Florida offensive lineman named to Senior Bowl ahead of 2023 NFL draft

Florida Gators senior offensive lineman Richard Gouraige accepted an invitation to play in the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl.

Held in Mobile, Alabama, the 2023 Senior Bowl will be announcing its participants throughout the rest of the month. It is the preeminent college showcase game for prospective NFL prospects where famously, the prospects are coached by NFL coaching staffs.

Last season, the Jets and Lions — both teams that held top-five picks in the 2022 draft — provided their sideline gurus for the event. The coaches for the 2023 Senior Bowl have not been announced yet.

As the season progressed, the Gators’ rushing attack emerged as the offense’s strong suit, with Gouraige playing an integral role in that success. The Florida offense finished the season No. 1 in SEC yards per carry (5.8), and second in the SEC in sacks allowed (12) and tackles for loss allowed per game (4). Gouraige was the offensive lineman with the most experience heading into the 2022 season.

Gouraige is expected to play in Saturday’s Las Vegas Bowl against Oregon State. With All-American O'Cyrus Torrence sitting out due to his NFL draft prospects, Gouraige will need to step up and provide the offensive line unit with the leadership he has shown all season long if the rushing attack is going to be as successful as it has been during the regular season.

Top players like Anthony Richardson and Ventrell Miller will join Torrence in sitting out the bowl game. In addition, over a dozen players have entered the transfer portal since the end of the season. That lack of depth is concerning for their game on Saturday, which starts at 2:30 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on ESPN.

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Story originally appeared on Gators Wire