Billy Napier Proud of Florida's 'Unique' Offseason Roster Influx
Photo: Billy Napier; Credit: Alex Shepherd
One might not have realized just how significant Florida's roster influx was between Dec. 5, 2022 and Feb. 1, 2023, a span of time in which the first NCAA transfer portal window opened and closed and both the Early Signing Period and National Signing Day occured.
That is totally understandable. Florida has endured painful headline after painful headline over the last two months and change.
Whether it be 22 scholarship transfers out, quarterback Jaden Rashada not making it in, or even the Gators' catastrophic, 30-3 loss to Oregon State in the Las Vegas Bowl, fans have had a lot on their mind aside from how many new players will make up UF's next football roster.
Billy Napier hasn't, though. He's been looking forward.
On Wednesday, Napier shared his excitement that Florida's offseason program is underway with 105 members of the roster in attendance, including nine new transfers that joined the team after the Early Signing Period. 17 high school enrollees, including 2022 grayshirt tight end Tony Livingston, and one transfer were announced in December.
"The nine players we added [after the first signing period] are all here and have been impressive so far. We’ve got 27 new scholarship players who enrolled early which is really unique. I don’t know that I’ve ever been a part of a situation like that," Napier noted. "We’ve also added five new walk-ons so 32 new players. We’re training 105 players right now which is a big number.
"It’s a little bit different energy in the building. When you hear that from all parts of the organization it’s a lot of fun, but more importantly, when veteran members of your team are talking about what they’re experiencing and how things are going well."
The process of flipping Florida's roster to this degree was exhaustive, Napier indicated, with personnel staffers Bird Sherrill and Chase Clark leading the charge alongside assistants in identifying transfer portal talent on a time crunch. All but one member of UF's group of high school signees, offensive tackle Caden Jones being the lone February signee, had committed to the program before December.
The duo will continue to evaluate transfer prospects into the summer when the next NCAA portal window opens on May 1, Napier added, particularly to aquire a fourth scholarship quarterback after Rashada failed to join the team.
“I think we anticipated it. We’ve worked. I can’t emphasize enough the amount of work it takes to get into position to capitalize, if that makes sense," Napier said. "You’re living in the what-if world to some degree in a lot of that. And then as [players] enter the portal, it’s time sensitive. There’s short windows, a lot of long nights.
"Bird and Chase, in particular, to go along with an army of people, we’ve got a ton of other graduate students back there that work overnight sometimes, especially in that window of time. The plan worked, that’s what I would say. I’m really proud of those guys. This is going to make our team better. We knew that we needed to add a huge group of players to our team ... certainly the combination of the guys graduation and some of the attrition, we were in position and ready and I don’t think we’re done.”
Current projections, based on the nature of Florida's roster and the experience of the transfers added, forecast that each transfer could make an impact in some capacity rather immediately.
In particular, quarterback Graham Mertz, guard Micah Mazzccua, offensive tackles Damieon George Jr. and Kiyaunta Goodwin, defensive linemen Caleb Banks and Cam'Ron Jackson and linebacker Teradja Mitchell could all reasonably start for the Gators in 2023 and in some cases beyond.
That group doesn't include running back Cameron Carroll or linebackers Mannie Nunnery and Deuce Spurlock, players at positions that have been bolstered over the last year with higher-profile and/or more experienced acquisitions, who should contribute on special teams and in rotatioal roles.
17 midyear enrollees from the prep level is nothing to take lightly, either. Returns from the group have been positive, per Napier, leading him to prop wide receiver Andy Jean up for example. The Miami (Fla.) Northwestern signee clocked in at 22.5 miles per hour in a workout last week and has weighed in at 200 pounds since being listed at 182 by UF less than two months ago.
"All the metrics are very impressive is what I would say. We’ve got probably eight or 10 different metrics we use, really good reviews, height, lengths, functional movement, verified speed, all the explosive metrics are good," Napier explained. "And, you know, now the work begins.
"Evaluation and recruitment, that’s one entity, the team building, the development, the leadership, the team, the teaching, all that process is started. So, it’s fun to come to work right now, that’s what I would tell you.”
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