Florida OL Kingsley Eguakun Accepts Shrine Bowl Invitation
Florida center Kingsley Eguakun on Wednesday accepted an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl, the prospect all-star game announced via social media.
Although Eguakun has yet to make his acceptance official on his own, the acknowledgment suggests the offensive lineman will enter the 2024 NFL Draft rather than utilize his redshirt senior, sixth season of collegiate eligibility next year.
Eguakun, a product of Jacksonville (Fla.) Sandalwood from the recruiting class of 2019, was UF's starting snapper for 26 successive games entering the 2023 campaign, first taking the position over in 2021. He was the lone returning starter on UF's offensive line this year due to multiple NFL Draft and transfer portal departures from the roster.
However, Eguakun suffered a right ankle injury on Aug. 16 during Florida's 2023 fall training camp, forcing him to miss the team's remaining preseason practices and the first two contests of the season. He was observed wearing a boot during those matchups.
Although he's gone on to appear in four games throughout the season — against Tennessee in Week 3, Kentucky in Week 5, Georgia in Week 9 and Arkansas in Week 10 — Eguakun has aggravated the injury multiple times.
Eguakun suffered a "setback" against the Volunteers and was not playing at 100% health versus the Wildcats, leading the center to exit each game, head coach Billy Napier shared in the wake of those aggravations. He went back down against the Bulldogs and Razorbacks, leaving the contest in the early fourth quarter in Week 9 and going to the locker room prematurely before returning to play in the second half in Week 10.
Although he has continued to be listed as a starter and has been absent from the injury report since, Eguakun served as a backup to redshirt sophomore Jake Slaughter in Weeks 12-13.
Over 30 starts and several appearances as a backup, Eguakun has logged 1,993 offensive snaps with 1,046 as a pass protector and 947 as a run blocker during his time at Florida. All but nine of those reps were at center.
Pro Football Focus credits Eguakun for allowing only one sack in his college career.
Eguakun is the second Florida player to accept a prospect bowl game invitation this year, following wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who is heading to the Reese's Senior Bowl following the season.
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