Florida Gators

Former Gator, Cheston Blackshear enters his second season on the Gators staff after being hired in the role of quality control - offensive line prior to the 2022 season.
 
Prior to Florida, he spent four seasons (2018-21) at Dartmouth where he was the offensive tackles and tight ends coach. In 2019, he developed offensive line convert Jake Guidone and helped become one of the best blocking tight ends in the conference, earning honorable mention without catching a pass. In 2021, Blackshear coached two all-conference tight ends in J.J. Jones III and Robbie Mangas.
 
Blackshear was in the same role at Nevada from 2014-17, New Mexico 2009-12 and at Columbia during 2006-08. He also was the tight ends coach at Georgetown for the 2013 season and a graduate assistant at Illinois in 2005. Blackshear began his coaching career at Florida as a graduate assistant from 2002-04. 
 
A native of Jacksonville, he guided Lucas Reed to Freshman All-America honors in 2009 and was selected as a candidate for the John Mackey Award (Most Outstanding Tight End). Also at UNM, he coached former NFL offensive lineman Byron Bell.
 
He has participated in the Bill Walsh Intern Program and worked with the Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins in training camp.
 
Blackshear was a four-time letter winner for the Gators playing 41 games with 28 starts from 1995-1999. A member of the 1996 National Championship team, he was tabbed both a 1999 Coaches’ and AP Second-Team All-SEC selection and awarded the Fergie Ferguson Award his senior year. 
 
Following graduation, he signed with the Carolina Panthers and then played guard for the Orlando Rage of the XFL from 2000-01 and helped them lead the league in rushing. Blackshear was an All-State and Super Prep All-American at Ed White High as well, becoming the first offensive lineman ever awarded Player of the Year honors by the Florida Times-Union.