepping away from football for good.

Florida Football: The road less traveled

Zipperer came to Gainesville as part of the class of 2019. The Lakeland native was considered the second-best tight end in the country. At the time, 247 had said:

"An excellent athlete with plus speed and runs fluid routes at the tight end/H-Back position. Has the versatility to be used several different ways in an offense, plus the power to be an effective blocker."

By 2020, Zipperer was a mainstay in the offense. His pass blocking was mostly adequate, but he was never really used as a pass catcher. 2022 was his most productive season from a pass-catching standpoint, hauling in 13 catches for 177 yards.

The hope for a big senior year in 2023 never happened, as in the spring of that year, he went down with a knee injury that knocked him out for the season. As it turned out, the injury was so severe it required multiple surgeries, and he was never able to fully recover.

He was spotted this preseason going through drills, but it was obvious he still wasn't even 50%. Zipperer didn't take a snap this year, and yesterday, he announced on social media he is retiring from football:

"My football career came to an end after a serious leg injury and multiple surgeries in 2023, challenges I'm still working to overcome," Zipperer posted on social media on Sunday. "Yet, through it all, I've come to trust that God has a bigger plan for my life. Sometimes, our dreams change — not because we've failed, but because we're meant to follow a path we never anticipated.

Even in this difficult season, I believe there's a purpose behind the pain. My faith gives me strength each day, knowing these challenges are shaping me for a future that will be even more meaningful than I once imagined.

Thank you, Coach Dan Mullen and Coach Billy Napier, for embracing me as I am and giving me the chance to be a Florida Gator. You believed in me through every high and low, allowing me to be part of something larger than myself. Wearing that Gator uniform, representing Florida with #9, has been an honor I'll carry with me always. The lessons, friendships and experiences I gained as a Gator will forever be a part of who I am, and I'm proud to be part of the Gator Nation."