Florida Gators
Gator Bait
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
A year after they failed to achieve bowl eligibility, The Florida Gators (7-5; 4-4 SEC) secured its return to postseason play with a spot in the Gasparilla Bowl on December 20, where it will face Tulane (9-4; 7-1 AAC).
It marks the Gators’ second bowl appearance in three years under head coach Billy Napier and their 22nd since the New Millenium (That’s the year 2000 for our younger readers).
Florida is 11-10 in postseason games since the turn of the century, excluding SEC championship games.
“We just have access to the players a lot more than we used to in the old days,” Napier said of securing a bowl berth. “All spring, all summer you can be on the field. It’s a little bit more of a reward for the players. It’s another opportunity to create momentum for the program. A lot of our redshirt players that will be able to play in the game which will be big.”
The Gators enjoyed their best season of the Napier era in 2024, winning seven total games and four against SEC foes, both program highs under his current leadership.
Florida’s success was the byproduct of an impressive run to end the regular season, five wins in their final eight games and each of their last three, including back-to-back wins over then-No. 21 LSU and then-No. 9 Ole Miss.
This was the first time the Gators had recorded multiple ranked wins in the same season under Napier’s watch.
Napier and his players said their bye week in late September was the catalyst for their marked improvement.
“I walked off that field and said, ‘That’s the best practice I’ve been associated with in 20 years of college football,'” Napier said. “So, at that point, I’m like, ‘We’ve got to figure this out.'”
He added that the Gators’ Oct. 12 loss to Tennessee also provided a motivational boost.
“I think Tennessee was a turning point,” Napier said. “I think in that locker room after the game, that was when it was like, okay, we can do this, and I think obviously Kentucky, another open date, what we experienced in Jacksonville. I just think hope is powerful, man. Just proud of these guys, man.”
While Florida’s 2024 campaign was ultimately successful enough to buy Napier a fourth season at the helm, things looked quite bleak for it at the outset.
The Gators suffered their worst home-opening defeat in program history when they lost 41-17 to Miami on Aug. 31 and endured a second blowout loss two weeks later at The Swamp against Texas A&M.
Looking back, Napier said those matchups bettered his team, too.
“Sometimes you’ve got to go through stuff,” he said. “They’re different because they went through that. They don’t really care what anybody thinks. They care what the people around them think. They care about doing their job and being accountable and being responsible to the people around them. I think what they’ve been through has forced them to do that, and I can say the same thing.”
The Gators could keep their hot streak alive in their bowl game with many of their key contributors likely to participate, including freshman quarterback DJ Lagway, junior center Jake Slaughter, freshman running back Jaden Baugh, junior edge rusher Tyreak Sapp and sophomore defensive back Bryce Thornton.
Florida is looking for its eighth win of its season for the first time since 2020. Did anyone predict this ending 5-6 weeks ago?
Buying Time
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Billy Napier is in his third season as head coach in Gainesville but he has not proven himself as the right man for the job.
He was hired as Florida’s head coach on December 5, 2021 from Louisiana. He was 40-12 in his four seasons coaching the Ragin’ Cajuns. In his last three years he was 11-3, 10-1 and 12-1.
He replaced Dan Mullen who coached the Gators from 2018-21. Under Mullen UF went 10-3, 11-2, 8-4 and 6-7. Having a losing record got him immediately fired despite having earlier success.
In the case of Napier, he has not had success yet. They were 6-7 in his first year and 5-7 last season. That 2022 team did advance to the Las Vegas Bowl where they were beaten 30-3 by Oregon State.
This season Florida had a brutal schedule. They started the season with a loss at home to #19 Miami, 41-17. The other losses were to Texas A&M, who is currently ranked #14 and #8 Tennessee. They did play a close game with the Vols and lost in overtime, 23-17.
The Gators are currently 4-3 and had their best win of the season. They beat Kentucky 48-20, snapping their three-game losing streak to the Wildcats. Five-star freshman quarterback DJ Lagway completed seven of his fourteen passes but five of them went for 40-plus yards. He passed for 259 yards and rushed for 46 yards.
Freshman running back Jadan Baugh rushed for 106 yards and 5 touchdowns. The 5 touchdowns in a game tie the school record held by Tim Tebow and Trey Burton.
“That’s pretty good company there,” Napier said.
“For Billy Napier, Florida’s beleaguered head coach, the win kept the lions at bay for another week,” Saturday Down South’s Neil Blackmon wrote. “Napier’s buyout was assembled by Florida’s boosters in September, per multiple media reports. After Saturday night’s blowout win, there’s enough hope swirling around the Florida program to provide a path forward under Napier, albeit a narrow one.”
I want to point out that Georgia struggled against Kentucky, winning 13-12.
UF is going into their bye week before they face #2 UGA in Jacksonville. Georgia has won six of the last seven meetings. They’re currently on a three-game winning streak.
Beating the Bulldogs does not seem likely. The remaining schedule after that game is at #5 Texas, #8 LSU, #18 Ole Miss and at Florida State.
As you know, the Seminoles are historically bad this season. FSU is 1-6 and this will be an easy win for Florida. That will only put them at five wins though. In the other games, where will they find a win?
The most likely scenario is UF loses to those ranked teams and finishes 5-7. If they can upset one of them they will finish 6-6. Beating any of those teams will be impressive but is 6-6 good enough at Florida?
Another aspect to consider is Lane Kiffin has been rumored to be the top candidate to replace Napier if he is fired. Once these teams play November 23rd it is going to be talked about more, especially if Ole Miss wins.
I think Napier’s tenure at Florida is done after this season. The only thing that could save his job are two wins against ranked teams and I think one of those wins would have to be against Georgia.
Napier To Get Chomped?
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Florida Gators football program is facing serious pressure as they get ready to host UCF at The Swamp.
Despite the team’s recent struggles, Gator fans have stayed loyal, packing the stadium for every game. But their patience might be wearing thin.
Under head coach Billy Napier, the results at home have been mixed—10-6 over two and a half seasons—and this year, Florida’s just 1-2 in Gainesville.
Even more worrying, they’ve lost four of their last five home games, including a painful overtime defeat to Arkansas.
Florida’s current 2-2 record (1-1 SEC) has raised plenty of eyebrows, and Saturday’s game against UCF feels like a must-win, not just for the season, but for Napier’s future as head coach.
Losing to UCF, a team with a much less storied football history, could be a huge blow. Gator boosters and fans aren’t going to accept a loss to a program that started playing in Division III back in 1979. For Napier, a loss could be the final nail in the coffin.
One of Florida’s big problems this season has been their slow starts. Sure, they built a 21-point first-half lead in their win over Mississippi State, but in other games, it’s been a different story.
They were shut out in the first half against Texas A&M and managed just 10 points in the first half of their opening loss to Miami.
Napier knows this has to change, especially at home, where the energy of the crowd can make a big difference. “Starting fast is critical to playing winning football,” he said, hoping the home crowd will help give his team the boost they need.
But the issues go beyond just the slow starts. Florida’s defense has been shaky, to say the least. They’re near the bottom of the SEC in both scoring defense and total defense, allowing way too many points and yards.
After their win against Mississippi State, the Gators had an open week to work on some of their defensive issues, especially when it comes to dealing with fast-paced offenses.
Cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. admitted the team struggled with tempo in the Mississippi State game, saying they sometimes found themselves just standing around, waiting for signals. That’s something they’ve been working on ahead of UCF.
UCF, by the way, will have a familiar face at quarterback: KJ Jefferson. Gator fans will remember him from last year, when he led Arkansas to a shocking upset over Florida at The Swamp.
Jefferson is a dual-threat quarterback, and his size and athleticism will make him tough to handle again. Napier knows it’s going to be a challenge, saying Jefferson creates problems because of his physicality. Marshall also noted that Florida’s defense needs to take away Jefferson’s ability to run and force him to beat them through the air.
On top of all the on-field problems, Florida’s dealing with some off-field headaches too. Recruiting has taken a hit recently, with prospects like four-star safety Demetres Samuel Jr. flipping his commitment from the Gators to Syracuse. Florida’s current recruiting class is ranked 21st in the nation, which isn’t terrible, but it’s far below what Gator fans are used to.
Recruiting experts are already warning that the uncertainty surrounding Napier’s future could make things even worse.
When a coach is on the hot seat, it affects recruiting, creating a vicious cycle of bad results and missed opportunities to bring in top talent. And there’s even more at stake if Napier is fired midseason, thanks to the transfer portal.
Even former Alabama coach Nick Saban chimed in recently, criticizing Florida for cycling through coaches without finding real success since Urban Meyer left.
Saban thinks the issues run deeper than just coaching and pointed to the overall structure of the program as a problem. He suggested that if Florida doesn’t figure things out, they’re going to continue struggling as the season goes on.
So, heading into this weekend, the Gators are at a turning point. Beating UCF could give them a much-needed boost and calm some of the noise surrounding the program.
But another loss, especially at home, might push things even closer to the breaking point for Napier and his staff.
Gators QB1?
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Turmoil has been a consistent descriptor for the Florida Gators the last couple of seasons and the start of 2024 has been no different.
Florida felt a little bit of confidence and optimism entering the season but was quickly squashed with the season-opening loss against rival Miami 41-17.
In that lid-lifting loss, Gator quarterback Graham Mertz took a tough hit in the fourth quarter and was diagnosed with a concussion. True freshman phenom D.J. Lagway took over for Mertz to finish off the Miami game then started and played the majority of the Gators 45-7 victory over FCS Samford.
Now the questions of “who is QB1 for the Gators” have caught fire. So, who are these two and where does the toasted rear’ of Billy Napier go for the season?
Graham Mertz is the experienced sixth year signal caller who transferred into the Florida program after four years at Wisconsin.
In his debut season with the Gators, Mertz was on track with his best statistical season of his career with 20 touchdowns to just 3 interceptions while racking up 264 yards per game on average through the first 11 games of the season before fracturing his collarbone in the week eleven loss to Missouri and missing the finale against Florida State.
The offseason and preseason leading into the 2024 season was filled with optimism around Mertz but the Miami game suggests it may be a bit premature. Mertz, before leaving the game with the concussion in the fourth quarter, went 11-20 passing with only 91 yards through the air. Mertz didn’t record a score while throwing an interception and was sacked three times.
D.J. Lagway was a highly sought-after recruit out of Willis, Texas (just north of Houston) after totaling over 5,500 all-purpose yards and 73 touchdowns as a senior in high school in route to winning the 2023 Gatorade National Player of the Year.
Lagway essentially had his pick of the litter where to take his talents in the collegiate ranks but saw the vision of Napier and the Gators.
In his Gator debut, Lagway connected on 3 of 6 of the passes for 31 yards and added 20 rushing yards and his first career touchdown on the ground in less than a quarter in the Miami matchup.
Lagway followed that up with his first career start for the Gators against Samford (again because of Mertz’ concussion holding him out). Against the FCS’ Bulldogs, Lagway impressed with 456 yards through the air and 3 scores while completing 18 of 25 passes including an 85-yard reception to Eugene Wilson III.
Now the question goes to “what happens now?”
Most are expecting Napier and company to play Graham Mertz as QB1, but many in Gator Nation are wanting to turn the page and see what D.J. Lagway does with the full keys to the program.
Personally, I think (at least for the time being), Mertz has earned the right to get the opportunity to lose his job as QB1.
In his 6-year career, Mertz has amassed over 8,300 career passing yards and 58 touchdowns.
The experience factor plays a huge role in this decision. Mertz should be the guy. That being said, I think it’s only a question of “IF” not “WHEN” D.J. Lagway takes the reigns and runs with it.
Drain The Swamp?
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Billy Napier’s third season at Florida didn’t start well. We’ll wait to see whether he finishes it or not.
It would take the second-biggest buyout of a coach in college football history ($26 million) but Florida’s administration has to ask themselves hard questions after in-state rival Miami thumped them on Saturday in front of 90,000 fans in The Swamp.
Florida hasn’t been patient in the past. Since Urban Meyer resigned at the end of the 2010 season, the Gators have cycled through Will Muschamp (28-21 from 2011-14), Jim McElwain (22-12 from 2015-17) and Napier’s predecessor-Dan Mullen, without blinking.
It’s hard to tell where the Gators have improved since athletic director Scott Stricklin pulled the plug on Mullen with one game to go in 2021. Mullen went 34-15 in his four total seasons coaching the Gators, including 11-2 in 2019. Stricklin told Paul Finebaum this week that he expects Napier to “be at Florida for a long time.”
That could mean several seasons or just one.
The University of Florida has an interim president in charge. Once a new president is hired (which could be a long way off), Stricklin and Napier will very likely be looking for work.
Here’s what we know: The Gators haven’t gotten any better since Napier was hired. They’ve actually gotten worse on defense. Florida is giving up more points than they did under Dan Mullen. Looking back, defense was why Dan Mullen was fired in the first place.
How about the offense? It’s more conservative than Mullen’s, and it also doesn’t score nearly as much. Is there any reason for the program to keep him?
Napier is 11-15 in Gainesville. He has lost six games in a row. Florida has endured three consecutive losing seasons for the first time since the 1940s. On Saturday, it was obvious that the coach developed Miami into a better team in the same time frame that Billy Napier had with the Florida Gators.
“Miami outplayed us. They outcoached us,” Napier said. His team was out-gained 268 yards by the 19th-ranked Hurricanes.
Is it fair to point out that Napier has plenty more resources than his predecessors?
Mullen fought for a new $85 million standalone football facility, and it opened doors when Napier took over. Florida’s support staff under Napier grew by 17 staff members to 62 in total and the assistant coach salary pool has doubled compared to 2021. Not to mention Florida’s NIL efforts have been buttoned up.
So why haven’t the Gators improved? Maybe it’s the way Napier has tried to rebuild his roster over time.
Maybe Napier is a poor game day coach and his offense is lethargic and predictable.
Billie didn’t help himself on Monday, with this quote:
“I think we’ve got to become a more consistent team and we have to execute better. If we can focus on those things and not necessarily what some guy in the basement is saying in rural central Florida on social media, then we got a chance to get better, right? I think that’s the key.”
The Gators play Samford next week before facing Texas A&M.
Odds are pretty good quarterback DJ Lagway will be starting for Graham Mertz next week. He left Saturday’s loss with a concussion.
Lagway could be a special player for the Gators, but the Gators’ issues run much deeper than who is playing quarterback.
I don’t think Napier will change who he is, and he shouldn’t. Off the field he’s thoughtful and intelligent and stoic. He intends to address the media with quotes they want to hear.
I believe Napier has lost support from the masses and Florida fans are turning on him.
Who do you think will be the new president, AD and coach for the 2025 season?
Sunshine State Heat
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The University of Florida is set to open their regular season against Miami on Saturday at 3 PM at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. It is Billy Napier and Mario Cristoball’s third season at their respective programs.
Though it’s just Week 1, there’s a lot on the line for both teams, particularly with their head coaches. Both Billy and Mario have a lot to prove to fans and athletic departments in their third seasons, with losing records.
For Napier and the Gators, wins are scarce this season, as they face the toughest schedule in the country.
For Cristobal and Miami, the competition gets more manageable after Saturday. Neither coach wants to take a loss right off the bat.
Is the Florida defense strong enough to win tough games like this? They started strong last season but crashed soon after.
The Gators should be better this year, but the Hurricanes are far stronger offensively thanks to former Washington State Cougar Cam Ward.
Ward might be the best quarterback transfer in the 2024 cycle. He has all the tools and experience, and he gets the ball out of his hands in a hurry.
In addition, Oregon State running back Damien Martinez should be a star behind an improved Hurricanes offensive line that should dominate the trenches against the rebuilt Gators front.
On the other side of the ball, Miami’s defensive front is undergoing a bit of an overhaul. They have several talented players that might take time to acclimate.
Florida’s offensive line has been an issue over the last few years. Injuries are the Gator’s biggest problem, but their roster has improved through the transfer portal, and the health concerns are okay as of Week 0.
The Hurricane secondary, like the line, will be good, but it’s counting on a slew of transfers to rise up and perform right away.
Florida needs to get QB Graham Mertz going quickly after he completed 73% of his throws for close to 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns last season.
So, this all comes down to…Which defensive front can be more disruptive?
Miami has the pieces in place to finally win with Mario Cristobal, but The Canes are about to face 2023 Week 3 University of Florida.
That team rose up and rocked defensively in an energy-charged win over Tennessee, and it’s about to happen again in week 1 of 2024.
The Florida defense will hold on in the fourth quarter, and Mertz will be just a bit better than Ward.
Miami is the team playing with more pressure to play well, given the NIL investment that have been made on both sides of the ball.
Florida 31 Miami 27.
This keeps the fans off of Billie‘s back for a few weeks until the gators face Texas A&M at home during week 3.
I think Miami finishes first or second in the ACC and still has a shot at the college football playoffs even with this loss.
The Florida Heat
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Florida Gators enter the 2024 season expected to finish 12th out of 16 teams in the SEC, according to their preseason poll.
The expectations for Florida football entering 2024 are not at all high. Billy Napier is heading into his third season as the head coach and Billy is on the hot seat. He has posted a very disappointing 11-14 record across his first two seasons, and Florida will have one of the most brutal schedules and college football in 2024.
Game 1, 8/31. Miami Hurricanes: If you want to talk about the single most important game on the Florida Gator schedule it’s absolutely this game.
The Florida Gators must absolutely win this game to create momentum for 2024. The Miami Hurricanes are a talented team under second year coach Mario Cristobal. The advantage for Florida is The Swamp. Florida Gators 30 Miami Hurricanes 27.
Game 2, 9/7. Samford Bulldogs: This is the one and only cupcake game on the Florida schedule in 2024. Florida 49 Sanford 10.
Game 3, 9/14 Texas A&M: With new coach Mike Elko and a new quarterback on the Aggies roster, expect turn over in this program. Expect even more turnover than Florida’s off-season.
While Texas A&M promises to have plenty of talent. Some of that talent they imported from Gainesville. Can all that talent cohesively come together in time for this game?
Home-field advantage and a returning quarterback will hopefully lead Florida to their third victory of the year. Florida 27 A&M 17.
Game 4, 9/21 @ Mississippi State: This game is tricky. It is on the road, against new head coach Jeff Libby; and Jeff has a lot of work to do.
To start, a new quarterback is needed after Will Rogers went to the transfer portal. The Bulldogs defense also requires roster retooling.
Coach Napier has a horrible road record. At the end of the day, he must prove that he can win on the road this season and this is a convincing opportunity. Florida 28 Mississippi State 17.
Game 5, 10/5 UCF: This is definitely another game that Billy Napier must win to survive. I know Napier has a problem as an endgame coach, but you have to bet on the Home team. UCF will come into this game with a huge chip on their shoulders. It will be way too close. Florida 38 UCF 35.
Game 6, 10/12 @ Tennessee: Josh Heupel knows how to dump points on teams in bunches.
His easy to run, hard to defend offensive system is a concerning combination.
Also, Nico Iamaleava is an upgrade from Joe Milton. The Gator’s defense better be ready. Florida has owned the Vols over the past 20 years, Tennessee won’t go easy on them.
Tennessee 49 Florida 27.
Game 7, 10/19 Kentucky: I can’t believe I’m saying this, but this is the year Florida finally beats Kentucky!
Oh, if only my 2010 self could hear me talk now. Kentucky is going to play big boy football in the trenches, and Billy Napier must address the need of the O- and D-Line to control the line of scrimmage.
Once again, I give Florida a slight nod because they’re playing in the Swamp. Florida 23 Kentucky 20.
Game 8, 11/2 Georgia: November will be the most hellacious month of Florida football in recent memory.
I do not believe Florida has closed the talent gap on Georgia, and this year Georgia will be playing for a top seed in the college football playoffs. Georgia 38 Florida 17.
Game 9, 11/9 @ Texas: The brutal five week stretch to close season continues in Austin, where the Gators will lock horns with Texas for the first time since 1940.
Sounds fun, right? Texas is definitely a more talented team and will also be playing for a playoff spot in 2024. Texas 44 Florida 27.
Game 10, 11/16 LSU: LSU has beaten Florida five in a row.
This game will be close because it’s played in the Swamp, But LSU will pull it out late on a coaching mistake by Billy Napier. LSU 31 Florida 27.
Game 11, 11/23 Ole Miss: Lane Kippen will return to the swamp. This time as head coach of Ole Miss. The fact that Ole Miss gets one more year out of Jackson Dart could go a long way towards deciding this game. Ole Miss 27 Florida 24.
Game 12, 11/30 @FSU: Mike Norville has proven adept at working the transfer portal, so reloading for another great season isn’t out of the realm of possibilities.
It’s a rivalry game, which means that even if there are no other emotional components to this game (like the future of Billy Napier), the Florida Gators will have a puncher’s chance.
With that being said, Billy is a putrid 2-10 on the road. FSU 31 Florida 17.
Later Gators
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Recently it was announced that the Florida football program is under NCAA investigation, and yes, that investigation is still ongoing.
Moreover, the investigation started months before the NCAA sent a Notice of Inquiry to Florida President Ben Sasse back in June.
Multiple sources have confirmed that the investigation centers around the recruitment of four-star quarterback Jaden Rashada. He flipped from Miami to Florida on Nov. 10, 2022, after signing an NIL deal with the now-defunct Gator Collective for $13.85 million over four years.
The contract was terminated on Dec. 7, less than a month later. Rashada still signed early with UF but never enrolled last January and was released from his letter of intent after the NIL deal fell through.
He landed at Arizona State and opened last season as the starter, and only played three games due to injury.
According to sources, the NCAA investigation into Rashada’s recruitment involves Marcus Castro-Walker and Hugh Hathcock. Castro-Walker serves as the director of player engagement and NIL for the football program, while Hathcock a longtime UF donor pledged a record-setting $12.6 million to Gator Boosters in 2022 and has spearheaded Florida’s NIL efforts.
NCAA rules prohibit boosters from using NIL as an incentive or inducement to recruit high school or transfer players.
California became the first state to allow high school athletes to be paid through NIL contracts, so Rashada was legally allowed to sign with Gator Collective. The issue at hand, however, is when, how and by whom that deal was facilitated.
Florida recently came under NCAA investigation in 2020 under former coach Dan Mullen. The inquiry found two violations: a Level II violation with Mullen and an assistant- they met a recruit before his junior year of high school, as well as a Level III violation involving members of the Gators’ coaching staff having impermissible contact with over 120 prospects when seven 7-on-7 football teams visited the campus and toured the football facilities.
The assistant coach had incidental and impermissible contacts with several prospects, according to the agreement.
Last May, the NCAA Board of Directors sent out a new guidance to its Division I member schools clarifying their NIL stance and prohibiting.
“The guidance is effective immediately,” the NCAA release stated. “For violations that occurred prior to May 9, 2022, the board directed the enforcement staff to review the facts of individual cases but to pursue only those actions that clearly are contrary to the published interim policy, including the most severe violations of recruiting rules or payment for athletics performance. Schools are reminded of their obligation to report any potential violations through the traditional self-reporting process.
Today, the Division I Board of Directors took a significant first step to address some of the challenges and improper behaviors that exist in the name, image and likeness environment that may violate our long-established recruiting rules. While the NCAA may pursue the most outrageous violations that were clearly contrary to the interim policy adopted last summer, our focus is on the future. The new guidance establishes a common set of expectations for the Division I institutions moving forward, and the board expects all Division I institutions to follow our recruiting rules and operate within these reasonable expectations,” board chair Jere Morehead, president, University of Georgia, said in the statement
The NCAA is out to make a statement, but a toothless statement, because they are so afraid of a lawsuit and court date. Is Rashada going to haunt the Florida Football?
Gritty Gators
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
It’s crazy to think that Florida has not been a national title contender in quite some time.
The last time the Gators won the national championship was 2008. The following year, they finished the regular season undefeated but lost to Alabama in the SEC Championship game. Somehow, their decline coincided with Nick Saban taking over in Tuscaloosa.
After Urban Meyer left in 2010 there has been a revolving door of head coaches. Billy Napier was hired in 2022 and so far, his record is just above .500. He is only in his second season but some fans are wondering if he is the right man for the job.
I actually think he is. I also think it would create a bigger problem for the program if he were fired after this season.
A coach needs some time to establish a winning culture and recruit. Napier coached at Louisiana for four seasons prior to arriving in Gainesville and his record was 40 – 12. He had double-digit wins the last three seasons.
It is tough to watch rival Georgia in the same division win back-to-back national championships while UF is struggling to be bowl eligible.
So far, I think the season has gone well for the Gators. They are 5 – 2 heading into the Georgia game so they are on track to have a good season. They have a chance to upset some teams the last half of the season, starting with UGA.
Coach Napier spoke about some of these things during the bye week. He was asked about how Georgia tight end Brock Bowers’ ankle injury will affect Florida’s preparation:
“Yeah, we’re in the middle of the open date now. We’re working on ourselves. We’re obviously right in the middle of evaluating what we do well and the things we need to do better. We’ll start commenting on Georgia and work on Georgia later in the week.”
Running back Montrell Johnson played for Coach Napier at Louisiana and was named Sun Belt Freshman of the Year (2021). He transferred to Florida last season once Napier took the job and he is one of the best players on offense. He leads the team in rushing and he is averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
Coach Napier spoke about Johnson’s progression:
“Montrell is one of the more impressive young men we have. Obviously he’s physically talented. More importantly, he’s got really good practice habits. He’s tough, he’s durable, he’s smart. He can catch, he can protect. He’s been very productive. The guy’s over 2,000 yards now in his career. He’s been with us, this will be Year 3. I think Montrell wants to please; he wants to have success; he works as hard as anybody; and he’s a selfless guy. So anytime we ask him to block he does a fantastic job. I think one of the things you gotta do is try to get the ball to your players that are explosive and capable. Sometimes that will require the running back to be a blocker and Montrell has done that really well.”
Trevor Etienne is right behind him in rushing and he’s averaging 5.9 yards per carry.
Florida is outmatched against Georgia but I think they will play hard and make it a close game. Their final three games of the season are at #19 LSU, at #20 Mizzou and #4 Florida State. I think they will beat at least one of those teams.
Killing Time
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Here is the main question in my mind and it is one that Florida does not have a great track record of.
Will Florida be patient and allow Billy Napier to build the Florida program the right way?
Florida was one of the founding members of the SEC in 1933. It took the Gators 58 years to win their first SEC Football Championship in 1991. UF has won 8 SEC Football Championships overall and none since 2008.
It has been 15 years since Florida has won anything of significance in football. In the same time frame the Gators have had 5 head football coaches. Doing the math Florida hires and fires head football coaches every three years.
Billy Napier inherited a culture problem at UF that he has been working to improve since he walked on campus.
SEC coaches privately tell reporters that Florida has consistently been one of the most undisciplined teams in the conference over the past 5 seasons.
Napier has addressed the culture issue, and a sample size of results are known. The Tennessee win at home earlier this season was a huge positive for the program.
The Kentucky and Utah games were nightmares that show that the culture Napier is developing still struggles with dealing with adversity.
Florida is still a work in progress. Look at UGA early in Kirby’s tenure with ugly losses at home against Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech, and an ugly road loss to Ole Miss. Recruiting will fix all of that.
I heard Steve Spurrier say recently that Florida needed to recruit their way out the current situation they are in. Billy Napier is tearing it up on the recruiting trail. Florida’s 2024 recruiting class is currently ranked 4th in the country.
The 2024 recruiting class has addressed the following positions to date:
BY POSITION:
Quarterback (1)
Running Back (1)
Receiver (4)
Offensive Line (4)
Defensive Line (4)
Linebacker (3)
Defensive Back (4)
Florida is recruiting on a national level with committed recruits from 8 states. UF is a national brand and Napier knows this and is using it to his advantage.
Moving forward the Gators must lock down the state of Florida better moving forward as only seven of the Gators 21 commits come from the Sunshine State.
The glaring weakness of Florida right now is on the lines of scrimmage. The SEC is an inside out conference meaning you build your team along the lines of scrimmage.
Kentucky exposed that when Florida traveled to Lexington. Napier knows his long-term success in Gainesville will depend on how he recruits and develops offensive and defensive linemen.
Florida whipped Tennessee on both fronts in that big win. Just the opposite with Kentucky. The Utah loss was a fluke in my eyes. Florida fans are loud and vocal bunch on social media after ugly losses like the one against Kentucky.
The Gator fanbase is a passionate bunch and the toxicity of social media doesn’t help on the recruiting side of things.
Florida expects SEC and National Titles. Things got off track over the past 15 years, and now Billy Napier is on track to fix it.
He is recruiting well, and that will fix a multitude of issues. Napier says winning is hard in media sessions. Winning is hard at Florida when you have a train track littered with poor coaching hires.
Now Napier is fixing the recruiting woes, and the Gator nation just needs to be patient for about two more recruiting cycles and Florida will be back among the elites of college football.
Time is a precious commodity, and patience and trust in Billy Napier will reap championship benefits for the Florida Gators. Time and patience Gator fans. Will you allow it?
