Florida coach Billy Napier shouldn’t be involved with hot-seat buzz involving his job safety getting into the 2024 season and Saturday’s opener towards Miami, however is aware of the hypothesis is on the market if the Gators do not impress this fall.
“I am not a idiot,” Napier advised ESPN when requested about these who’ve positioned him on the new seat. “A part of management is you have to have some self-awareness, and you need to make robust choices. You need to make mandatory adjustments. We have executed that. I’ve a ton of confidence. That is all simply a part of the story.”
Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin addressed hot-seat discussions in January, saying he stood totally behind Napier and his plan for this system. That was reassuring for the Gators’ third-year coach.
“You have to take care of the skin noise, however you understand the administration, you perceive the heavy hitters, the massive buyers, they’re totally behind you,” Napier mentioned. “They’re serving to you clear up issues. They’re invested in your group.”
The Gators are going to go in one in every of two instructions this season — there isn’t any in-between or pit stops for street map help going through the nation’s hardest schedule. Florida followers aren’t going to simply accept one other shedding season from Napier, not after signing the a top-15 class within the nation for 2024.
The matchups are what they’re, however regardless of a litany of nationally-ranked opponents, the slate won’t be used as an excuse for lackluster play in Gainesville. Napier’s groups, at their finest, are gritty and that is what Florida should deliver this fall with its offensive entrance and Montrell Johnson within the backfield now that Trevor Etienne is at Georgia.
Consecutive shedding seasons, Napier is aware of, is not ok for the Gators.
“Florida is loads like a number of the different locations I’ve labored,” Napier mentioned. “When it is good, it’s phenomenal. When it is unhealthy, it is horrendous. So, I believe that is the management problem — making an attempt to remain goal and keep regular and actually consider issues for what they’re.” To that finish, he mentioned, “We have work to do, and we’re in the midst of that.”
Essentially the most promising nugget for Napier heading into his third season is the quarterback scenario. Not solely was he capable of get five-star DJ Lagway to stay throughout the early signing interval, however the Texas native seems forward of schedule as a real freshman and really made an impression this spring.
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Lagway is unlikely to redshirt contemplating his expertise degree behind returning starter Graham Mertz. TheWisconsin switch comes off a statistically-noteworthy season and with wideout Eugene Wilson set for an additional banner 12 months, the Gators ought to be ok with their big-play capacity within the passing recreation.
