GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Jadan Baugh has given Florida plenty to celebrate through three games, and tight end Lacota Dippre has found his own way to be part of the show.
Baugh’s SEC-leading 458 rushing yards have been one of the Gators’ biggest early-season bright spots, and Dippre has embraced the dirty work that helps make those runs go. After Florida’s game-sealing 53-yard touchdown run against Auburn, Dippre was the one clearing space in front of Baugh and flattening Eric Winters along the way.
“Obviously, he’s a proven player, and it’s like alright. Then we got to Week 1, Week 2 and I went up to him on the sideline, I’m like, 'Bro you’re different. It’s a pleasure to block for you,'” Dippre said.
The transfer from James Madison hasn’t recorded a catch this season, but Florida has still found plenty of value in him. His blocking has made him one of the Gators’ most reliable tight ends, and his role has been especially obvious in the run game. On Monday, Dippre said offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner kept the instruction simple when preparing the touchdown play this week: “follow Dipp.”
“It’s funny because all week, honestly, you run your plays probably three or four times, depending on the play, going into the week, make sure you get different looks," Dippre said. "... So when we called the play, I was like, alright, I got to make something shake, and it just all worked out, stuck my head into it.”
Dippre’s comfort with this kind of role didn’t come out of nowhere. He started his college career at Charlotte in 2023 before moving to defensive end in 2024, and those two seasons with the 49ers ended with an 8-16 record. He called that stretch “devastating.”
That frustration pushed him into the transfer portal and eventually to James Madison, where everything changed fast. Last season, he started 13 of 14 games, caught 17 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns, and helped the Dukes reach the CFP.
That run also changed how he views his place in an offense.
“I just wanted to go somewhere to win. Like I’m sick of losing," he said.
"I want to be in the locker room singing the fight song wherever I’m at, enjoying it with my brothers and everything. So once it comes down to do it, I play to win.
I could care less for the ball anymore.”
Florida’s tight end room entered the season as one of the team’s bigger question marks, but it has settled in with a mix of new faces and growing roles. Of the four tight ends who play, three are transfers, while Amir Jackson is a multi-year backup in his first season with extensive playing time.
Georgia Tech transfer Luke Harpring has become Florida’s best all-around tight end. Jackson has improved as a blocker while still bringing athleticism to the room. New Haven transfer Evan Chieca returned from injury last week and is working into the mix in multi-tight end packages.
Dippre has carved out his own niche as the heavy hitter in the group. He blocked on two of Baugh’s three touchdowns against FAU and delivered a violent pancake block on a pull during a long run. Through three games, Dippre has been on the field for seven of Baugh’s eight touchdowns.
Even when Florida does throw, Dippre is often asked to stay in and protect. His lone catch against Auburn was wiped out by a penalty, and he was also on the field as a blocker when Kahliel Jackson threw a double pass to Amir Jackson.
“I love pass protection. I actually enjoy it," he said.
"I don’t get too caught up with not being heavily involved in the pass game. I just get caught up on the score and winning football games.”
Sumrall said Dippre’s work against the Camels two weeks ago earned him the team’s offensive player of the week honors, and added that his toughness and physical style have given the offense “an edge... that we've needed.” Faulkner echoed that view, saying Dippre’s mindset has helped the whole team.
"One thing he brings is a totally different mentality that you need to be a good football team. He brings that, he’s won games before," Faulkner said last week. "He knows what winning looks like, he brings it every day."
Now Florida sits at 3-0 with No. 4 Ole Miss coming to the Swamp on Saturday, and that edge figures to matter even more as the Gators try to keep the early momentum rolling.
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