Bishop Media Sports Network
Cross Roads
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Entering Year 4, McDaniel finds himself in an NFL pressure cooker.
Historically, no Dolphins coach has survived a fifth season under owner Stephen Ross.
The last coach to last four full years was Dave Wannstedt back in 2004. In Miami’s modern era, sustained tenure is a rarity.
McDaniel is now operating without the leash he once had: expectations are high, mess-ups won’t be ignored, and patience is nearly gone.
After strong seasons in 2022 (9–8) and 2023 (11–6), Miami stumbled to an 8–9 finish in 2024 and missed the playoffs entirely.
That losing record was their first since 2019. The team claimed to have reset the culture in 2024, but veteran leadership admitted it was all surface-level.
Now McDaniel must convert talk into traction to avoid being labeled a coach whose first two seasons were a mirage.
Bradley Chubb shot down the façade of culture change, slamming it as half‑hearted. McDaniel himself admitted that players took advantage of leniency. Discipline must be rebuilt from scratch, and unless the coach enforces authority, the “good‑ole‑boy” vibe that alienated veterans won’t recede.
Fan consensus and coaches agree: Miami hasn’t been nasty in the trenches. General Manager Chris Grier’s early 2025 picks leaned into beefier linemen, but critics remain skeptical of systemic solutions.
McDaniel must prove the line is more than draft window-dressing. Without a stout OL and identity, the offense sputters.
The franchise backed Tua Tagovailoa with a $212 million extension, signaling full confidence. But injuries have persisted, including a concussion early in 2024, which cost him six games and hurt team momentum.
Tagovailoa must stay healthy and play smart. If he falters again, Miami’s season will crumble, again.
Backup Zach Wilson has inspired no confidence with two interceptions and a pick-six in minicamp. Relying on a clearly unconvincing QB depth chart won’t instill trust. McDaniel must manage Tua’s workload and rally a pass-friendly unit.
Reports suggest veteran players—like Tyreek Hill and Calais Campbell—have soured on Miami; several have left in free agency.
Coach McDaniel’s methods are partly blamed. If internal loyalty erodes further, he’s left without support from within which remains grim sign in NFL coaching circles.
Kickoff in Spain: a bold international opener LOOSENS zero-sum stakes.
Division face-offs: rematches with Buffalo, New England, New York await — all hold huge implications.
Five games vs 2024 playoff teams (three at home). No excuses.
McDaniel’s objectives: Playoff return: missing again is untenable. Win a playoff game: validation is overdue (last win was in 2000). Tough identity: beat better teams or risk being “bowl fodder”.
Fans believe playoff wins (especially versus quality opponents) dictate job security. A middling 9–8 season, even with improvement, may not suffice — especially if it lacks postseason success.
A Phinsider poll challenged fans: what’s enough? Most answered similarly — win playoff games, dominate the division, or productive football culture. Mike McDaniel’s fate isn’t just tied to W-L; it’s about dismantling the “soft” label and proving Miami can out-fight as well as out-play.
The front office showed faith — owner Stephen Ross publicly retained McDaniel and GM Grier after their disappointing 2024.
But that’s pre-2025. Now the money, draft picks, and expectations are real. If the Dolphins flop again, a shakeup is almost certain.
Mike McDaniel inherited a burgeoning franchise in 2022, brought imaginative offense, and helped Miami climb out of a postseason drought. But that honeymoon ended in an 8–9 relapse, disjointed culture, and injuries.
If his squad fails to stay disciplined, win meaningful games, and show character under fire, this season is likely his last. For McDaniel and the Dolphins, this is a career crossroad.
Duval Swag
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Jaguars are officially entering a bold new chapter. I don’t think it will be anything like what we’ve seen come out of Duval before.
This team is younger, faster, and more aggressive. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence remains at the center of it all.
The front office and coaching staff have made it clear that 2025 is all about getting the most out of their franchise QB.
The first major sign that things were changing came in the draft, when Jacksonville made waves by trading up to the No. 2 overall pick to grab Travis Hunter.
The rookie from the University of Colorado is an electrifying two-way star who’s expected to line up at wide receiver and cornerback.
The move stunned just about everyone and showed exactly how head coach Liam Coen and new GM James Gladstone plan to run things: bold, fast, and with no fear.
Coen, just 39, brings an offensive style built around balance, speed, and play-action which are all designed to take pressure off Lawrence. He’s paired with 29-year-old offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, who helped build high-powered attacks in Minnesota.
The idea for Lawrence is simple. Get the ball out quick, use the run game to set things up, and let Trevor cook.
To make it all work, the Jaguars made big changes to their offensive line, signing veterans like center Robert Hainsey and guard Patrick Mekari, and drafting Wyatt Milum to add depth. Lawrence may finally have adequate protection and should be able to get the ground game going again.
Lawrence, now healthy after an injury-riddled 2024, has more help than ever. He’s got Hunter as his new top target, second-year wideout Brian Thomas Jr. ready to explode, and free-agent pickup Dyami Brown bringing more deep speed.
The Jags added two rookies, Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr., to the backfield. They both bring serious burst and either could push veterans Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby for touches. Expect a steady rotation to keep defenses guessing.
Behind Lawrence, the quarterback room has also gotten smarter. Nick Mullens and John Wolford know this system well and can help Trevor with the transition. Rookie Seth Henigan might be a project, but the team sees potential there too.
On the other side of the ball, it’s all new. Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile has taken over a unit that struggled big-time last year. He’s bringing a 4-3 system that leans on zone coverage and lets the front seven get after it.
Pass rushers Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen lead the way, with Arik Armstead moving inside where he’s most comfortable.
Second-year tackle Maason Smith is someone the team’s really excited about after flashing late last season. Linebacker Foyesade Oluokun is back to anchor the middle, but the run defense has to get better.
In the secondary Tyson Campbell is the top guy, but he’s got to stay healthy. Jourdan Lewis and Eric Murray bring veteran leadership, and rookie safety Caleb Ransaw could earn a starting spot.
And yes, I think Travis Hunter will get defensive snaps, too. Especially in key passing situations where his ball skills could help generate turnovers, something this team badly needs after finishing last in takeaways in 2024.
Special teams will be as solid as ever. Punter Logan Cooke and long snapper Ross Matiscik both made the Pro Bowl, and kicker Cam Little has a cannon for a leg. That trio gives Jacksonville one of the most reliable special teams units in the league.
Everything’s different in Jacksonville this year, and that’s a good thing. The Jags are faster, younger, and playing with some serious swagger.
If Trevor Lawrence can stay healthy and the new offensive pieces click, this team has a real shot to make noise and go after the AFC South crown.
With all of these changes and a new attitude, I can envision a 2025 season where the Jags could go 9-8 with a shot at the playoffs.
Buckle up, Duval! This could be fun.
Flying With The Wind?
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Atlanta Falcons were 8-9 last season. They started 6-3, which was their best start since 2016. They looked like a playoff team before the wheels fell off.
Head coach Raheem Morris is looking to improve in his second season with the Falcons. Atlanta signed QB Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract in March of 2024.
They drafted QB Michael Penix Jr. (Washington) the next month in the NFL draft with the eighth pick. That move seemed like a head scratcher then but it may make more sense now.
Cousins started hot but his play got worse as the season progressed. The team had a four-game losing streak that was snapped in Week 15 against the Raiders.
Atlanta won the Monday Night Game 15-9. Las Vegas was 2-12 at that point and Cousins struggled so he was benched for Penix after that game.
Penix went 1-2 and both losses were in overtime. He has great potential but the success of this team will rely on him being above average.
“Michael is going to do great; he’s going to have a great career,” Cousins said of Penix. “He’s off to a great start. He has all the tangibles and intangibles you need to be successful. I’m just here to support him as he needs it. But I also don’t need to be in his ear so much that I’m another voice. I just want to be as supportive as I can, and he knows that.”
The focal point of the offense is Pro Bowl RB Bijan Robinson. He had a breakout second year with 1,456 rushing yards, 14 rushing touchdowns, 61 receptions for 431 yards and a receiving TD.
“It’s crazy. I don’t even know how to explain it,” Penix said. “If he touched the ball every play and the defense knew every play, he’d still make big-time plays. He’s just that guy. He’s that guy when you go to a little-league game, there’s one kid who stands out who never gets tackled. He scores every time he touches the ball. That’s him in the NFL, so think about that. He does unreal stuff I’ve never even seen. He’s a special player, and as many times as we can get the ball in his hands, we’re going to do it.”
They also have a very good offensive line, led by Pro Bowl guard Chris Lindstorm. receivers Drake London and Darnell Mooney are one of the best duos in the league.
Kyle Pitts is the highest drafted tight end in history but he has not lived up to the hype. He disappears for entire games. Pitts has all of the measurables including size and speed. He’s in the final year of his rookie contract and he has trade rumors around him that he could be dealt before the season begins.
“He’s become more of a complete tight end, so to speak,” Morris said. “It’s just that it’s always hard to accomplish the goals that everybody else wants for him.”
The defense does not have any Pro Bowlers. The Falcons always struggle to rush the passer and they addressed that need in the draft. They drafted linebacker Jalon Walker (Georgia) with the 15th pick and defensive end James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee) with the 26th pick. Walker won the Dick Butkus Award in 2024.
I do not have high expectations for rookies but I think they can make an impact this season.
The season starts September 7th at home against Tampa Bay. I believe the Falcons will be 9-8 in 2025. If Penix plays great I think they will win an extra game.
Tall Texans
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The past two seasons at NRG Stadium in Houston have been electric under Head Coach DeMeco Ryans who took over the reigns of the franchise in January of 2023.
When Ryans took over, the Texans had just completed a 3-13 season in 2022 (with one tie as well).
Since taking charge of the team, Ryans has led the Texans to back-to-back 10-7 seasons while securing the NFC South Division titles in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
With that said, all the praise can’t be directed at DeMeco Ryans (although a lot of it should be). Houston also secured the number two and three overall picks of the 2023 draft to bring in franchise quarterback CJ Stroud from Ohio State and former Alabama linebacker Will Anderson to answer many questions that had been around the organization for the previous years.
While the past two years have been great for Texans fans with Stroud taking the NFL by storm with almost 8,000 passing yards in his 1st two seasons in the NFL, the brass within the organization believes that the best is just coming to fruition.
That’s some pretty tall words with Stroud and Ryans becoming the first quarterback/head coach duo in NFL history to win the division in each of their first two years together, but the organization made some key moves in the offseason to firm up some soft areas of the depth chart going into the 2025 campaign.
A familiar name around the Georgia area is headed to strap on the navy and red as the most recent transaction on the list for Houston is the free agent signing of Nick Chubb, the former Georgia Bulldog.
Chub was drafted in 2018 to the Cleveland Browns and over the last seven seasons with Cleveland, Chubb has accumulated 6,843 rushing yards and 51 touchdowns.
The question mark around Chubb is health. Chubb has only played 10 games combined over the previous two years with the Browns with only 130 carries in two seasons because of various injuries.
That said, if Chubb can get his legs back underneath him (and healthy legs after battling knee and foot injuries) he is still an elite back in the NFL. Chubb is just one of ten active running backs with at least 6,500 yards and had 30 games of 100+ yards in the first 6 years before being hampered by injuries.
The Texans didn’t pull the trigger on any huge names coming out of the 2025 NFL Draft, but it was a busy few days for the front office.
General Manager Nick Caserio made seven trades of picks including trading away the 25th overall selection to pick up an additional 2nd round pick.
Caserio has made 20 trades of straight draft picks which is the most of all active GMs in the NFL. The Texans picked up a pair of second, third, sixth and seventh round selections to go along with a singular fourth rounder in this years first year player draft bringing in a couple of wide outs with a second and third round pick.
The last two seasons have been a renaissance of football in Houston that hasn’t been seen in the NFL in quite some time and the job that DeMeco Ryans, CJ Stroud and company have done is phenomenal, but that group isn’t satisfied with the quick success, they have eyes sighted for a deep playoff run, and they believe it’s coming much sooner than once thought.
Carolina Respect
By: Cameron Miller
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Carolina Panthers are entering the 2025 NFL season coming off a mediocre 7-9 season and panthers fans seem to be filled with disappointment from recent failures, yet excited with a positive outlook in hopes they can change things around with what the team has done this offseason.
Since 2017, they’d stumbled through coaching swaps, heartbreaking finishes, and morale‑sapping losses, but as spring arrived in Charlotte, there was an unmistakable shift: young voices building chemistry on the practice fields, defensive reinforcements arriving in waves, and a confident quarterback ready to prove he belongs.
Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall pick back in 2023, now stands at the heart of this team. Year 3 isn’t just another chapter, it’s pivotal to the confidence of Young and this Panthers’ team.
After a sophomore year that saw flashes of brilliance towards the end with three straight weeks of 20+ fantasy points and some late‑season magic—Young earned another opportunity at getting the starting job back.
Front office whispers have now confirmed young would be their guy going forward and that there would be no QB controversy in 2025.
Still despite the growth from Young, most have to believe the 2025 season is the make-or-break year for him. If he doesn’t perform this year, I think the Panthers may have to once again become a team back on the market for a new starting quarterback.
The offense the Panthers have constructed around him is very compelling. The front office added a plethora of new playmakers like Tetairoa McMillan, who they drafted in Round 1 of this past draft.
McMillan is believed to be a go‑to receiving target for Young right out of the gate. I’m excited to see how McMillan and Xavier Legette are going to pair up together and if they challenge each other to work harder for that #1 spot.
They also grabbed former Colorado Buffalo, Jimmy Horn Jr in the 6th round and signed former Las Vegas Raider Hunter Renfrow.
In the backfield they added Rico Dowdle and Trevor Etienne for some quality extra depth behind starter Chuba Hubbard .
Switching over to the defensive side of the ball, they had a tragic story of their own. The Panthers defense had a disastrous 2024 season, surrendering 534 points over the season, which was bad enough to put them as the worst in the NFL.
So, the Panthers went in and added some much needed muscle and skill to their defensive unit.
They brought in Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown III to fill up the interior of the D-Line, Patrick Jones II and rookie edge rusher Nic Scourton to bring some pressure off the edge, and brought in safety Tre’von Moehrig
They were able to extend Jaycee Horn with a four-year $100 Million contract, which made him the highest paid defensive back in NFL history, while Mike Jackson also earned a contract extension of his own.
Even though they have these two guys locked down for some time now, there are still some voices out there saying their cornerback depth is still too “thin” especially in the nickel and strong safety spots.
But on a more positive note, Sharp Football Analysis ranked the Panthers 2025 schedule as the 7th easier in the entire NFL. So maybe they can take advantage of the lack of difficult opponents and try to get some early season momentum started up.
Now with the preseason quickly approaching, the story almost feels cinematic.
They had a young promising QB with a statement to make, along with some new weapons to help him, a defense that was eager to shake off its embarrassment from last season, and a schedule that leaves fans to have a more optimistic outlook.
It seems like for this 2025 Panthers squad it isn’t just about the statistics but about getting redemption and giving the Carolina faithful with what they’ve been waiting for.
When September 7 comes around and the Panthers take a trip down to Jacksonville for the season opener, I’m sure you can expect to see eager Panthers fans lined up to see how this 2025 season will kick off.
They’re not there chanting for a Super Bowl banner, they just want to see stability, and competitive games to give them real hope at their first winning season since 2017.
Jason Bishop Show June 12
Swash-Buc-Ling
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prepare for their 50th season in the NFL, there’s more than nostalgia in the air—there’s anticipation.
Following a 2024 campaign that saw them clinch their third straight NFC South title, the Bucs are eyeing another playoff push behind a retooled roster, a familiar core, and one of the most intriguing schedules in the league.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield enters the season with a renewed contract and growing confidence as the leader of Tampa Bay’s offense. Last season, Mayfield silenced critics after a 10-win season and a playoff victory.
He returns with trusted weapons in wideouts Mike Evans—still among the league’s elite—and Chris Godwin, while dynamic second-year back Bucky Irving is poised to become a focal point in both running and passing.
Evans, chasing his 12th straight 1,000-yard season, could tie Jerry Rice for the most in NFL history— one of the many potential milestones in this golden-anniversary campaign.
The Bucs stayed busy in the offseason, aiming to solidify a defense that was inconsistent in 2024.
The headliner additions include linebacker Haason Reddick and rookie cornerback Benjamin Morrison, who are expected to boost the Buc’s pass rushing and secondary coverage.
On offense, Tampa drafted wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, giving Mayfield another explosive option.
One big change: offensive coordinator Liam Coen departed for a head coaching job and his replacement, Dave Canales, returns to Tampa after a stint in Seattle.
Canales’ history with Mayfield from 2022 in Carolina could help smooth his transition.
The Bucs’ 2025 schedule is balanced in terms of home and road games with a challenging midseason stretch that will define their season.
They open on the road against division rival Atlanta—a team with a new quarterback and playoff ambitions—followed by a Monday Night Football clash with the Houston Texans in Week 2.
The first big test comes in Weeks 4 through 7, when Tampa faces the Eagles, Seahawks, 49ers, and Lions—all playoff teams in 2024. This brutal gauntlet will test the depth and resilience of the roster.
Back-to-back road games late in the year at Buffalo and Los Angeles, followed by a short-week Thursday night matchup at home against the Falcons, make for a tricky stretch in Weeks 11–13. Fortunately, the Bucs enjoy a Week 9 bye that lands perfectly in the middle of the season, allowing recovery and strategic recalibration.
The NFC South remains wide open. The Saints, Falcons, and Panthers all made moves to improve in the offseason. The Bucs’ path to another division crown will hinge on winning these three key matchups. They face all three rivals at least once in the season’s final six weeks, including a season finale at home against Carolina that may carry major playoff implications.
Tampa Bay is scheduled for multiple prime-time games, including a Monday night at Detroit and a Thursday night against the Falcons. These nationally televised games reflect the team’s rising reputation and offer a chance to showcase their stars to a broader national audience.
With nine to ten wins projected by most analysts, the Bucs are considered slight favorites in the NFC South. But if their offense gels under Canales, and the revamped defense can create turnovers- this team has the pieces to make a deeper postseason run.
As the Bucs celebrate their 50th year in the league, expectations are high. With Mayfield entrenched as the leader, Evans chasing history, and a hungry defense, the 2025 season promises fireworks in Tampa Bay.
If they survive the midseason and maintain divisional dominance, a fourth straight playoff appearance (possibly more) could cap off this golden anniversary in fitting fashion.
Tech’s NIL Buzz
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Georgia Tech Athletic Director J Batt is being proactive about the changes going on across the NCAA landscape.
There is an expected $2.8 billion settlement of House v. NCAA this summer. It is expected to afford schools $20.5 million to give to its athletes.
This figure is for athlete compensation across all varsity sports, not just those that generate revenue.
The number represents approximately 22% of average athletic department revenue across power conference athletic departments. The cost could rise to nearly $33 million per school in the next decade.
Batt is part of the settlement implementation committee and he gave an interview about the potential implications.
“From a macro perspective, we’re gonna get a system that’s fair, that’s transparent. We’re gonna get a system that is much more, I would think, kind of balanced across the board,” Batt said. “I think that if we zoom all the way out, that’s what everyone wants to look for, something that is sustainable over time that certainly drives more revenue for student-athletes.
“That, at the end of the day, is a goal we’ve all been working toward and feel like this would put it into place, but also creates some of that structure, some of that transparency, some of that systematic approach to the NIL and revenue sharing going forward.”
The House v. NCAA settlement was officially ratified recently, clearing the way for universities to directly pay athletes starting in 2025.
The settlement is expected to formally take effect on July 1, 2025, after it was approved by Judge Claudia Wilken of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
This is truly the biggest shift ever in college athletics. College is officially pay-for-play for the first time ever. The NCAA cleared several rules banning the practice in the lead-up to the settlement, and the new reality is now here.
Each school is expected to handle the settlement money differently.
“I would tell you that we’re really transparent with our coaches. We’ve got great buy-in across the board. We’ve been planning on how does this happen, what does it look like, for well over a year at this point in time,” Batt continued. “We’ve been working toward not only how we might fund it, how we might deploy it, what internal resources you need. We just did up a whole different vertical with our de facto general manager and enhanced legal team (and) finance to take care of rev share payments. All those sorts of things. It’s a huge shift for everybody in college athletics.”
The expectation is that more than 70% of these funds will be spent on football at power-conference schools. For a school like UConn, they may spend 50% of their budget on men’s basketball.
It still remains unclear how Title IX will factor into the model, though at least some funds will likely be directed toward women’s sports.
Players are being compensated directly but they still will not be classified as employees. They will probably be looked at as independent contractors.
Let Me Re-Introduce Myself
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Well, the Atlanta Braves made some noise and it wasn’t the kind anyone really saw coming.
In a pretty rare midseason move, they’ve shaken up the coaching staff, reassigning third base coach Matt Tuiasosopo and bringing in an old, familiar face. Braves fans, please meet Fredi Gonzalez.
Yeah, that Fredi Gonzalez. The same guy who once managed the Braves, got fired, and was replaced by Brian Snitker is now joining Snit’s staff as the new third base coach.
So, what happened?
Tuiasosopo isn’t being kicked to the curb entirely. He’s moving into a new role as the team’s minor league infield coordinator. The change stems from one big issue, which has been a growing number of overly aggressive sends at third base that cost the Braves runs in close games.
There is no denying that with Atlanta finding itself in more than a few nail biters lately, every base, and every possible run, counts.
What makes this move especially interesting is that General Manager Alex Anthopoulos had never made an in-season coaching change before. Not in Atlanta, not in Toronto, not ever.
He said this was something he’d been thinking about for a while. It wasn’t a snap decision, and it wasn’t just about frustration. It all came down to one thing, and that was the availability of the right guy.
When Fredi Gonzalez’s name came up, everything clicked. He’s got tons of big-league experience, including time as a third base coach under Bobby Cox before managing the Braves and Marlins.
Most recently, he coached with the Orioles and even spent time evaluating umpires and working at a small college in Pennsylvania.
But more than his resumé, Anthopoulos said it had to be someone who could step in right away and be effective.
No guesswork, no experiments. And with Fredi, the reviews around the league were glowing. Add in the fact that he and Snitker are longtime friends who just worked together recently in Philly, and the decision became a lot easier.
Tuiasosopo, to his credit, handled the move like a pro. Anthopoulos said they gave him the option to stay in the organization or move on, and Tui wanted to stay.
He’s still well liked in the clubhouse, and his work with the Braves’ infielders has been a huge part of the team’s defensive success. Now, he’ll continue that impact at the minor league level.
And let’s be real, third base coach is one of the most pressure packed spots on a staff. You’re making split second decisions that can literally swing games.
So, it’s not a knock on Tuiasosopo as a coach or as a person, it just wasn’t the right fit in that role right now. Anthopoulos even said they wouldn’t have made a change unless someone with Fredi’s experience was available. That’s how rare this move was.
There were no other changes considered. Snitker and Anthopoulos both still believe in the rest of the coaching staff. But with the team grinding through so many close games this year, this was a move they felt could make a real difference.
At the end of the day, it’s about getting better wherever you can, even if the change is tough.
Gonzalez brings stability, credibility, and a fresh set of eyes to a spot where the Braves really needed it. Time will tell if it pays off, but if you’re looking for a spark that could turn one-run losses into one-run wins, this might be it.
I’ll Be Back
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Alex Condon will return to Florida for his junior season.
The Florida men’s basketball program’s roster for the 2025-26 season, as of today, is essentially complete: with one starting roster spot available for a development-focused player.
What started out as a slow transfer portal turned into a masterclass by Florida’s newly equipped coaching staff.
It’s readily apparent the Gators have the pieces in place to make a second run for a national championship under head coach Todd Golden, mirroring his predecessor Billy Donovan. As difficult of a feat as it is to accomplish, they are once again a serious contender coming off a National Championship.
As for replacing Walter Clayton Jr., Florida brought in a mid-major transfer, Princeton’s Xaivian Lee, giving the Gators a crafty and explosive guard who excels with the ball in his hands.
Lee has an impressive first step, with the speed to blow by his defender and the court vision to attempt a high-percentage look or find the open man when the defense collapses.
While some may question his ability to succeed at a similar rate in the nation’s toughest conference, Lee consistently dominated Power Four competition when given the opportunity, and he stood out in 2024 at the G League Combine. He proved that he can play and succeed against the country’s best.
Continuing to target the backcourt, Florida keyed in on Ohio University transfer AJ Brown, who will presumably fill a role similar to Will Richard’s: a lights-out shooter from long-range who provides impressive defense and the ability to battle on the boards in the low post.
Brown is projected to begin the season as Florida’s 6th man, followed by center Micah Handlogten, giving the Gators a polished, experienced scorer in the second unit.
Although Brown may not start from the jump in Gainesville, the Gators intend to spend the summer evaluating their rotation. It’s possible Thomas Haugh returns to a bench role, with Brown sliding into the three spot for the Gators.
Only time will tell how Brown fits into UF’s rotation, though it’s in my opinion an impressive addition, one which will benefit his younger brother, Isaiah Brown, too.
Speaking of Isaiah, anyone who is underestimating the Orlando native: it would not be a surprise to see Isaiah Brown play a notably increased role during his sophomore season.
He’s an impressive outside scorer and he’s physical, yet quick enough to defend one through three although he did not display his full potential last season. The coaching staff thinks highly of Isaiah Brown, and that extra regard and attention goes a long way.
Meanwhile, Florida prepared contingency in late April. The Gators’ coaching staff recruited and acquired one of the nation’s top freshmen during 2024-25.
You know, the one who pulled out of the 2025 NBA Draft and will return to college for one more year, but not at Arkansas.
As critical as retention was, it’s the additions that may put Florida firmly back in contention for a title, and not just via the transfer.
After retaining, reconstructing, and retooling, the Gators managed the previous two months as well as any program could hope for, and expectations will undoubtedly be enormous.
Florida should be a preseason top 10, if not a top five team, in the months ahead, and it’s because the Gators are coming off their third national championship in program history AND Florida dominated this spring.
The schedule will be daunting throughout the upcoming season. The non-conference slate should be more challenging than it was during the 2024-25 campaign, and Southeastern Conference play will consistently challenge each of the league’s 16 member schools.
If the Gators stay healthy they will handle the weight of expectation. Perhaps if they keep their underdog mentality from last season, Florida will contend for a second-straight national championship following Condon’s decision to return to Florida.
