The tip appeared close to for Florida coach Billy Napier. A 1-2 begin in September — together with a blowout residence loss to rival Miami — had Florida’s energy brokers making ready for a change on the prime. Napier was 12-16 with the Gators, and essentially the most difficult schedule within the nation nonetheless lay forward.
In the meantime, Napier made plans of his personal, ignoring the noise and hypothesis about his future. He “tinkered and tweaked” the offense and protection throughout an early-season bye week. Slowly however certainly, a younger roster led by a fresh-faced quarterback started to mature. Florida gained eight video games, upset ranked LSU and Ole Miss in back-to-back weeks, and recorded this system’s first profitable season since 2020 with 4 straight victories to finish the yr.
“We constructed actually good chemistry, morale and reference to that group,” Napier informed CBS Sports activities. “The soccer wasn’t excellent the primary month, and so they actually took possession of that. Perhaps if you did not have that kind of character, I do not suppose we may have accomplished that.”
Now comes the onerous half: main the Gators to the College Football Playoff and again to the highest of the SEC. Unfair expectation? Definitely. However that is Florida, the place statues of Tim Tebow and Steve Spurrier loom over each triumph and failure, silently judging something lower than perfection. It is Yr 4 for Napier, and a 19-19 file coming into the season is not as much as commonplace. The seat continues to be sizzling — and he is aware of it.
“With the nice comes the unhealthy, proper? There’s solely 16 of those (SEC) jobs. They compensate us. I am grateful for the chance,” Napier stated. “And to be very easy right here, we got here to Florida to do a job, and we have been up for the problem. We have assembled the employees. We recruited each one in every of these guys. We’re gonna end the race, man. I am excited in regards to the workforce we have now this yr.”
Clichés and mottos might coax enchancment from youngsters within the locker room, however soundbites will not win over followers if the soccer workforce is shedding. Needless to say Napier is the Swamp King of slogans. Each speech he delivers is steeped in beliefs. He is humble, powerful and extremely devoted. His boss, athletic director Scott Stricklin, credited 2024’s sturdy end to Napier’s qualities — however he, too, is aware of success might be fleeting in Gainesville.
“I am actually pleased with him for weathering that storm, if you’ll,” Stricklin stated in Could on The Paul Finebaum Present. “You and I each know after we kick off the season Aug. 30, it is going to be one other firestorm and we’re all going to should climate it.”
The altering panorama has weakened athletic division coffers throughout the nation as income sharing with gamers begins and high-dollar NIL offers proceed to discourage from paying hefty coach contract buyouts. Each components performed a task for directors and boosters, who gave Napier a bigger security internet in the course of final season. A $26 million buyout served as a deterrent, however his keep of execution will final solely so long as the profitable does.
The strain is on. Florida wasn’t ranked within the prime 25 at any level final season for the primary time in 10 years however enters this preseason as a authentic top-15 workforce. Sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway is the centerpiece and he is able to carrying the Gators to a playoff berth — so long as he stays wholesome.
He was cleared June 3 to return to full participation in workforce actions after recovering from shoulder and core accidents sustained within the offseason. The No. 1 quarterback in the Class of 2024 got here off the bench final season and wowed analysts with a howitzer for an arm, throwing for 456 yards in his Week 2 debut. He averaged 10 yards per try — second-best within the nation — and ranked third at 16.7 yards per completion throughout the yr.
Extra importantly, Florida was 6-0 when he performed a whole sport and 2-5 when he didn’t.
“DJ goes to do his factor,” Napier stated. “He’ll enhance Yr 1 to Yr 2. It is his workforce. This time final yr, he was simply making an attempt to determine the place the chemistry constructing is. Pair that with the management position and tasting it just a little bit, being hungry for extra — he is manufactured from the appropriate stuff.”
4 of the Gators’ 5 beginning offensive linemen return, together with All-American heart Jake Slaughter. The receiving corps is arguably one of many nation’s 10 greatest, with Eugene Wilson III again and Aiden Mizell set to return after lacking most of final season with an ACL damage. The Gators additionally added UCLA switch J. Michael Sturdivant.
The protection also needs to present marked enchancment after a sluggish begin final season. Coordinator Ron Roberts moved to the press field to name performs after an early bye week, and the unit improved virtually instantly. Florida gave up 34 factors per sport to its first three FBS opponents however allowed solely 13 per sport throughout the season-ending four-game win streak. Seven starters return, together with sacks chief Tyreak Sapp (seven sacks, 13 tackles for loss).
“I’d say it is the very best aggressive depth we have ever had,” Napier stated.
Florida gained six of its final 9 video games, together with its first bowl victory in 5 years. The Gators then signed 247Sports’ No. 7 recruiting class — their first top-10 end since 2020. All however six gamers on the present roster have been recruited by Napier.
“There’s energy in having a veteran workforce, having some gamers which have helped create among the momentum that we have now,” Napier stated. “The No. 1 distinction in our workforce is the idea degree. The work is beginning to resonate.
“Man, we obtained an opportunity to be fairly good.”