Billy Napier provides update on injured playmakers

Spring practice is nearing an end of the Florida Gators, with their spring game set for this Thursday April 13. But one position group that may be thin for the Gators is tight end, where they’ve suffered from numerous injuries.

Head coach Billy Napier gave a pair of injury updates regarding his tight ends starting with redshirt senior Dante Zanders.

“Zanders just has an AC sprain, nothing significant there, just the contact,” Napier said. “Fell down, caught a ball, landed. He’ll be back, he may not make it back by Thursday but it’s not a long term issue.”

Zanders appeared in all 13 games for the Gators last season and made seven starts, ending the year with 10 catches for 75 yards. He spent the first two seasons of his career as a tight end before making the switch to defensive line. He made 11 tackles in his two seasons as an defensive lineman before making the switch back to tight end and proving his value as a pass catcher last season.

It sounds like Zanders may not participate in the Florida’s Orange and Blue spring game, but at least he’ll likely be good to go for the season.

This is still in question for Gators tight end Jonathan Odom, who’s still recovering from a serious knee injury sustained in last year’s bowl game. Napier spoke on Odom’s injury and the likelihood of him being in the lineup for Florida’s opening game against Utah in September.

“I do think that Odom is anticipated to be kind of right on that line. He’s working extremely hard, one thing about Odom he’s very smart,” Napier said. “When forced into playing time last year at the end of the year he really emerged so there’s something to be said about that experience and then I think he’s bright enough. I mean think about just a couple years ago we missed spring practice, we still had a season. So sometimes I have to remind my coaches of that.

Odom came on late to the scene for the Gators last year. In the last four weeks of the season injuries allowed him to emerge, and in that span he seven receptions for 69 yards and two touchdown catches (which lead all Florida tight ends).

He proved he can be a valuable weapon for the Gators when healthy, and even if his main focus is currently on his rehab, can still shine for Florida when the season comes around and he’s is ready to roll.