Latest news with #BillyNapier
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida, Billy Napier Land Major Recruiting Win On Tuesday
Florida, Billy Napier Land Major Recruiting Win On Tuesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Head coach Billy Napier and the Florida Gators have picked up some steam on the recruiting trail thanks to a key addition on Tuesday. Advertisement The Gators are coming off their first top-10 class under Napier in the 2025 cycle after an 8-5 finish last season, the best output under Napier as he enters his fourth season at the helm in Gainesville. Despite the promising trajectory for the program, Florida hasn't made the splash in the 2026 recruiting cycle just yet. Tuesday's news, however, is a step in the right direction, as four-star safety Kaiden Hall announced his pledge to the Gators. Hall (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) is a two-way star Milton (Florida) High School. The highly-touted recruit received snaps at defensive back and quarterback/wide receiver as a junior last season. Milton High School's Kaiden Hall Tony Giberson/tgiberson@ / USA TODAY NETWORK Hall totaled 32 tackles (3 for loss) on defense while adding 161 rushing yards and two touchdowns with eight receptions for 80 yards on offense in seven games. Advertisement Florida was in competition for Hall with Florida State, Oklahoma and Alabama. Before he took an official visit to the Gators over the weekend, Hall unofficially visited head coach Kalen DeBoer's Crimson Tide in March and went on to name Alabama his leader. But it was the Gators that fought off the SEC foe and in-state rival Florida State for Hall's pledge. He ranks as the No. 6 safety, the No. 17 player in the state and the No. 125 recruit overall in his class (Rivals). Hall joins three other Florida commits in the 2026 cycle, including four-star quarterback Will Griffin, three-star offensive lineman G'Nivre Carr and three-star defensive lineman Jamir Perez. Advertisement There summer period will be a crucial time for Florida to gain some more ground on the recruiting trail as the top recruits in the country take official visits. Related: Nation's No. 1 LB Reacts To Clemson Official Visit As Georgia Leads Recruiting Battle Related: Greg McElroy Didn't Hesitate When Naming The Best Defense In College Football This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Florida football could soar past preseason projected win totals for 2025 campaign
Florida football could soar past preseason projected win totals for 2025 campaign Florida football exceeded expectations in 2024 by snapping a three-season sub-.500 streak with an 8-5 finish that included its first bowl game win since 2019. This all came against one of the toughest schedules among all FBS schools. The Gators once again face a brutal gauntlet of games that will be hard, if not harder than what they battled through last fall. However, unlike years past, the national sports media is beginning to show some confidence in Billy Napier's rebuilding of UF's gridiron gang. CBS Sports writer Brad Crawford put together a list featuring one team from each major conference that he expects to exceed preseason win expectations. His choice for the Southeastern Conference was the Orange and Blue, which is projected for a 7.5-win season (per FanDuel) in 2025. Key factor: Surviving a treacherous first-half slate that includes three preseason top-10 opponents "Oddsmakers haven't had enough of the DJ Lagway hype, yet? It would grow exponentially in the coming months if the Gators are a surprise challenger near the top of the SEC," Crawford begins. "One of the nation's hottest quarterbacks to finish the 2024 season, Lagway played an integral role in Gators wins over LSU, Ole Miss and Tulane to end the campaign. And when taking into account some of the impact skill players Florida signed in its 2025 class, Billy Napier's fourth roster in Gainesville should be his best when paired with four returning offensive linemen," he continues. "Shemar James, Jason Marshall, Des Watson and Jack Pyburn are the only noticeable losses in the starting lineup defensively for new coordinator Vinnie Sunseri, a former safety at Alabama tasked with fixing issues on the back end. Sunseri should be able to get the most out of Florida's depth in the secondary, an area that previously held the team back. It's easy to identify why many outlets have Florida comfortably inside the top 25. This win total seems low for a team with lofty expectations," Crawford concludes. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Check out the watchability rankings for Florida football's top 2025 matchups
Check out the watchability rankings for Florida football's top 2025 matchups The upcoming schedule for Florida football's 2025 campaign appears to be an exciting one — as well as immensely challenging — as the Gators look to build on their success last season. It took Billy Napier three seasons to snap the program's three-season streak of finishing under the .500 mark, breaking through with an 8-5 final record thanks to some superlative efforts on both offense and defense. Among those wins were a few thrilling finishes that will live long in the lore of the Orange and Blue. As for the upcoming season, Florida has a handful of games that CBS Sports writer Will Backus selected for his watchability ratings for every week on the 2025 college football schedule. Specifically, there are seven matchups that ranked among the following tiers: Tier 1 : Become one with your couch: Put your phone on do not disturb. Tell your loved ones not to be concerned if they don't hear from you until Sunday. Make sure your fridge is stocked. : Become one with your couch: Put your phone on do not disturb. Tell your loved ones not to be concerned if they don't hear from you until Sunday. Make sure your fridge is stocked. Tier 2 : Finish that project you've been putting off: So long as it doesn't take you away from the house and also doesn't take you all day. : Finish that project you've been putting off: So long as it doesn't take you away from the house and also doesn't take you all day. Tier 3: If you HAVE to plan for a fall wedding: Not ideal, but you could make it work during these weeks if absolutely necessary. Still, keep a screen handy. Florida at LSU (Tier 1): Week 3 "SEC play starts with a bang this season. Florida's a College Football Playoff dark horse thanks to a strong offseason under coach Billy Napier. The Gators will have a real chance to prove their worth against an LSU team with national title aspirations," Backus offers. Florida at Texas A&M (Tier 1): Week 7 The Aggies embarrassed the Gators in the Swamp last season during the program's championship reunion weekend, marking TAMU's second win in three tries at Florida Field. However, UF also has two wins in three tries at Kyle Stadium and will be looking for revenge — as well as a much-needed victory to wrap the first half of the season. Florida vs Georgia (Tier 1): Week 10 The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party is perennially the top matchup on the Gators' schedule, and while UGA has held the edge in recent years, UF looked like it had a chance in last year's game before DJ Lagway was knocked out of the game before the end of the first half. A healthy quarterback, along with the offseason's reinforcements, nearly guarantees an epic battle in Jacksonville. Florida at Miami (Tier 2): Week 1 "Last season, Miami used an early-season immolation of Florida to catapult itself to a 10-win season. Could the Gators do something similar this in a pivotal year for Billy Napier and the program?" Backus rhetorically questions. Florida at Ole Miss (Tier 2): Week 12 "Both Florida and Ole Miss have playoff upside in 2025 — and both could very well make it — but a head-to-head result could prove crucial when deciding at-large bids," Backus notes. Florida vs Texas (Tier 3): Week 6 "This is one of those weeks, earlier in the season, where the conference pairings don't move the needle much. Florida could make a real statement against Texas," Backus said. Florida vs Tennessee (Tier 3): Week 13 "College football's rivalry weekend is one of the most exciting weeks in sports. The week beforehand? Not so much. Plenty of power football programs tend to schedule a "cupcake" opponent — one that it should beat with ease — in this spot after a long and arduous regular season," Backus concludes. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida Beats Out Three SEC Rivals For Elite OL Recruit
Florida Beats Out Three SEC Rivals For Elite OL Recruit originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Last season, the Florida Gators won eight games for the first time since 2020. Leading the offense for the second half of the season was quarterback DJ Lagway, a five-star true freshman quarterback and the future of the program. With his health a priority for at least the next two seasons, Florida added a key building block to their future offensive line on Sunday. Advertisement Hayes Fawcett of On3 reported that G'Nivre Carr, a towering 6-foot-5, 320-pound interior lineman, has committed to Florida's 2026 class. The three-star recruit chose the Gators over SEC rivals Tennessee and South Carolina. He also held offers from Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M, among others. © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images "Once a Gator, always a Gator! Proud to be a Gator 5=1🐊," Carr said in a statement per Fawcett. Carr becomes the third hard commit in Florida's 2026 class, joining defensive lineman Jamir Perez and quarterback Will Griffin. His commitment signals another long-term win for third-year head coach Billy Napier, who has gone 19-19 in Gainesville but is fresh off his best season at the helm with the Gators. Advertisement Carr's path could align perfectly with the rise of former five-star quarterback DJ Lagway, who threw 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions as a true freshman last fall. By 2026, Lagway will be in his third season under center, with Carr potentially ready to shore up any holes on the offensive line. Following the conclusion of this season, Florida will graduate multiple seniors on the offensive line, including veteran guard Damieon George Jr. Noel Portnjagin and Roderick Kearney sit as the only non-upperclassmen on the two-deep of Florida's depth chart, per Ourlads. Related: College Basketball World Reacts to Xaivian Lee's $6 Million NIL Move This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida Featured in Top Schools for Swedish Recruit in 2026 Class
The Florida Gators are riding high after Billy Napier's first winning season in Gainesville. The Gators look to keep that momentum going in recruiting, pursuing an international prospect from the 2026 class. On3's Hayes Fawcett reported Tuesday that Florida made the top eight for 2026 defensive lineman Valdin Sone. Advertisement The list also featured the Nebraska Cornhuskers, USC Trojans, Auburn Tigers, Texas Longhorns, Georgia Bulldogs and Oklahoma Sooners. Sone comes from PPI Recruits in Malmö, Sweden, who have placed European prospects with various college football programs. Florida comes into 2025 on the back of an 8-5 season, including Napier's first bowl win. Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier.© Matt Pendleton / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The On3 Industry Rankings list Sone as a four-star prospect and the No. 14 defensive lineman in the 2026 class. The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine gives the Gators the best odds of earning Sone's commitment. Florida has a 93.5% chance, followed by Nebraska (1.6%) and Oklahoma (1.4%). Advertisement Florida's 2026 recruiting class has one commit in it thus far, featuring four-star quarterback Will Griffin. The Gators recently lost commitments from four-star linebacker Izayia Williams and three-star safety Devin Jackson. Williams flipped to the Ole Miss Rebels, while Jackson remains uncommitted. College football insiders like Joel Klatt are confident in Florida's chances of having a successful season in 2025. Klatt placed Florida at No. 13 in his post-spring top 25 rankings. Sone is not the only recruit from the 2026 class that Florida is trying to attract to Gainesville. The Gators are also in hot pursuit of five-star receiver Cederian Morgan. Florida's 2025 season opens with Long Island on Aug. 30. Related: Florida Transfer and Top Available Player in Portal Reveals Commitment
