Florida’s offseason shopping trip to Georgia Tech is still bothering Brent Key.
That much came through when the Yellow Jackets’ coach was asked Tuesday about the center position and the instability Georgia Tech has dealt with there in recent seasons. Key didn’t spend much time pretending it was an ongoing issue.
“Just last year it was. Last year it really was.
You want to get me really started? You already know the answer to that question.”
One of the players at the center of that frustration appears to be Harrison Moore, who is now at Florida after leaving Georgia Tech. Moore logged 692 snaps for the Yellow Jackets last year, including 427 at center, while also bouncing between center and guard.
What makes the reaction a little surprising is that Moore didn’t leave Georgia Tech with a reputation as a disaster. Georgia Tech’s own coverage last October described his progress in positive terms, and offensive line coach, who is now at Nebraska, said, “And let's be honest, Harrison (Moore) played half the game, the last four to five games of the season, and played well.”
Still, there’s clearly some resentment tied to how Florida pieced together its offensive line haul. Moore was one of the Georgia Tech players who followed offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner to Florida, and Key himself was also a rumored candidate for the Gators’ job before they hired Jon Sumrall.
Georgia Tech’s answer at the position is expected to be Alabama transfer Joseph Ionata, a former three-star recruit who barely saw the field across two seasons with the Crimson Tide.
Is Ionata an upgrade over Moore? On paper, no. But if that comparison helps Georgia Tech sleep a little easier, that’s probably where this story is headed.
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Floridas New O-Lineman Brings A Gators Family Tie Fans Will Love
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There is also a family tie that will play well with Gators fans, as Shanahan is the cousin of Jon Halapio, the former Florida offensive lineman who went on to play in the NFL. For a program always looking to strengthen the front and reconnect with its own history, Shanahan brings more than just transfer experience, and his next steps in orange and blue will be worth watching as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]