Pros and cons of Detroit Lions signing Florida football C Kingsley Eguakun as a 2024 UDFA

Florida football center Kingsley Eguakun is officially an NFL rookie after signing with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent after the 2024 NFL draft,

Per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Eguakun received a $20,000 signing bonus and $225,00 base salary guarantee. He'll join a Lions team that reached the NFC Finals last January, its best postseason showing since reaching the NFC Finals in 1992 with Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders.

A three-year starter at center for the Florida Gators, the 6-foot-4, 304 pound Eguakun struggled to stay healthy during the 2023 season, starting just four games while dealing with a high ankle sprain. A Jacksonville native from Sandalwood High School, Eguakun made 26 straight starts at center for UF from 2021-22.

Florida had just one player selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who was picked in the first round (31st) overall by the San Francisco 49ers late Thursday night. It's the first time since 1980 that Florida has had just one player selected in the NFL Draft.

Here's what Eguakun brings to the Lions based on his career at UF:

What Kingsley Eguakun brings to the Detroit Lions

Eguakun is an experienced leader with 30 career starts at Florida while facing the most physical fronts in college football in the SEC. When healthy, Eguakun can be a strong blocker in the run game and has received sound instruction from UF offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Rob Sale and former UF offensive line coach Darnell Stapleton the past two seasons. At the Reese's Senior Bowl, Eguakun displayed some positional versatility by playing both center and guard.

Kingsley Eguakun's highlights, strengths, weaknesses at Florida football

Eguakun had his best game of the season in 2023 against Tennessee, helping lead UF’s offense to 183 yards rushing on 4.3 yards per carry with his blocking up front during UF’s 29-16 win over the Vols. He also graded out well against Arkansas (67.8 per Pro Football Focus) but was hobbled trying to play through starts against Kentucky and Georgia.

Eguakun is quick in space but his lack of size at center caused him to get overpowered at times against more physical SEC fronts. Most draft analysts are questioning whether Eguakun has a strong enough base or play with the leverage needed to stop opposing NFL nose tackles.

Kingsley Eguakun's stats with Florida football

Eguakun posted a Pro Football Focus grade of 60.4 in four starts in 2023, surrendering 1 sack and 3 quarterback hits in 246 offensive snaps.

Kingsley Eguakun NFL comparison

Eguakun compares to another former Florida football center, Jonotthan Harrison, who at 6-4, 300 pounds has a similar build and skillset. An undrafted free agent, Harrison latched on with the Indianapolis Colts in 2014 and went on to a successful 10-year NFL career with the Colts (2014-16), New York Jets (2017-19), Buffalo Bills (2020), New York Giants (2021), Atlanta Falcons (2022-23) and Miami Dolphins (2023-present).

Florida football QB Micah Leon gets camp invite with Miami Dolphins

Florida third-string quarterback Micah Leon received an invite to Miami Dolphins training camp on Monday.

Leon completed 2 of 3 passes for 16 yards for the Gators in mop up duty against McNeese last season. From Boca Raton High, the 6-5, 220-pound Leon began his career at North Carolina State and continued it at Connecticut before joining UF. Leon has completed 12 of 16 passes for 78 yards with 0 TDs and 0 interceptions in his college career.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Detroit Lions sign Kingsley Eguakun as a 2024 UDFA