Offensive Line Statistics 2019: Outlook for 2020

[Escambia94]

In 2019 the Gators started the season with their deepest offensive line in maybe a decade, but the line failed to get the push required to open up the running game.

Left Tackle

1. RJR Stone Forsythe 6-6 315 West Orange HS, Winter Garden FL. 3-star.
   
2. RFR Richard Gouraige 6-5 250 Cambridge HS. Tampa, FL 4-star.

Left Guard

1. RFR Richard Gouraige 6-5 250 Cambridge HS. Tampa, FL 4-star.
   
2. RSO TJ Moore 6'5" 290 Mallard Creek Charlotte NC 4-star.

Center

1. RSR Nick Buchananan 6-3 283 Dunwoody HS, Dunwoody, GA 3-star.
   
2. RJR Tanner Rowell 6-2 298. Melbourne Senior HS, Melbourne, FL NR (former walk-on).

Right Guard

1. RJR Brett Heggie 6-4 290 Mount Dora HS, Mount Dora FL. 3-star.
   
2. FR Ethan White 6-5 315. Superior Collegiate Academy. Clearwater, FL 4-star.

Right Tackle

1. TRJR Jean DeLance 6-5 309 North Mesquite HS, Mesquite, TX 4-star.
   
2. FR Michael Tarquin 6-5 290. North Marion HS, Citra, FL 4-star.

The starting five were mostly upperclassmen with plenty of experience, but their performance was rather underwhelming for such an experienced unit. Last year the Florida offensive line ranked #93 in “line yards per carry” with 2.38 (Clemson was #1 with 3.18, Ohio State and LSU were tied at #7 with 2.96), #115 in “standard down line yards”, #20 in “passing downs line yards per carry”, #117 in “power success rate”, #97 in “stuff rate”, and #53 in sack rate. The only statistical category where the offensive line shined was in "passing downs line yards per carry".

 

[Escambia94]

Here is the projected depth chart for 2020 (assume we have a season):

Left Tackle

1. RSR Stone Forsythe 6-6 315 West Orange HS, Winter Garden FL. 3-star.
   
2. GR Stewart Reese

Left Guard

1. RSO Richard Gouraige 6-5 250 Cambridge HS. Tampa, FL 4-star.
2. RFR Griffin McDowell 6-3 295 Leesburg GA
   
3. RSO TJ Moore 6'5" 290 Mallard Creek Charlotte NC 4-star.

Center

1. RJR Brett Heggie 6-4 290 Mount Dora HS, Mount Dora FL. 3-star.
2. FR Kingsley Eguakan 6-4 294 Jacksonville FL
   
3. RJR Tanner Rowell 6-2 298. Melbourne Senior HS, Melbourne, FL NR (former walk-on).

Right Guard

1. SO Ethan White 6-5 315. Superior Collegiate Academy. Clearwater, FL 4-star.
2. FR Joshua Braun 6-6 356 Suwanee FL
3. RJR Brett Heggie 6-4 290 Mount Dora HS, Mount Dora FL. 3-star.

Right Tackle

1. TRJR Jean DeLance 6-5 309 North Mesquite HS, Mesquite, TX 4-star.
   
2. FR Michael Tarquin 6-5 290. North Marion HS, Citra, FL 4-star.

 

[Escambia94]

Each of the starters had significant playing time in 2019 as a starter in the same position or another position on the line. For reference, here are all of the Gators available to play on the offensive line:


56 Jean Delance OL 6-4 314 Sr Mesquite, TX
72 Stone Forsythe OL 6-7 329 Jr Winter Garden, FL
76 Richard Gouraige OL 6-4 298 Soph Tampa, FL
61 Brett Heggie OL 6-4 330 Jr Mount Dora, FL
77 Ethan White OL 6-5 370 Soph Clearwater, FL
00 Stewart Reese OL 6-5 340 Grad Fort Pierce, FL
65 Kingsley Eguakun OL 6-4 294 Fr Jacksonville, FL
78 Josh Braun OL 6-6 356 Fr Suwannee, FL
70 Michael Tarquin OL 6-5 279 Fr Ocala, FL
74 Will Harrod OL 6-5 334 Fr Clinton, MD
58 Hayden Knighton OL 6-3 263 Fr North Fort Myers, FL
67 Richie Leonard OL 6-2 353 Fr Cocoa, FL
62 Griffin McDowell OL 6-3 295 Soph Leesburg, GA
75 T.J. Moore OL 6-5 305 Soph Charlotte, NC
50 Tanner Rowell OL 6-2 283 Sr Melbourne, FL
64 Riley Simonds OL 6-4 303 Fr Buford, GA
60 Da'Quan Thomas OL 6-2 316 Soph West Palm Beach, FL