GAINESVILLE, Fla. —
Kingsley Eguakun knows future assignments will arrive with additional baggage.
The No. 12-ranked Gators host No. 20 Kentucky on Saturday night in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams. The 6-foot-3, 301-pound Eguakun, Florida's starting center, needs only to look at the Wildcats' depth chart to see the scale light up. Kentucky packs a combined 641 pounds at nose guard, with first-teamer
Justin Rogers (6-3, 332 pounds) and backup
Josaih Hayes (6-3, 309) both outweighing Eguakun.
"They are obviously bigger,'' Eguakun said this week. "SEC defensive linemen."
In last week's upset of then-No. 7 Utah, Eguakun made one of the key plays of the game when he tossed Utes defensive tackle
Tennessee Pututau (6-2, 277) to the ground and out of the way of quarterback
Anthony Richardson. The block opened a wide lane for Richardson to scamper for a 45-yard touchdown to put the Gators ahead for the first time right before halftime. Eguakun took on a double-team at the start of the play, then moved toward the middle of the field while engaged with Pututau, finally gaining leverage.
A redshirt sophomore who enrolled at UF out of Jacksonville Sandalwood, Eguakun centers a Gators offensive line that played well against the Utes. Florida rushed for 283 yards, topped by Richardson's 106.
The Wildcats have improved significantly under head coach
Mark Stoops over the last decade, taking on the former defensive coordinator's toughness and determination. Another good game by the offensive line will only improve Florida's chances of winning back-to-back games against ranked opponents to start the season for the first time since 1982.
Here is a Q&A with Eguakun as he prepares for his 15th consecutive start:
KINGSLEY EGUAKUN Q&A
Q: What was the experience of beating No. 7 Utah in season opener like for you guys?
A: I mean, obviously it was good to go out there and win, but we've got another game this week to focus on, get ready for. It's a very important game. We've got to focus up, go handle business. It was cool, but on to the next.
Q: How did you feel after playing every snap against Utah?
A: I was expecting it, so I wasn't really shocked or anything. It was good, I guess. I was happy to be on the field with my guys. I was expecting to be on the field with my guys. I was expecting to be on the field the whole game, so nothing new.
Q: Do you guys talk much about last year's Kentucky game?
A: I mean, sometimes. It's not like something we're scared to talk about. We talk about it sometimes, but we know what we've got to do this week. There's a lot on the line and we want to handle business.
Center Kingsley Eguakun has started 14 consecutive games for the Gators. (Photo: Isabella Marley/UAA Communications)
Q: How are you guys blocking out the No. 12 ranking in the AP poll after not being ranked last week?
A: That's great. I'm happy to be ranked No. 12 right now, that's cool. But like I said, at the end of the day, onto the next because you've got to beat them to keep going up. And if you don't, you know what happens. That's cool and all, it's fun to see it, but at the end of the day we've got to go handle business.
Q: Did Anthony Richardson surprise you out there?
A: I already know what you're talking about. [Richardson's pump fake, spin move on two-point conversion]. But honestly, we saw that I think twice during camp. When he did it we were obviously like, 'Dang, he did it in a game.' But he did in practice before, so it wasn't that crazy. But it was impressive. Actually, I didn't even see it. I'm tripping. I watched it on my phone.
Q: Does Richardson ever make you go 'wow' during a play?
A: On the field, I'm going to be honest with you, I'm locked in. I'm not paying attention to anything that's going on with anybody except the O-line and the defense. But, I mean, I definitely get happy when he goes and runs for 50 yards. That gets me off the field a little bit quicker.
Q: Did the O-line coaches praise you for your block that helped spring Richardson loose on the 45-yard touchdown run?
A: They were excited on the sideline because it was a touchdown. I don't know if it was necessarily because of what I did that they were excited. But when we got in the film room, they obviously gave me my props and whatnot. But it was cool. Just doing my job.
Q: Did you guys notice former coach Dan Mullen picking you fourth in SEC East?
A: Oh yeah, for sure.
Q: Was it a big talking point?
A: Not really. We joked about it the day it came out, but at the end of the day, when you go play and win games, it doesn't matter what anybody has to say.
Q: What does it feel like for the coaches to put the game on the offensive line's shoulders?
A: I'm going to be honest, that's how we feel it needs to go in our room. In our room, we personally feel like if it's on our back, we're good. Because we got veterans in the room. We've got guys who've played ball and know what's going on. We got monsters. When I say that, I really mean that. We got dogs in that room. So, we're really comfortable when Coach does things like that. Because at the end of the day, we still got Ant back there. It's on all of us for real. But when he puts it on us, that makes me more comfortable than it being in someone else's hands.
