Updating Florida football's blue-chip OL Tavaris Dice's injury status after spring season

USA Today

21-04-2025

Updating Florida football's blue-chip OL Tavaris Dice's injury status after spring season
Four-star offensive lineman Tavaris Dice, who flipped from the Auburn Tigers to the Florida Gators in the 2025 recruiting cycle, sustained a knee injury during the spring practice season that necessitated surgical intervention, according to a report from Gators Online.
The 6-foot-4-inch, 308-pound trench warrior out of Fairburn (Georgia) Langston Hughes, sustained the injury during the first week of spring practice while playing right tackle, according to the report. The coaching staff expects him to miss the 2025 campaign, but hopes that he will be healthy enough to participate in practice sessions during the season.
The possibility does exist that he could recover quickly enough to return late next fall, but it seems more likely that his redshirt status will be invoked, salvaging a year of his collegiate eligibility. Florida's depth on the O-line should be enough to keep the incoming freshman off the field, but if it is not, that would be bad news for the Gators all around.
TJ Dice scouting report
Dice is ranked No. 167 overall and No. 19 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite, while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 258 and 20, respectively.
"'First off the bus' type with broad-shouldered, long-armed build who wears existing mass exceptionally well," 247Sports scouting analyst Gabe Brooks' report begins.
"Gets off the line of scrimmage with quickness and shows encouraging bend relative to dimensions. Capable of leveraging under D-linemen and moving them off the ball. Natural drive blocker with promising run-game hand placement. Can play a bit tight through the hips and core, but appears to show better knee and ankle flexibility than many of his peers, especially in a combine setting," he continues.
"Displays some finishing nastiness at times. Still developing strength and punch power consistency, but capacity for both should be quite high given physical upside. Has shown agility to beat much lighter speed-oriented edge rushers on an island. Multi-sport foundation includes basketball, which fuels functional athleticism and movement ability," Brooks points out.
"Natural tackle who likely provides roster value as someone who probably could move inside if needed. Projects to the high-major level as a potential multi-year starter with physical tools and on-field context that suggest NFL draft upside."
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