Ex-Gator Phil Trautwein to become UF offensive line coach

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GAINESVILLE — Former Gator Phil Trautwein is expected to join new UF coach Jon Sumrall to coach the Gators’ offensive line, where Trautwein lined up at left tackle for national championship teams in 2006 and ’08.

Trautwein, who played at UF from 2004-08, has worked since 2020 at Penn State, where he became one of the nation’s more respected O-line coaches. He developed seven NFL draft picks, including 2024 first-round tackle Olu Fashanu and third-rounder Caedan Wallace at tackle.

Trautwein became available when Penn State fired head coach James Franklin in October.

Trautwein spent two seasons (2018-19) as offensive line coach at Boston College, coaching 2019 first-round pick Chris Lindstrom, a guard drafted by the Atlanta Falcons. Trautwein coached tight ends and special teams at Davidson in 2016-17 after he was a graduate assistant in 2013-15 at Boston College.

The 39-year-old New Jersey native takes over a position group with mixed results under former UF head coach Billy Napier, whose unconventionally assigned two assistant coaches to coach the position the past four seasons.

UF produced two All-America offensive lineman recently, guard O’Cyrus Torrence in 2022 and center Jake Slaughter in 2024. But tackle Austin Barber struggled to become a force after he shined as a redshirt freshman in 2022, when UF averaged 5.51 yards per carry — seventh nationally — and yielded just 17 sacks.

Meanwhile, Baylor transfer guard Micah Mazzccua transferred again after a poor 2023 season and Alabama transfer Damieon George had to move from right tackle to guard after committing eight penalties that season.

The 2024 Gators improved vastly, allowing 20 sacks, 19 fewer than `23. But the run game, the backbone of Napier’s attack, finished ninth in the SEC, down from eighth.

Entering 2025, Pro Football Focus ranked the Gators the nation’s No. 4 O-line. But Slaughter and Barber, both preseason first-team All-SEC selection, and the overall unit generally underwhelmed for an offense last in the SEC with an average of 21.6 points and a run game ranked 11th in the SEC.

Sophomore Jadan Baugh did become the school’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2015, culminating with a 266-yard day during a 40-21 win Nov. 29 against Florida State to give the sophomore 1,170 yards and earn him second-team All-SEC honors.

Trautwein will replace Rob Sale and Jonathan Decoster, who replaced Darnell Stapleton after the 2023 season.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

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