Florida OL Knijeah Harris Earns Preseason True Freshman All-American Honors

Photo: Knijeah Harris; Credit: Zach Goodall

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- In the midst of significant turnover to Florida's offensive line between the 2022-23 seasons, high expectations have been placed upon one of the team's youngest and newest blockers.

247Sports writer Chris Hummer named Gators guard Knijeah Harris to the outlet's Preseason True Freshman All-American team on Thursday.

Hummer projects each collegiate rookie on the list to, at some point, make an impact for their teams in 2023, and Harris is considered to be in a position to do so after UF saw eight members of its offensive line from a season ago depart to either the NFL Draft or the transfer portal.

Knijeah Harris has been named to the @247sports Preseason True Freshman All-American Team! 🐊#GoGators | #jOURney pic.twitter.com/VC98EID1Sh
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) August 18, 2023

Harris first emerged as a candidate to play sooner rather than later when junior guard and offseason Baylor transfer Micah Mazzccua suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery, placing the Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy product in Florida's first-team lineup and on 247Sports' radar.

Below is Hummer's reasoning for including Harris on the list:

Initially a first-team fill-in during the spring for injured guard Micah Mazzccua, Harris has emerged as a threat to start even with Mazzccua back in the fold. A sizable interior presence at 6-foot-3, 325 pounds, Harris looks like a multi-year offensive line starter for the Gators. It’s a matter of when — not if — Harris emerges as a significant contributor for Florida this season.

Harris has continued to receive first-team opportunities in Florida's fall camp, as a result of not only his rise in the spring but also injuries continuing to hinder members of the front five and some of its key reserves.

Namely, projected starting guard and redshirt sophomore Richie Leonard IV was limited for a stretch of practices with an undisclosed injury. Harris was vaulted into a first-team role again while Leonard was sidelined, and he impressed teammates and coaches across those reps.

“I think it just comes natural to him," Gators left tackle and redshirt sophomore Austin Barber said about Harris' understanding of offensive line play on Aug. 1.

"Playing at IMG with the best coaches in high school football, a lot of them guys worked in college and they got some in the NFL. That’s what he really benefitted from, learning the college mindset, college plays, stuff like that and I think coming in, I think it was easy to him and I think it’s shown.”

Harris is also a candidate for practice reps at center after incumbent starter Kingsley Eguakun suffered a lower-body injury during Wednesday's practice.

Harris was a four-year varsity starter in high school, including three seasons as the left guard for IMG Academy. The 247Sports composite rankings considered Harris to be the No. 36 interior offensive lineman in the recruiting class of 2023.

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