Gators 'Glue Guy' Taylor Spierto a Dying Breed in College Football

Story has been updated with quotes from Taylor Spierto's media availability on Wednesday.

GAINESVILLE, Fla.-- Every team needs an unheralded glue guy - a guy who the team looks to for consistency and who embraces his role, even if it isn't the most important role on the team.

For the Florida Gators, Taylor Spierto embodies that mentality.

"You don't hear his name a lot, but when you do, it's always something good," center Jake Slaughter said.

That was certainly the case in last week's upset over Texas.

Against the Longhorns, the fifth-year senior had arguably the biggest play of his career, blocking a punt that resulted in a safety and gave Florida a 19-7 lead over the Longhorns. It was the first punt Florida has blocked since 2021 and the first blocked punt that resulted in points since 2019.

"I mean, it's hard to put into words how much we work on those plays. I mean, there's so much time, effort and extra meetings with Coach (Joe) Houston, that I spend," Spierto explained Wednesday. "The stars need to align for it all to come through and happen. And so when that play got called and we saw them in the formation that we needed them to be in, and I was in a position to make the play, I was really just thinking about making the play.

"Once it happened, it was electric. I was fired up."

On Monday, Spierto was named Co-Special Teams Player of the Week by the SEC.

"Marquee moment for his career, just, and really a reflection of the type of program that we'd like to have in terms of - think about that guy. Who's to say five years from now, there'll be a guy like that," head coach Billy Napier said. "Probably won't be, right?"

🏈 SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week: WK 6

🐊 Taylor Spierto@GatorsFB x #SECFB pic.twitter.com/YyiGJnXeS5
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) October 6, 2025

Spierto first joined Florida as a walk-on receiver in 2021, but it would not be until 2023 that he carved out a role on the Gators' special teams units. Since then, he has appeared in 29 of Florida's last 30 games on special teams and as a reserve wide receiver.

The choice the join Florida as a walk-on, despite considerable interest from Division 2 schools, was the clear decision as the son of a former Gator. Spierto's father, John, played at Florida from 1984-88, also as a special teams contributor.

There also was not a plan B for Spierto. It was either he walks-on at Florida or he enrolls at UF as a regular student.

"When I got here, it was a dream to play for Florida. My dad played here back in the 80s. And so growing up, I just always wanted to play here," he said. "And so once I got on the team, it was like, I'll do whatever it takes to get that opportunity."

The recent opportunities are the culmination of years of behind-the-scenes work on Florida's scout team. His play in practice even earned him a nickname in his second season with the program from then-receivers coach Keary Colbert: "Dirty 30."

The nickname is a reflection of Spierto's No. 30 jersey as well as his willingness to do the "dirty work." It also sparked a confidence in Spierto that he carries with him to this day.

"I think Coach KC instilled a lot of confidence in me during that season and each coach after that has kind of continued on that," he said. "So my confidence was very solidified as a redshirt freshman walk-on. And so as I got more opportunities, I continued to just roll with it."

Florida Gators wide receiver Taylor Spierto willingness to do the dirty work earned him a nickname. | Matt Pendleton / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

He was placed on scholarship during the 2023 season, but 2025 has arguably been his most impressive season. In addition to the blocked punt, he also scored the first touchdown of his career with an 11-yard reception from Tramell Jones Jr. against Long Island.

"Everybody on the team loves Spierto," center Jake Slaughter said. "Everybody respects him, the way he works, and you talk to Coach (Joe) Houston about him, he brags on him all day long, he talks about how much he puts on Spierto, as far as our special teams units, something he takes pride in, and Florida is such a special place for him.

"Spierto is the kind of guy you would let your daughter marry, I couldn’t be more proud of him and happy for him. We love that guy.”

Spierto is also a dying breed. While most walk-ons are grandfathered into the roster, the NCAA is moving away from walk-ons with 105-player roster limits, all of whom are eligible for scholarships. The SEC limits scholarships to 85 but holds to the 105-player limit, leaving room for only 20 walk-ons.

"Maybe one of the last ones we see that actually showed up, got a chance to get into school here, paid his way, living his dream," Napier said. "And great example to a lot of guys on our team that, hey, doesn't matter where you start your career, you go earn opportunities to be on the field, and then when you do get them, you make the most of them."

As a result of the impending changes, and while they won't affect Spierto as he is in his final season, he takes the decision and his role as a representative for former walk-ons personally.

"The thing about that, the walk-on experience is gonna be completely different moving forward and to get the opportunity that I've had over these last five years and kind of be a representative of what it can look like to start as a walk-on and earn a scholarship and earn your role on the team, I am so grateful to get to be in this position," he said. "I thank God for him giving me this platform and this chance to put on what makes college football so special."

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