Alright so I was sitting there Sunday afternoon, coffee in hand, scrolling through Gator forums and man, it hit me – we’ve got a new season coming up fast. Everyone’s talking about quarterback this, receiver that, but who’s catching those tough throws over the middle? Tight ends, folks. Those big bodies blocking and sneaking out for passes. I realized I had no clue who the main guys were gonna be this year, seriously. Kept seeing names tossed around but couldn’t pin down who mattered most.
So I decided, right then, needed to figure this out proper. Grabbed my laptop, fired up the browser, and just dove in headfirst. Started with the university’s official roster page – always gotta begin with the source, right? Scrolled down past the QBs, RBs, past all those flashy receivers. Boom, found the tight end section. Saw like eight names listed. Eight! My first thought? “No way all these dudes are getting real playing time.”
Next stop was last season’s stats. Pulled up the 2023 season results page. Clicked through game by game, focusing only on the tight end stats. Noticed something quick – Arlis Boardingham showed up a bunch. Saw his name over and over, especially against Tennessee and South Carolina. Had that touchdown grab against LSU too, popped right out. Seemed like he’d been the go-to guy sometimes. Kept reading, saw Hayden Hansen’s name pop up too, mostly on blocking plays I think.
Got stuck here for a bit though. Stats don’t tell you everything, like who the coaches really trust in practice, who fits the new plays they cooked up over the summer. That insider juice, you know? Figured I needed actual reporting. Searched hard on sports news sites. Found a bunch of articles mentioning the “battle for starting tight end.” One name kept appearing near the top: Keon Zipperer. Saw phrases like “experienced” and “reliable hands,” stuff that makes you think the coaches lean on him. He’s been around, seems like.
Another name jumped out completely new: Tony Livingston. Freshman. Big articles hyping his size and athleticism, calling him a “red-zone threat.” Definitely a name to stash away. Found some old recruiting headlines about him, way before he signed.
Got maybe a bit too deep then. Read some forum posts… mistake honestly. Fans arguing about who’s better between this kid or that kid, based on practice rumors from last March. Shut that down quick. Need facts, not just noise.
Started scribbling names down on a scrap piece of paper, grouping them. Who played most games last year? Who gets quoted by the beat writers? Who’s the physical freak? Cross-referenced everything I gathered:
- Arlis Boardingham: Kept seeing his stats and video clips. Led the group in receiving yards last year. Looks solid.
- Keon Zipperer: All the reports talk about him like he’s a locker room leader. Fifth-year guy now.
- Tony Livingston: Rookie hype train is real. Redshirted last year, coach pressers mention him needing to step up. Big body.
Hayden Hansen: Mostly blocking specialist vibes last year, but kept seeing him mentioned as a steady presence. Knows the system.
Andrew Savaiinaea: Freshman name popped up surprisingly often in depth chart discussions lately. Athletic, apparently learning quick. Wildcard?
Stepped back, looked at my messy notes. Felt like I had the contenders. Zipperer feels like the vet anchor, Boardingham the main receiving threat now. Livingston is that exciting new piece, Hansen the grinder blocker, and Savaiinaea maybe pushing for snaps too. Didn’t feel like I unearthed some huge secret, just pieced together the puzzle from the official info and what the beat guys are consistently saying.
Slammed the laptop shut. Took maybe two hours, felt longer bouncing between sites, filtering the real stuff from the fluff. Bottom line? Boardingham and Zipperer are probably your one-two punch to start, with Tony L. bringing the heat as a big red-zone target. Hansen’s there blocking, and Savaiinaea… we’ll see. Definitely five names to keep your eye on when camp starts. Feels clearer now.
