Florida’s tight end room entered the season with more questions than noise, but after the Gators’ 66-21 win over FAU, it may be time to rethink that whole conversation.
The attention all offseason was easy to understand. Florida’s running back and wide receiver groups draw the headlines, and tight end was hit hard by turnover when Hayden Hansen and Tony Livingston both went into the transfer portal after accounting for a significant chunk of the position’s production in 2025. The Gators answered by adding six newcomers, a complete reset that left the room looking uncertain on paper.
That’s why this opener stood out so much. Florida’s tight ends didn’t just hold up against FAU - they looked like one of the most reliable parts of the offense.
Junior Amir Jackson set the tone. Known more for what he can do as a receiver, Jackson was excellent as a run blocker, finishing with an 83.2 run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus, the second-highest mark in the game. His best block may have come on a screen, not a run, when he sealed off a lane for Vernell Brown III on Florida’s first drive and helped spring an eight-yard gain.
Jackson ended the game with one catch for 14 yards on 25 snaps, but the blocking effort clearly caught the staff’s attention.
“If you watch Amir Jackson, the first thing when I came out of the game, I’m like, we got to find a way to make sure 7’s playing more,” offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner said. “That’s what the tape says, and the effort, the strain, and the ability, and he’s getting better and better every day, and embracing his role. He’s earned more, and so, which is a good problem for us.”
Luke Harpring added one of the more impressive plays of the night, making a tough 19-yard catch that showed off his hands and body control. He adjusted back to the ball and secured it while basically going down to the turf.
“It was an unbelievable catch. He actually played really fast - probably played the fastest he’s ever played,” Faulkner said on Harpring.
“That’s a testament to Coach McKissack and the way that he coaches those guys in every detail. But Luke played really good.
That catch was not an easy catch - not an easy throw. But he has elite ball skills for a guy at his position, and we’re excited about him.
He’s doing a great job.”
Senior Lacota Dippre also made his presence felt as a blocker in both phases, which is his calling card.
Then there was sophomore Micah Jones, who only needed 10 snaps to leave a mark. He graded as Florida’s highest-rated offensive player in Week 1 and also posted the team’s third-best run-blocking grade. On top of that, he caught a six-yard touchdown pass.
“Really all of them played good. Is there room for improvement?
Absolutely. And they’ll tell you the same thing.
And they’re getting coached as hard as any position out there,” Faulkner said on the tight end room.
The usage numbers back up the eye test. Florida lined up in 12 personnel on 43% of its snaps against FAU, according to Bud Davis, up from 38% in 2025. That kind of jump suggests the staff is more comfortable leaning into the position than it was a year ago.
The Gators were also efficient when they went to it, posting a .63 success rate and 0.45 expected points added per play out of 12 personnel.
It’s fair to keep the opponent in mind - FAU’s defense was one of the worst in the country last season - and there’s still sorting out to do with playing time. But the bigger point is hard to ignore. Florida came out of Week 1 looking a lot better at tight end than almost anyone expected, and the group appears to have made a fast leap under coach Evan McKissack.
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