Florida will deal with a notable absence on the offensive line when it enters spring practice. Kamryn Waites, entering Year 3 of his college football career, suffered a serious non-contact injury during offseason workouts.

Graham Hall of 247Sports reports that Waites tore his Achilles tendon Friday. Citing an anonymous source, Hall reports that Waites’ injury occurred during an agility drill.

Waites, a transfer who followed Billy Napier from Louisiana, played in all 13 games for the Gators in 2022. The 6-8, 373-pounder was primarily a special teams contributor until making his first-career start at right guard in the Las Vegas Bowl.

The Gators will have a new-look offensive line in 2023 after seeing 4 starters depart via the NFL Draft and NCAA transfer portal. Waites was expected to be part of the new starting 5, but a timeline to return to the field isn’t immediately clear after the injury.

With Waites’ injury, Napier’s staff may look to the transfer portal for another experienced lineman. So far this offseason, the Gators have brought in transfer linemen Damieon George (Alabama) and Micah Mazzccua (Baylor).