Former University of Florida head football coach Urban Meyer is joining the ranks of football legends.

On Wednesday, the National Football Foundation (NFF) revealed that Meyer had been elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Meyer, who served as the Gators’ head coach from 2005 to 2010, will become the 14th Florida player or coach to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

He guided the team to two national titles, two SEC Championships, three SEC Eastern Division titles, and six consecutive January bowl appearances, including three BCS bowls.

The 2025 College Football Hall of Fame class will be formally inducted at the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner, held on Dec. 9.

UF football icon Tim Tebow shared that he and his wife Demi-Leigh are expecting their first child.

 

 

 

From sixth man to starter: Clippers’ Norman Powell has quickly become a team star

 

The Southeastern Confernece is celebrated for its intense competition and high-profile athletes, and there’s no question that Florida football quarterback DJ Lagway is right where he belongs.

 

Despite being a freshman and experiencing the expected growing pains, Lagway demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability.

 

During the 2024 season, Lagway started seven games putting up a 6-1 record. He threw for 1,915 yards and completed 115 of 192 pass attempts (59.9%). He has 12 passing touchdowns and nine interceptions.

 

Lagway’s unexpected early start and subsequent success have positioned him as a central figure in the future of Florida football.

 

Seth Emerson, a sports writer for The Athletic, categorized every SEC quarterback in 2025. Emerson placed Lagway, with a handful of other quarterbacks, in the “running it back” group.

 

This is what Emerson wrote about Lagway.

 

What The Athletic said about Lagway

“DJ Lagway got an earlier-than-expected start after (Graham) Mertz’s injury and got better as the season went on. There were some freshman mistakes, as in nine interceptions, but he finished second in the SEC in yards per attempt (10.0) and is the main reason there’s finally some optimism back in Gainesville.”

 

Every SEC quarterback’s QB category

Running it back

 

LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina Gamecocks)

DJ Lagway (Florida Gators)

Nico Iamaleava (Tennessee Volunteers)

Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt Commodores)

 

 

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Nearly two months after a report that the Florida Gators would lose a highly touted freshman for the 2025 season, head coach Kevin O’Sullivan has apparently confirmed the news.

 

Jun 21, 2023; Omaha, NE, USA; Florida Gators head coach Kevin O’Sullivan waits for the start of the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Charles Schwab Field Omaha.

Jun 21, 2023; Omaha, NE, USA; Florida Gators head coach Kevin O’Sullivan waits for the start of the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Charles Schwab Field Omaha.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida Gators baseball head coach Kevin O’Sullivan confirmed on Friday that highly touted freshman pitcher Josh Whritenour will undergo Tommy John surgery and will miss the upcoming season, D1Baseball’s Mark Etheridge announced via X.

 

Sullivan’s apparent confirmation comes nearly two months after a report by former 247 Sports reporter Jacob Rudner regarding a UCL injury Whritenour suffered during a fall outing on Nov. 13. He is expected back for the 2026 season.

 

The 6-foot-2 right-hander from Tampa, Fla., was rated as the No. 12 player and No. 4 righty in Florida by Perfect Game. Additionally, he was rated as the No. 85 recruit and No. 27 right-hander nationally. Whritenour was also recently named the No. 13 overall prospect in the 2027 MLB Draft Class, according to Perfect Game.

 

A product out of A3 Academy, a baseball-focused academic institution, Whritenour participated in the 2024 Perfect Game National Academic Association (PGNAA), where he fanned 55 batters compared to just 16 walks in 40 innings. Moreover, he recorded a 12.4 K/9 in the PGNAA, which led to him being named the 2024 A3 pitcher of the year.

 

Due to his rating and on-field performances, there were chances Whritenour could spurn a collegiate career with the Gators in favor of starting his professional career. According to MLB.com’s top 250 2024 draft prospects, Whritenour was tabbed as the No. 160 overall prospect in the 2024 draft class.

 

At the 2024 MLB Draft Combine, Whritenour shined with a 97-mile-per-hour fastball along with a capable slider and changeup.

 

While losing Whritenour will cause changes for its rotation, the Gators have plenty of talent returning on the mound. Florida returns star pitcher Liam Peterson alongside other hurlers such as Luke McNellie, Jake Clemente, Frank Menendez and Pierce Coppola.

 

The Gators begin the 2025 campaign on Feb. 14 with a three-game home series against Air Force.

 

 

The Florida Gators have emerged from a challenging period and are now making significant strides. The team ended the season with a respectable 8-5 record, which provided a strong foundation for their future. This positive finish came alongside a vote of confidence for head coach Billy Napier, who is now focused on building on this momentum in recruiting. Heading into 2024, Florida boasts a top-11 recruiting class and is still working to secure more talent.

In college football’s ever-evolving landscape, certain regions remain powerhouses for producing top-tier talent, and Florida is undeniably one of them. Texas and Florida consistently produce some of the best athletes in the nation, and Napier is making sure the Gators capitalize on this. Keith Niebuhr, lead publisher at GatorsOnline, recently discussed Napier’s aggressive recruitment strategy on the On3 Recruits YouTube channel. Niebuhr highlighted that Napier is not only visiting current commitments for the 2026 class, including quarterback Will Griffin and cornerback Jaelen Waters, but also heading to southwest Florida to see highly ranked defensive linemen Kendall Guervil and James Johnson.

Billy Napier’s recruitment efforts extend to the IMG Sports Academy in Bradenton, where he focused on offensive linemen. Napier recognizes the importance of building a team from the inside out, and his early visits indicate that he’s prioritizing this strategy. With Florida’s rich talent pool in the 2026 class, the Gators may not need to look far beyond their state’s borders for recruits, which is reflected in Napier’s emphasis on local prospects.

However, with the influx of talent, there are concerns ahead. The growing depth of the roster could become a challenge, as Napier has relied on having a deep squad with competitive options at every position. This strategy may soon be more difficult to maintain due to impending NCAA changes, particularly the roster size limit set to take effect this summer. The new rule will cap rosters at 105 players, a shift that Napier has voiced concerns over, calling it one of the most transformative changes in college football in the past two decades.

 

Florida Gators co-defensive coordinator Ron Roberts as the Gators run through practice drills as they prepare for the start of the season in the swamp at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. August 17th, 2024.

With Shemar James leaving for the NFL draft, the Florida Gators will turn to a young but talented linebacker room in 2025 that will include players like Myles Graham, Aaron Chiles, Grayson Howard and Jaden Robinson. After the production all four linebackers had in 2024 recording a combined 145 total tackles as underclassmen, there was no question that Florida was the place to be for 2025 signees’ Ty Jackson and Myles Johnson.

 

Ty Jackson

 

Arguably one of the best players in the 2025 class for the Gators is linebacker Ty Jackson out of Loxahatchee, Florida. In four seasons played at Seminole Ridge High School, the 6-1, 200-pound linebacker recorded an impressive 391 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, six sacks, five forced fumbles and four interceptions. Jackson was also one of Florida’s six signees that participated in the 2025 Under Armour All-America game, which was the most out of any other program in the country this year. The film speaks for itself, and it didn’t go unnoticed by Billy Napier.

 

“Jackson is one of the best football players I’ve watched in my career. I mean, I watched 800 players a year at Louisiana. Watched about 650 here. His junior film is probably one of the best football players I’ve ever seen,” Billy Napier said on Ty Jackson. “He keeps getting bigger. I remember when he was in camp, he was like 197 pounds. He just keeps getting bigger. Legit track speed. Plays receiver, returner. Just accelerates through contact. Unique play strength for a guy that maybe doesn’t have the bulk.”

 

As a prospect, the four-star linebacker held 29 total offers and was listed as the No. 12 linebacker and No. 123 overall prospect in the 2025 class, according to 247Sports composite rankings.

With his athletic frame, Jackson also played receiver as a junior and recorded 389 receiving yards with six total touchdowns. With his ability to drop back into coverage, change direction and break through opposing offensive lines, I would be shocked if the four-star doesn’t slide into the rotation in 2025.

 

The former USC commit is also listed as ESPN’s No. 1 linebacker in the 2025 class, according to ESPN’s recruiting rankings.

 

Myles Johnson

 

Aside from players like Naeshaun Montgomery, three-star linebacker Myles Johnson is one of those players in Florida’s 2025 class that is better than advertised. As a prospect, Johnson was listed as the No. 65 linebacker and No. 593 overall prospect in the 2025 class, according to 247Sports composite rankings.

The former Alabama commit held only one offer from Liberty University before Nick Saban and then-defensive coordinator Kevin Steele gave Johnson his second scholarship offer. Before backing off his pledge to the Tide, Johnson was claimed to be “Nick Saban’s final recruiting find”, according to The Athletic.

 

Florida’s big win over Kentucky midway through the 2024 season seemed to give Johnson confidence on his commitment to Florida after being pursued by teams like Ole Miss and Georgia late in his recruitment.

 

“I still feel good about it, this win has made me feel a whole lot better about it,” Johnson said on the Kentucky win. “Just staying in touch with the coaches and seeing how they are makes me feel much better about it.”

 

I think we can expect both Ty Jackson and Myles Johnson to get significant snaps next season with the Gators only having four linebackers with starting experience heading into next season. I think the rotation will be very similar to what we saw with Myles Graham and Aaron Chiles as true freshmen. The Gators needed more bodies that they can rely on in the box, and that’s exactly what they got in the 2025 class.

 

The 6-1, 220-pound linebacker from Alabama attended T.R. Miller High School and currently has no defensive stats listed on MaxPreps.

 

 

The transfer portal is now closed for Florida football players, marking the end of the window for anyone to enter. In total, 17 Gators from the 2024 roster have entered the portal, which is a decrease from the 23 players who left last offseason.

Some of these departures were expected, while others could have impacted the team more significantly. Below is a ranking of the losses from least to most detrimental:

#17 – Parker Leise (QB)
Despite his background at IMG, Leise was unlikely to see the field, sitting as the fifth-string quarterback. He didn’t make any appearances in 2024, even when other quarterbacks were injured.

#16 – Andre Morris (DL)
A walk-on from Tampa Jesuit, Morris never played a snap in his two years with the Gators.

#15 – Bryce Capers (DL)
Capers joined as a walk-on and played in three games but didn’t record any tackles during his time at Florida.

#14 – Zak Sedaros (WR)
Sedaros was another walk-on who saw limited action, playing in just two games in three years, although he had notable speed, including a 10.61-second 100-meter dash in high school.

#13 – Christian Williams (OL)
Williams, a low-rated three-star recruit, made occasional appearances but never became a regular part of the offensive line rotation.

#12 – Mike Williams (OL)
Standing 6’6″, Mike Williams had potential as a long-term project but left after just one year, despite not being a top-rated prospect.

#11 – Deuce Spurlock (LB)
After transferring from Michigan in 2023, Spurlock was expected to add depth, but he played sparingly in 2023 and not at all in 2024.

#10 – Quincy Ivory (DL)
Ivory, who had a strong sack record at East Los Angeles CC, never broke into Florida’s defensive lineup, though he contributed on special teams in 2024.

#9 – Gavin Hill (TE)
A former four-star recruit from the class of 2023, Hill never played a snap at Florida. Given the Gators’ two-tight-end usage, his lack of development is a concern.

#8 – Justus Boone (DL)

 

 

Florida football has a plan for upcoming roster limitations, but clarity still needed

 

The transactional age of college football is about to usher in another change — one that has coaches and administrators fearing potential unintended consequences.

 

College football roster sizes are expected to be capped at 105 players for the 2025 season as part of the House vs. NCAA Settlement, which is expected to pass this April.

 

Florida football coach Billy Napier is concerned about the ripple effect after the Florida Gators operated with a roster of 131 players during the 2024 season.

 

“It’s going to be one of the more transformational things in our game in the last 20 years,” Napier said. “I think just relative to your year-round process, how do you practice, how you do all season, how do you develop players. I think it’s a product of revenue sharing, but I would say we lack clarity there.”

 

The SEC has already taken the proactive step of maintaining the scholarship limit at 85 players, with 20 walk-ons, though other conferences can offer up to 105 scholarships if the settlement passes.

 

Napier said having a high level of walk-ons is essential when operating practices during spring and fall camp and through the course of the season.

 

“The issue is we are not the National Football League; we can’t replace players,” Napier said.

 

“Late in the season, scout teams, you’re just gonna have to evolve how you practice, it’s going to be very much the NFL the back half of the year, the sports science component will be critical, you gotta keep them healthy, strength and conditioning, being on top of all the science relative to player load and all the things that we do to prevent injury.”

 

How will Florida football manage roster with 105-player limit

Another issue is how Florida will manage its roster from a talent and depth standpoint going forward. UF had a handful of preferred walk-ons contribute during the 2024 season, including sophomore cornerback Cormani McClain, who returned an interception for a TD against Kentucky, redshirt freshman quarterback Aidan Warner, who started against Texas and redshirt freshman running back Anthony Rubio, who rushed for a TD against Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl.

 

McClain, a former five-star recruit from Lakeland, transferred in from Colorado last spring and was given a substantial NIL deal as a preferred walk-on because Florida was at its scholarship limit last season.

 

“We’re really, literally going to be in a business model,” Napier said. “We have a cap, we have contracts, we have negotiation, we have strategy about how we distribute those funds, and it’s a major math puzzle.”

 

Florida football staff member Jacob LaFrance has served as UF’s director of player personnel in 2024, though UF is in the process of hiring a general manager that will oversee the program in an administrative position. The list of candidates, reported by Edgar Thompson of the Orlando Sentinel last week, includes former Jacksonville Jaguars general manager David Caldwell, current Ole Miss general manager Matt Lindsay, former Atlanta Falcons director of football operations Nick Polk and Rick Mueller, the current director of player personnel for the UFL’s Arlington Renegades.

 

“We’re going to build out a front office here in the next couple of months, and it’s primarily that purpose is to help us manage that huge math problem,” Napier said. “There’ll be a ton of strategy around that, I’m looking forward it.”

 

How Florida football could deal with injuries with the 105-player limit?

Football is the ultimate contact sport and injuries are bound to arise. Napier said based on his studies, an NFL team typically goes through 120 players in a calendar year.

 

While coaching at Louisiana, Napier said he trained160-70 players over the summer before trimming the roster to 135 on the first day of class.

 

“If we got a guy hurt, we make a phone call, we bring a guy up,” Napier said. “So, could you do that? But those are all … it has not been defined for us. We need some clarity.”

 

 

 

 

 

Florida head football coach Billy Napier has had a rocky start to his career in Gainesville. After two losing seasons in 2022 and 2023, it looked like “Sun Belt Billy” would be tucking his tail between his legs and leaving the SEC – similar to Bryan Harsin’s departure in 2022 after a disgraceful tenure at Auburn ended in a firing midway into his second season on the Plains.

 

His replacement was even picked out. Lane Kiffin was a popular pick to replace Napier as the Gators started losing in 2024.

 

A funny thing happened, though: Napier turned to true freshman QB DJ Lagway and the tide abruptly turned at UF. The Gators finished 5-2. Florida upset LSU and Ole Miss and even blew out Tulane 33-8 in the Gasparilla Bowl.

 

The narrative flipped.

 

On3 included UF in its way-too-early top-10 rankings for the 2025 season. And to further the hype in Gainesville, Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde claimed the Gators have more going for them than any other team in the SEC.

 

Forde credits Lagway, RB Jadan Baugh, and the team’s defense for much of that hype.

 

“Florida has as much going for it heading into 2025 as almost anyone in the SEC. It appears to have a rising star QB in sophomore DJ Lagway, and classmate Jadan Baugh might be one at running back. A young defense got considerably better during the ’24 season and should return most of its key players. A stellar freshman class arrives, although it remains to be seen how many of them will contribute immediately. Unfortunately, the schedule is still tough,” Forde wrote.

 

Florida hasn’t made the College Football Playoff since the concept debuted in 2014. That draught could end in 2025.