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Darnell Stapleton added to Florida Gators coaching staff

Untitled designby:Nick de la Torre•12/10/21•

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Billy Napier is bringing another Louisiana assistant coach with him to Gainesville.

Friday Napier announced the hire of Darnell Stapleton as an assistant coach, coaching the offensive line. Stapleton spent one year with Louisiana. Prior to the 2021 season, he coached the offensive line at Sam Houston State.

Stapleton will be the first of two coaches brought on to work with the offensive line, according to Napier.

“We’ll have an offensive line coach and an assistant offensive line coach,” Napier said in his introductory presser. “When you’re coaching offensive line, you’ve got to coach five players. Nobody’s got one coach coaching five DBs. I don’t know why you wouldn’t have two guys coaching the offensive line.”

Stapleton’s unit blocked for 2021 Sun Belt Conference Championship Game MVP Levi Lewis, who compiled 2,646 yards of passing, the second-best in the league, threw the third-most touchdowns in the conference (19), and ranked fifth with 203.5 passing yards per game through 13 games. On the ground, Louisiana’s offensive line helped the Ragin’ Cajuns to 31 rushing touchdowns and 2,496 rushing yards, ranking 14th and 24th respectively in the nation, while placing second and third in the conference in 13 games.

Stapleton was a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2007 to 2010 and was on the squad that won Super Bowl XLIII at the conclusion of the 2008 campaign. He started 18 games on the offensive line during his time in Pittsburgh, including the Super Bowl. Overall, he played in 26 career games with the Steelers.

This is the sixth assistant that Florida has announced to Napier’s first coaching staff. Patrick Toney (Co-Defensive coordinator/safeties), Jabbar Juluke (running backs), Corey Raymond (cornerbacks), Mark Hocke (strength and conditioning), and Ryan O’Hara (offensive analyst/quarterbacks) were previously announced.

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