GAINESVILLE -- Florida offensive linemen Xavier Nixon, Matt Patchan and Dan Wenger could not be more different.
They have taken different paths filled with different hurdles. But if the Gators are going to have success on offense this year, they need all three to come together and do something they have never done: stay healthy.
Tasked with implementing a new offense under coordinator Charlie Weis, the line must be a cohesive unit. They must be physical, smart and athletic. Most of all, they have to stay on the field.
That last part is where it gets tricky. Several months ago, the three didn’t know if they would play this fall.
Likely the starter at left tackle when Florida opens the season against FAU on Sept. 3, Nixon lost 55 pounds. Doctors could not find a cause for his dramatic weight loss.
Penciled in as the starter at right tackle, Patchan, a redshirt junior, has dealt with myriad injuries. Problems with his knee, leg and, most recently, a hairline fracture in his wrist that required surgery, have limited the top recruit to appearances in just 15 games during four years Florida.
And after starting 13 games as a junior at Notre Dame, Wenger has not been the same. He dealt with multiple injuries, but the two concussions last season meant Wenger had to listen as the Irish’s training staff told him he wasn’t cleared to return to football.
But Nixon found his appetite — the 6-6 junior gained nearly all the weight he lost, now tipping the scales at 290 pounds. Patchan received a clean bill of health at the start of fall camp and has impressed coaches and teammates throughout. And Wenger sought a second opinion. After the NCAA granted him a sixth year of eligibility, Wenger decided to transfer. He received clearance from Florida’s training staff and joined the Gators in May.
Teammates are glad to have them.
Wenger, a Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas graduate who played under Weis and offensive line coach Frank Verducci while at Notre Dame, has been instrumental in helping his teammates acclimate to a new system.
“It’s just like having another coach Verducci around,” sophomore guard Jon Halapio said. “We all have questions, and he has the answers because he knows the playbook like the back of his hand.”
Speaking about Patchan, Nixon said: “He’s going to be the same player that I’ve seen since I’ve been here. He’s an explosive player off the ball. He’s real fiery.”
Defensive end Sharrif Floyd said Nixon stands out during practice and has been his toughest opponent in camp. Thanks in part to the resurgence of Patchan and Nixon, defensive tackle Jaye Howard said the offensive line will be greatly improved this season.
“I can really tell a difference from last year,” Howard said. “Last year they couldn’t even block me, but now they’re giving me a little run for my money.”
High praise considering Florida lost three starters to the NFL Draft. But quarterback John Brantley agreed, saying the knowledge and veteran presence on the offensive line has boosted his confidence.
None of that matters if they can’t stay in the lineup.
Florida has just 13 scholarship players on the offensive line. Coach Will Muschamp has reiterated the importance of the position since spring.
“Their movement, their toughness, what they bring to the table, we’re excited about that group. … We’ve got good players. It’s just [you would] just like to have a deeper group.”
And a healthy one.
