Freshman TE Heze Kent presents big upside for Florida football with mammoth size

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

The biggest curiosity in Florida football spring camp so far centers on a 6-foot-6, 313-pound true freshman with soft hands and long, lumbering strides.

There is thought that Heze Kent may eventually move to offensive tackle, but for now, the mammoth athlete from Brunswick, Georgia, is working out at tight end.

Florida Gators offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner is aware of the potential of Kent, having recruited Kent when he was offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech. A consensus 4-star recruit in the 2026 signing class by Rivals, 247 Sports and ESPN, Kent lined up at running back and tight end at Brunswick High School while also starring on the school's basketball team.

"He is extremely skilled for his size," Faulkner said. "He’s very fluid. He’s got as good of ball skills as anybody we got on the team. I think we all know that he’s a big boy and we’ve got to continue to develop him, and the offseason, and the season, and getting him down to where he can go out and have a chance to compete."

Kent's size makes him an intriguing option in short yardage and goal line situations.

"He can block you just by the way he was born," Faulkner said. "He can block you by birth. We’ve got to get that down where he can play a bunch of snaps for us. He’s a long way away, but he’s been one that’s improved every day over the last month.

"And look, he should be playing basketball right now in the playoffs at Brunswick High School. Those guys get here early, a lot of times when they get here it’s a shock to them, and I think it was a shock to him. But he’s a willing learner, and we just got to continue to work with him and continue to develop him and continue to grow him as a person as well.”

Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football TE Heze Kent presents big upside with combo of size, skills

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos