The Gators often like to develop their offensive lineman by starting them on the interior to gain SEC experience and moving them out to tackle as the previous generation of lineman depart the program. Therefore, the lineman who fit the scheme best are those with the toughness and mobility to have real guard/tackle versatility.

Versatility is exactly what makes Qae’shon Sapp appealing to the Florida coaching staff. He’s not exactly a highly coveted college prospect, but he’s being fought over by Florida, Florida State, Georgia, and Cincinnati. The Seminoles are generally considered the leaders in his recruitment, but the Gators are making a push to bring him to the Swamp.

Strength isn’t a problem for Sapp, who maxed 320 pounds on the bench press and a 655-pound squat as a junior. Take a look at this highlight – he latches onto an opposing rusher and drives him past the sideline.

Although he plays the tackle position as a high schooler, there is some question as to whether he’ll have what it takes to protect the edge in the NCAA. Rivals’ ranking system doesn’t even call him a tackle, he’s been preemptively labeled a guard. Sapp has also tinkered at center, saying that his “snaps are beautiful.”

“My official was great and they are quickly moving to the top,” said Sapp in a message to Swamp247 after visiting the Gators last weekend.

“They were telling me how I can help their offensive line,” he said after talking to Florida coach John Hevesy in early June. “By me being such a versatile player on the front line and being able to play multiple positions on the line.”

The bottom line is that the Gators need to add talent to their offensive line. Most publications point toward Tyler Booker as a key recruit for Florida in this class for that very reason, he’s an offensive tackle who is primed to make a quick impact on the SEC.

However, it’s also important for the Gators to mine the huge quarry of less-heralded recruits to find contributors. That’s exactly what Sapp could be for the team in a few years. He’s not star material, but he doesn’t need to be a star. He just needs to capably fill a role along the offensive front, which has been an unnervingly difficult thing for Gators lineman to accomplish in recent seasons.