Florida’s tight end group hasn’t seen an elite level of play since the likes of former Gator Kyle Pitts. It continues to be a coveted position in the sport, especially with more high-flying offense than ever in college football.
It will be a young group for UF head coach Billy Napier as he embarks his third season with the program. But there’s undoubtedly a higher level of potential that several of Florida’s tight ends are capable of reaching in 2024.
Leading the room will likely be a duo of redshirt sophomores in tight ends Arlis Boardingham and Hayden Hansen. They both appeared in 12 games last season as underclassmen and turned in valuable production.
Boardingham caught 26 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns en route to Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-American honors following his first full slate of meaningful playing time at Florida.
Moreover, the bar will be raised in his third year, as he could cement himself as the bonafide top option at tight end for redshirt senior quarterback Graham Mertz to rely on throughout a daunting schedule that lies ahead for the Gators.
Making his way into the lineup in seven consecutive appearances in 2023, Hansen will also likely take on an increased role within the offense. The Texas native logged 150 receiving yards and two touchdowns while averaging 12.5 yards per reception in his redshirt freshman campaign.
Hansen brings a level of experience that could allow him to take his game to new heights this year, largely due to the familiarity he’ll have within Napier’s system. Hansen and Boardingham will likely get the majority of the first and second team reps once UF’s regular season begins.
Bringing a sense of raw talent to the position group will be true freshman tight end Amir Jackson out of Statesboro, Georgia.
The 6-foot-4, 228 pound playmaker was a consensus four-star recruit out of Portal High School, where he recorded 86 catches for 1,437 yards and 17 touchdowns. Jackson was ranked the No. 5 tight end in the nation according to On3 and ESPN. He chose Florida over Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida State.
Sophomore tight end Tony Livingston will round out the position group for the Gators. The Tampa native didn’t see much time on the field in 2023, appearing in just seven games and mostly being utilized as a special teams asset.
But Livingston still has a future filled with potential amid a competitive tight end room. He was a highly regarded four-star recruit according to 247Sports’ composite rankings, signing with UF over LSU, Michigan and Ohio State.
Contact Max Tucker at mtucke@alligator.org. Follow him on X @Max_Tuckr1.
