Breaking: Gators Add Experienced Offensive Tackle
Gators land a commitment in the portal at a position that needed addressing
The Florida Gators did not hold any commitments from the NCAA Transfer Portal thus far heading into Sunday’s final official visitor weekend ahead the start of the recruitng ‘Dead Period’. That changed after landing a commitment from former San Diego State offensive tackle Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson. He’s coming off an official visit to Gainesville this past weekend, which allowed him to see enough and want to shut his second recruitment down.
The offensive line has been an area the Gators needed to get better at heading into next season. While they do hold four commitments from the high school level in their 2024 class, the need for experienced bodies has still been an important area to address.
The 6-foot-6, 310-pounder fits that bill of bringing experience to the Gators front line. Crenshaw-Dickson appeared in 37 games for the Aztecs over his playing career there. As a sophomore in 2021, Crenshaw-Dickson made 14 starts at right tackle. That season, he played 932 of the team’s 967 offensive snaps, the second most on the team. According to Pro Football Focus, Crenshaw-Dickson allowed just one sack in 403 passing chances in 2021. He made the move to left tackle for the 2022 season, starting 12 of the teams 13 games, but appeared in all 13. In 2023, the big lineman made 10 starts, with four of those appearances at right tackle and eight at left tackle. The best attribute about this addition is the fact that he has experience playing both tackle spots at the college level. He’s also been mentioned as a borderline NFL prospect, and he was preseason third-team all Mountain West this year.
Florida was active along in the Transfer Portal this past offseason, and added the teams starting right tackle from the 2023 season in Damieon George though there. Florida also added former Kentucky offensive tackle Kiyaunta Goodwin last offseason, but saw him depart from the program before the season started due to his mother getting sick. Florida also added former FIU offensive tackle Lyndell Hudson this past spring, but he had only one year of eligibility left to use for last season. Florida’s roster where it stands now at tackle, who have game experience, will return left tackle Austin Barber, the previously mentioned tight tackle George, and Kamryn Waites (started two games at right tackle in 2023). Florida also signed linemen Bryce Lovett and Caden Jones in the 2023 recruiting cycle, and while they were listed as offensive tackles by 247Sports coming out of high school, it’s unclear at this point if they will play on the outside or interior part of the front line in college. Florida also has a three of their four offensive line commits in the 2024 cycle listed as offensive tackles by 247Sports as well.
Crenshaw-Dickson was a former three-star prospect out of the 2019 recruiting class out of Harbor City (CA) Narbonne. He’s not yet received a 247Sports Transfer rating at this time.
