Former Florida football OL to start for Arkansas vs. Gators on Saturday

Former Florida football offensive lineman Joshua Braun has found success since making a change and joining the Arkansas Razorbacks. Braun will return to The Swamp as the starting right guard when Arkansas faces the Florida Gators on Saturday (noon, ESPN2). Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 348 pounds, Braun has been a consistent performer for Arkansas this season and is considered one of their top offensive linemen.

Praise for Braun’s performance has come from Arkansas coach Sam Pittman, who acknowledges the impact Braun has had on the team. Pittman expects Braun to continue improving and contribute to the team’s success in the future, as he still has two more years of eligibility after this season.

Originally from Live Oak, Florida, just 50 miles from the Gators’ campus, Braun made the decision to transfer from Florida due to playing time issues. After appearing in only two games for the Gators in 2022, he entered the transfer portal. Pittman was able to convince Braun to join Arkansas based on their previous relationship during Braun’s high school recruitment, when Pittman was Georgia’s offensive line coach.

While Braun may not express it openly, Pittman believes that playing against his former team will be a motivating factor for him. Pittman describes Braun as a reserved individual, but it’s common for players to have extra motivation when facing their former teams.

Florida head coach Billy Napier spoke highly of Braun’s work ethic and character during their time together. Despite being behind other talented players on the depth chart last season, Braun demonstrated his strong work ethic and represented the university well.

This article was originally published on The Gainesville Sun.