Roderick Kearney could be the solution along the Florida Football offensive line
![Orange Park offensive lineman Roderick Kearney speaks during a ceremony for signing his letter of intent to play college football at the University of Florida on December 21, 2022. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_6000,h_3375,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2F213%2F01j5nb84q1qfj931nsej.jpg "Orange Park offensive lineman Roderick Kearney speaks during a ceremony for signing his letter of intent to play college football at the University of Florida on December 21, 2022. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]")
The offensive line for Florida Football is far from settled heading into the 2024 campaign. The Gators have been utilizing a front five of Austin Barber, Knijeah Harris, Jake Slaughter, Damieon George, and Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson throughout camp and in their scrimmages.
But it is the latter two linemen in that group who appear to still have question marks surrounding them and it could open the door for a redshirt freshman on the squad to see the field on August 31 against Miami.
Florida Football: Pancake
Roderick Kearney spent last season redshirting, but that doesn't mean his potential isn't sky-high. Lest we forget, Kearney was a top-125 overall prospect and a top-10 interior offensive lineman out of the class of 2023.
Noted for his ability to pancake block, Kearney had over 50 pancake blocks his junior year in high school. Coming out of high school, Kearney was listed at 6'4" and 287 pounds. Now up to 305 pounds, Kearney has the SEC size needed for an interior lineman and is starting the upperclassman for reps.
George, in particular, is one of the massive wildcards for the Gators heading into the 2024 season. After spending last year at right tackle, he moved inside to guard, which Billy Napier said was his more natural position.
The problem is that, based on reports coming out of Florida's two scrimmages, the offensive line hasn't been the greatest, and the right side of the line, in particular, has been called into question.
Thus, the door for Kearney appears to be opening, and he has been rotated in for first-team reps.
The pessimistic side is sending alarm bells that less than two weeks before having to take the field for real, the offensive line isn't settled. But if there is reason for optimism, it's that a high-quality recruit from the class of 2023 is developing on schedule and might be the answer for the offensive line in 2024.
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