Florida promotes from within for new tight ends coach

Billy Napier has decided to promote from within when it comes to naming a new tight ends coach.

Russ Callaway, a 35-year-old with college and NFL coaching experience, has been named the new Florida Gators Tight Ends coach ahead of spring practices. Callaway was already on the staff, having joined the Gators ahead of the 2022 season in an off-field role.

Former tight ends coach William Peagler left the program in late February to join the Arizona Cardinals coaching staff in the NFL. Along with Peagler, defensive coordinator Patrick Toney also left to join the Cardinals, while wide receivers coach Keary Colbert left to join the Denver Broncos staff. All three left before the start of spring practices. Austin Armstrong took over as defensive coordinator, while Billy Gonzales rejoined the Orange and Blue as its wide receivers coach.

Callaway has an extensive resume that includes stops with other top college programs like LSU and Alabama. He also spent time in the NFL with the New York Giants and briefly worked at FCS program Samford, where he spent time as their offensive coordinator. In 2016, his Samford offense finished third among all FCS teams in passing offense, averaging over 345 yards per game.

His promotion signals Napier is open to giving young coaches who have cut their teeth in off-field roles opportunities to make a name for themselves. No program wants to lose assistants so close to spring practices, but if they are going to go anywhere, it’s a good sign that they’re leaving for the professional ranks.

Napier has decided to bet on a guy he brought in last season. Let’s see if Callaway proves to be the answer Florida has been searching for since Kyle Pitts left for the Atlanta Falcons.

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Story originally appeared on Gators Wire