The Gators added another four-star wide receiver, Marquez Daniel, on Saturday.
Regardless of restricted on-field success in three seasons as Gators head coach, Napier’s robust recruiting class ought to give him further job safety forward of the 2025 season.
In February, The Athletic’s Seth Emerson ranked Napier No. 2 in his SEC teaching scorching seat rankings.
Via his first three seasons at Florida (2022-24), Napier has a 19-19 document, together with 1-1 in bowl video games. He posted his first profitable season final 12 months, going 8-5 and main the Gators to a Gasparilla Bowl win.
2024 five-star quarterback recruit D.J. Lagway had a promising freshman season, profitable late-season residence video games in opposition to LSU and Ole Miss, eliminating each from the School Soccer Playoff dialog.
Whereas expectations is perhaps increased for the Gators, they might discover it troublesome to enhance a lot from final season.
Per ESPN’s Football Power Index, Florida has the nation’s hardest power of schedule. It ought to start the season 2-0 with video games in opposition to FCS Lengthy Island and South Florida, however a brutal stretch follows.
Florida performs LSU and Miami in back-to-back weeks on the highway. Following a bye, it hosts Texas, then travels to Texas A&M. The Gators additionally play Georgia and Tennessee in The Swamp whereas getting Ole Miss on the highway.
It is a daunting schedule with a number of land mines. Florida is unlikely to emerge unscathed, however Napier may.
Along with his recruiting success, the Gators would danger shedding their proficient prospects by firing Napier ought to Florida underwhelm this fall.
According to Reuters, Daniel, an Alabama native, defined his choice to decide to Florida by saying, “What makes Florida stand out to me are the teaching employees. Coach Napier can be a nice coach.”
McCoy additionally praised Napier and the teaching employees, crediting the “household environment” as a serious attract his alternative.
Florida is not the ability it as soon as was, and it is unclear whether or not Napier is the proper coach to return this system to glory. However with each high-profile recruit who commits to the Gators, the possibilities improve that he’ll be round in 2026.
