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Former Florida offensive line coach and offensive coordinator Rob Sale is reuniting with former Gators head coach Billy Napier at James Madison University, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports.
Sale spent all four years of the Billy Napier era at Florida, coming in from his job as the offensive line coach for the New York Giants. Under him, Jake Slaughter developed into an All-American center, earning a First-Team nod in 2024 and a Second-Team nod last season. Left tackle Austin Barber is also expected to be a high-round pick in the upcoming draft.
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Bryce Lovett was named an All-SEC Freshman in 2024 as Florida ranked ninth in the nation in passing yards per completion. The Gators didn't allow a sack in four games that year and only 20 all season. Pro Football Focus ranked Florida No. 11 in pass blocking with a 79.8 grade, second in the SEC behind Texas.
Despite some success in Florida, Sale's offensive line unit faced numerous questions, primarily regarding its inability to land high-profile recruits.
Phil Trautwein replaces Rob Sale as Florida OL coach
Jon Sumrall opted not to retain Sale at Florida, ultimately hiring former Gators offensive tackle and Penn State offensive line coach Phil Trautwein.
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Trautwein is considered a strong recruiter, which makes him a critical addition to Sumrall's staff. Florida has struggled to secure commitments from elite offensive line recruits under its past two coaches. Trautwein should attract such talent, having developed 31 all-conference linemen and produced the second-most NFL draft picks on the offensive line (7) since 2020.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Former Florida football OC Rob Sale hired by Billy Napier at JMU
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