Arlis Boardingham making himself at home with Gators at tight end

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Redshirt freshman tight end Arlis Boardingham is, as Billy Napier describes him, a unique player for the Florida Gators. Not only because of Boardingham’s ability, but his home state.

Last season, he become the first UF high school signee from California on an official fall roster since Ronald Powell, whose last year was 2013. The Gators signed cornerback Chris Steele in the 2019 class, but he transferred to USC after his first spring.

Boardingham officially visited Florida just over a month after Napier was hired. He then took a trip to Oregon and postponed his decision on National Signing Day. A week later, he committed to the Gators as the final addition to Napier’s first recruiting class.

“Just Billy Napier,” Boardingham said when asked what brought him to UF. “I believed in this program. I believed in what he said, just trusted the process that he preached.

“He said how I’m going to develop, I’m going to be a unique player — that’s what he says all the time — that can help this team tremendously.”

Boardingham did just that last week against Charlotte. He made his first career start and scored Florida’s only touchdown of the game on a 6-yard catch to cap Florida’s opening drive.

Boardingham did a great job of selling the run on the play action pass, going to block the outside linebacker before leaving the line of scrimmage and getting wide open.

“The first touchdown in The Swamp, it’s something I definitely will remember forever,” Boardingham said. “To earn that (start), it definitely came in practice. … My last week of practice I definitely stepped my game up in terms of what I need to do to get on the field.”

Boardingham, who also caught a 25-yard pass late in the fourth quarter, celebrated his first career TD with a nifty dance in the end zone. He saw the move on TikTok the day before.

“It looked cool, so I just tried to do it,” Boardingham said. “Took 10-15 minutes (to learn).”

Learning how to play the tight end position has been a much longer process for Boardingham, who played wide receiver in high school. How often was he asked to block?

“Never,” he said. “I didn’t play tight end. I was more of a wide out, so I was running routes all day.”

Boardingham developing as a tight end

Boardingham played in one game last season, making his collegiate debut against No. 14 Oregon State in the Las Vegas Bowl. After redshirting as a freshman, his goal this offseason was to establish himself as a blocker.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Boardingham credits Florida’s tight ends and his position coach, Russ Callaway, for showing him the ropes.

“I know I’m known for being a receiving tight end and someone who can get open in spaces and do stuff with linebackers, but I wanted to be able to show that I can block people as well,” Boardingham said. “I feel like I’ve improved a lot. I definitely think that’s due to coaching as well as the tight ends in the room. Dante [Zanders], Keon [Zipperer], all of them have helped me out of the little things on blocking that I may not have known.

“Seeing how I didn’t play in my first year, just letting me know the little things and small details. … I think Coach Russ is a coach that helped me develop more mentally and physically, but helped me a long way in the meeting rooms just understanding the real small details. The minute things that most people really won’t critique you on, he’ll let you know.”

Boardingham made significant strides during his first spring on campus and began showing signs in fall camp that he could be potential breakout player at tight end.

He’s continued to make progress at the position through the first month of the season, said Napier, who rewarded Boardingham last week by giving him his first start.

“I thought he had the best week of practice that he’s had. [Jonathan] Odom was a little bit banged up and we decided to sit him, and Arlis stepped up and played really well in the game. I’m proud of Arlis,” Napier said after the Charlotte game.

“He made some plays, touchdown, big play late. We think he can be a mismatch player. The guy was a unique receiver/linebacker in high school. He’s really developing nicely. … I think he’s got a bright future in front of him.”

Two of the last three recruits Florida signed from California transferred back home to USC, along with former cornerback Josh Shaw.

Boardingham has made himself at home in Gainesville — and at the tight end position.

“Florida’s just … in my mind, it feels like California times two,” he said. “Everything is just a little more. If everyone in California is a little more relaxed, I feel like everyone in Florida has a tad bit more energy. But I love it here, and I don’t think I would want to be in any other place right now.”