Gators center Kingsley Eguakun to play in East-West Shrine Bowl, turning pro
Florida Gators center Kingsley Eguakun has accepted an invitation to play in the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl, it was announced Wednesday from the game’s feed on X.
Eguakun, a member of the 2019 recruiting class at Florida, is from Jacksonville (Fla.) Sandalwood. Although injuries have derailed much of his redshirt junior season in Gainesville, he has been a valuable member of the Gators’ offensive line in recent seasons.
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Technically, Eguakun could return for another season. But this announcement indicates he won’t be back for another go in 2024.
The 99th East-West Shrine Bowl will be played Feb. 1 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
Here are some notes about Eguakun’s career in Gainesville from his official page at FloridaGators.com.
Kingsley Eguakun has been a significant contributor in Gainesville
2023: Has made four starts at center this season while missing six games due to injury, totaling 246 snaps on the Gators offensive line… Started in Week 10 against Arkansas (Nov. 4) and Week 9 vs. Georgia (Oct. 28)… Returned to the starting offensive line in Week 5 at Kentucky after a one-week absence… Earned the start at center in the Week 3 victory over No. 11 Tennessee.
2022: Started in all 13 games at center… Member of the offensive lineman that didn’t allow a sack at Vanderbilt (Nov. 19)… Paved the way for 374 rushing yards against South Carolina (Nov. 12)… Anchored an offensive line that blocked for 594 total yards and five touchdowns at Tennessee (Sept. 24)… Blocked for 217 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns against South Florida (Sept. 17)… Part of a line that did not allow a sack vs. Utah (Sept. 3).
2021: Started in all 13 games at center… Helped the offense stay in the top-16 in total offense all year… Part of a line that only allowed 14 sacks/1.08 per game, tied for the seventh-lowest in FBS and second in the SEC… Blocked for Florida’s 717 total yards of offense vs. Samford (Nov. 13), which ranked second all-time in program history and third-most by a team this season… Anchored a line that led Florida to rank 23rd nationally in rushing yards per game (208.7)… Gators averaged 5.5 yards per carry to rank first in the SEC and fourth in the country… Named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.
Eguakun’s earned his bachelor’s degree in criminology in the fall of 2022. He has three-times been a member of the SEC fall academic honor roll.
