Billy Napier Updates Injuries For Florida's Micah Mazzccua, Keon Zipperer
Photo: Billy Napier; Credit: Zach Goodall
A pair of contributors to Florida's offense will be sidelined for the foreseeable future due to injuries suffered in spring camp, head coach Billy Napier clarified on Tuesday evening.
Micah Mazzccua, a fourth-year offensive lineman who transferred into the program from Baylor in January, recently underwent surgery on an undisclosed injury, per Napier. The Gators' projected starter at left guard has been absent from spring practice since March 23 while tending to the wound.
"Micah, he was injured," Napier explained. "We ended up doing an MRI. He has some injury prior injury that was kind of uncovered right, something that's happened in the past for him ... this is going to set him back. He had surgery just a few days ago and he will be in return to play protocol. We'll hopefully get him back in training camp."
Mazzccua's absence has been, at least temporarily, notable for more than simply his injury, however.
Mazzccua tweeted plans to re-enter the transfer portal on the evening of his first missed practice, thanking Napier and UF's coaching staff before suggesting the move would be "best for me." The tweet was deleted by Friday morning, and All Gators confirmed that Mazzccua remained with the team at the time.
In accordance with NCAA guidelines, Mazzccua would not have been able to enter the transfer portal until its "window" opens from April 15-30. Given his status as a non-graduate, Mazzccua would have been forced to sit out of the 2023 season if he were to transfer for a second time.
"Tough dynamic, right?" Napier explained the situation, suggesting injuries are challenges that can put a player in a "bad place."
"Yeah, I think a lot going on there behind the scenes ... But, you know, 15 years ago, you would have never known about that. The kid goes just through a tough time and certainly injuries are a challenge, right? And, you know, we're hopeful Micah makes a healthy return and we’re going to help him and support him through his rehab and all the things that come with an injury these days."
Napier propped junior Richie Leonard IV, redshirt sophomore Jake Slaughter, redshirt freshman Christian Williams, and freshmen Knijeah Harris and Roderick Kearney up among the group of interior offensive linemen he has confidence in, asked about opportunities arising up front in the wake of Mazzccua's surgery.
He noted that redshirt sophomore Kamryn Waites and redshirt freshman Jalen Farmer are currently nursing various injuries.
Napier also commented on a knee injury that required surgery for fifth-year senior tight end Keon Zipperer, who posted about the operation on social media last Friday. Zipperer suffered the wound during practice the day before, after Thursday's media viewing window.
"It will be a significant amount of time for him to return and play,” Napier said about Zipperer.
An already thin group in terms of experience, Zipperer's injury should vault redshirt senior and former defensive end Dante Zanders into the uncontested role of starting tight end entering the 2023 season.
Who will step up behind him as a steady contributor is to be determined, although Napier was pleased with performances from a trio of underclassmen at the position during the team's first scrimmage on Tuesday: Redshirt freshmen Arlis Boardingham and Hayden Hansen and grayshirt freshman Tony Livingston.
"The tight end group in particular today I thought caught the ball well, ran after the catch well," Napier said. "We'll see where we're at in the blocking game and the run game, but for the most part Arlis made some plays today, Hayden Hansen made some plays, Tony Livingston made some plays. There was a lot of positives out there with the tight end group."
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