As Florida’s offense sputtered to a No. 105 national ranking in yards per game last season, the line often took the majority of the blame.
The unit rarely generated a strong push in the ground game, as the Gators’ rushing attack finished 73rd in the NCAA. Opponents had an easy time penetrating for big stops, as Florida allowed an average of 7.39 tackles for loss per game, the ninth-most in the nation.
But a new spring season has brought a fresh dose of optimism.
Florida’s line returns four starters to a unit that believes it enters 2012 with more toughness, togetherness and experience.
“They’re way more physical,” defensive tackle Omar Hunter said about the line’s performance in Saturday’s scrimmage. “Down in the red zone, they were running the ball really hard. Guys were pulling together.”
Left tackle Xavier Nixon, center Jonotthan Harrison, right guard Jon Halapio and right tackle Matt Patchan are all reprising roles they assumed in 2012.
The only new face among the current first team is sixth-year senior James Wilson, who started at left guard in UF’s lone scrimmage so far.
With so many familiar faces, the offensive line has developed stronger chemistry.
“A lot more unity, a lot more togetherness,” Harrison said. “You get used to the people you’re working with.”
Coach Will Muschamp said the offensive line was one of two position groups — along with the secondary — where chemistry is most important.
After a year together, Hunter said he can see an improvement in that area from this year’s unit.
“They were a little bit younger last year but I feel like they’re more together this year,” Hunter said. “When times get hard they pull together and say, ‘Lets go, lets go. Finish plays.’ … One of them false started, and instead of all of the guys jumping on him and getting mad — what they did last year — they said ‘OK’ and just picked it up and made the next play. That’s the biggest difference I’ve seen.”
On top of the mental adjustments, a number of the first-team offensive linemen have changed their body types.
Nixon has bulked up from 292 to 309, alleviating one of his biggest weaknesses from past seasons. Harrison has also added weight, from 295 to 309.
“We do maybe look a little bit bigger just because we’ve been in the weight room and this offseason program really has been helping us,” Harrison said.
While Halapio’s weight has remained about the same, Patchan dropped from 292 to 279, while Wilson went from 334 to 327.
The change has Wilson, who is finally healthy after an injury-plagued first five years at UF, playing the best football Hunter has ever seen him play.
“He looks better than ever,” Hunter said. “He looks like his shape’s getting there. From toward the end of last year to now, I’d say he’s probably in the best shape he’s been in.”
As helpful as anything is the experience the four returning starters gained last season. Prior to 2011, only Nixon and Halapio had played significant snaps at UF.
“From a mental aspect, we’re grasping the material a lot better,” Harrison said. “That’s just helping us focus more on our physicality and technique as an offensive line.”
Contact Greg Luca at gluca@alligator.org.
Center Jonotthan Harrison prepares to snap the ball to quarterback Jacoby Brissett at Auburn on Oct. 22 last season.
