Category: Florida Gators

The Florida football team is preparing for the 2025 season, with a crucial offseason ahead, especially with the transfer portal now open. The Gators, who exceeded expectations this year with a 7-5 record, are looking to strengthen their roster, particularly in the secondary, and have already set their sights on a few standout players in the portal.

Jalen Stroman, S, Virginia Tech
A major target for Florida is safety Jalen Stroman from Virginia Tech. With his impressive performances over the past seasons, Stroman could bring much-needed experience to the Gators’ defense, which is a priority for improvement heading into 2025.

Zachariah Branch, WR, USC
Another significant name in the portal is USC’s dynamic wide receiver, Zachariah Branch. Known for his explosive playmaking ability, Branch could form a dangerous duo with quarterback DJ Lagway, should he commit to Florida. Additionally, reports suggest Branch could potentially be joined by his brother, Zion Branch.

Zion Branch, S, USC
Zion Branch, a safety, is also in the portal and could be a perfect fit for Florida’s secondary. With 41 tackles and a sack during his time at USC, Zion would help solidify Florida’s defense alongside his brother Zachariah. Landing the Branch brothers would be a huge boost for the Gators’ 2025 campaign.

The transfer portal has become an essential part of modern college football, and for the Gators, it presents an opportunity to significantly enhance their roster. While the window for transfers runs from December 9 to December 28, with another window in April, Florida is well-positioned to make key additions that could propel the team to greater success next season.

 

The Florida Gators earned a significant win over North Carolina on Tuesday, yet in an unexpected turn, they dropped a

spot in the NCAA NET rankings, falling from sixth to seventh place despite maintaining an undefeated record.

The Gators had been comfortably at No. 5 prior to their matchup with the Tar Heels. Typically, a Quadrant 1 win would boost a team’s ranking or at least keep it steady, but in this case, Florida was left perplexed.

In a strange development, Iowa State overtook the Gators without even playing on Tuesday. This raises questions about how a team can fall after such a major win. The most likely explanation centers around differences in Quadrant 1 victories, with Iowa State having three Q1 wins that were considered valid just a day before.

Both teams have identical records in Quadrant 2 games, with no losses in Quadrants 3 or 4. So, what’s the reason for the shift?

To make sense of this ranking puzzle, we need to look at the Wins Above Bubble (WAB) metric. Iowa State leads Florida with a 6-0 record, compared to Florida’s 5-0. This metric, developed by BartTorvik.com, is similar to baseball’s WAR (Wins Above Replacement) and has been integrated into the NET rankings this season.

WAB calculation involves a complex plus-minus figure, making its application to a wins-and-losses format a bit tricky. While we can’t fully decode the formula, it certainly explains Florida’s slight drop in rankings.

It’s important to note that “rankings” might be a misleading term; the NET is essentially an evaluation tool, as indicated by its name. The selection committee has the final say in how these rankings are interpreted. Still, it’s puzzling for fans to see Florida fall after such a notable win.

As we dive deeper into the numbers, it’s worth mentioning that this season marks the seventh year of the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings, which replaced the RPI system in 2018-19.

While the traditional Top 25 polls might capture attention, it’s the NET rankings that the NCAA Tournament selection committee uses to assign seeds in March. These rankings are organized through a quadrant system, with Quadrant 1 (Q1) wins being highly valued and Q3 and Q4 losses being significant drawbacks.

Before diving into Florida’s season, it’s essential to understand the quadrant breakdown. The location of a game plays a vital role in determining its quadrant classification, alongside the quality of the opponent. As the season progresses, the evaluation of victories may shift.

Florida’s earlier win over Florida State was a Q1 victory at the time but has since been reassigned to a Q2 win based on updated criteria.

On a more positive note, the Gators currently have two strong Q1 wins over No. 50 Arizona State and No. 37 North Carolina, both secured at neutral sites. Their only Q2 win came against Florida State (No. 76) on the road. However, their neutral-site victory over Wichita State (No. 124) has since dropped to Q3 status.

Additionally, Florida boasts wins over South Florida (No. 186), Virginia (No. 101), and Wake Forest (No. 104), maintaining a perfect 4-0 record against Q3 teams. Wake Forest’s win is on the edge of moving to Q2 territory, as it occurred at a neutral site and is just shy of the No. 100 cutoff, while Virginia ranks higher but was won at Florida’s home court.

Moreover, Florida remains undefeated against Q4 teams, with four wins at home over Florida A&M (No. 311), Grambling (No. 295), Jacksonville (No. 168), and Southern Illinois (No. 180). Although these teams have slim chances of advancing to Q3 status, the latter two are close to surpassing the No. 161 threshold.

 

 

Gasparilla Bowl another chance for Florida football offense to grow under freshman QB DJ Lagway

Each game presents another step in the growth of Florida football freshman quarterback DJ Lagway.

 

When the Florida Gators face Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl on Friday at Raymond James Stadium (3:30 p.m., ESPN2), it’ll be another chance for the 6-foot-3, 239-pound Lagway to command an improving UF offense.

 

Call it a final exam for Lagway, who improved to 5-1 as a starter after leading the Gators to a 31-11 win over FSU to close the regular season in his last start on Nov. 30.

 

“We were a little rusty the last go-around, so I do think there’s another level there,” Florida football coach Billy Napier said. “But you know balance, good situational football and then obviously keep DJ clean and play well around him, we’ve got to get good play in every position around him, so, we know what winning football looks like that’s what we’re going to do.”

 

Lagway went 14 for 22 for 133 yards with two TDs and an interception in his last outing against the Seminoles but was victimized by a few drops on an unseasonably cold night.

 

“Playing quarterback is sometimes like playing golf,” Florida co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Russ Callaway said. “Every now and then you’re going to hit a bad shot, and sometimes when you move maybe your feet are not quite on balance the way they’re supposed to be.

 

“Yeah, we’ve done a really good job of preparing this bowl prep of pocket movement, and he already does that anyway, but it’s one of those things it wasn’t his best in that area but he’s been really good throughout the course of the year and he’s only going to continue to get better.”

 

Why DJ Lagway has excelled as the Florida football starting QB

From Lagway’s first career start against Samford, when he connected on six pass plays of 30 yards or more, he’s demonstrated the ability to throw deep balls with accuracy. Enrolling in January helped Lagway learn the intricacies of playing quarterback at the college level. Napier said Lagway has grown immeasurably in that area.

 

“He’s a more advanced player,” Napier said. “He understands, fronts, pressures, coverages, how his concept marries up to what defensive concept we’re getting, just kind of knows the problems and can kind of get ahead of that.”

 

Callaway said Lagway’s football IQ allowed the staff to feel comfortable expanding the playbook as the season progressed.

 

“He’s one of the rare guys at an early age has been hungry and has this laser-like focus and knows what he wants to accomplish,” Callaway said. “He doesn’t just talk about it, he does it.”

 

An example, Callaway said, is the time Lagway spends at the Heavener Center, studying film.

 

“You’ll go up there multiple times throughout the weekend, early in the morning, late at night, you’re not surprised to see that guy up there,” Callaway said. “That’s why he’s having success.”

 

How the Florida football offense can evolve under DJ Lagway

Callaway said the key is to continue to play to Lagway’s strengths. When Lagway suffered a hamstring pull against Georgia that forced him to sit out the following game against Texas, it limited his dual-threat ability for the remainder of the regular season. But with more time to heal, it’s an aspect of his game that he could either showcase against Tulane or keep under wraps for his sophomore season.

 

“He’s exceeded our expectations, not just from a physical standpoint but from a mental standpoint,” Callaway said. “His strengths are obviously the deep ball accuracy. He can move with his legs, he has been incredible in the pocket so we’ve got to do a good job of setting up the run, mix in movements every now and then with him and let him throw it deep when we’ve got one-on-one and hopefully our guys can come down with it.”

 

As to whether Florida could open up the offense with four or five-wide receiver formations with Lagway in the future, Callaway said: “It’s something we can definitely do. Again, I think it goes back to the best 11 that you’ve got, the best 11, if it’s four tight ends, if it’s four wide receivers, whoever it is it’s your job as an offensive coach to get the best 11 on the field and get the guys who make plays consistently, get them the ball.”

 

With All-American center Jake Slaughter and left tackle Austin Barber announcing their decisions to return to UF next season, Florida will boast an experienced offensive line with four returning starters to protect Lagway and help establish the run.

 

“DJ is a very good player and we’ve got veteran guys coming back,” Barber said. “He’s had a year under his belt with him growing and developing. I’m just really excited about that.”

 

 

 

Florida Gators defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong coaches Florida Gators defensive back Sharif Denson (0) during University of Florida Gators Spring football practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday,

Florida Gators defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong coaches Florida Gators defensive back Sharif Denson (0) during University of Florida Gators Spring football practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun] / Doug :

Heading into its bowl game against Tulane, the Florida Gators already saw changes to its coaching staff with defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong departing for the same position at Houston.

 

UF head coach Billy Napier on Tuesday made his first public statement on Armstrong, who leaves after two seasons with the Gators.

 

“Yeah, well, first of all, congratulations to Austin,” he said.”I think it’s obviously getting a chance to call the defense and lead the group. I think that’s his passion, and we were very supportive in that regard.”

 

Despite holding the defensive coordinator title for two seasons, Armstrong, who signed a three-year, $3.6 million contract when hired by UF, only called plays on defense for his first season in 2023. That season, the Gators had the No. 69 total defense (382.3 yards per game) and the No. 75 scoring defense (27.6 points per game).

 

As a result of the struggles along with other staffing moves, Napier hired former Auburn defensive coordinator Ron Roberts as the team’s Executive Head Coach, Co-Defensive Coordinator and Inside Linebackers Coach. It was later revealed that Roberts had also taken over as the full-time defensive play caller, and he spent most games in the booth while Armstrong was on the sideline.

 

The changes weren’t immediate as the Gator defense struggled mightily through three of the first four games, but the team saw a tremendous turnaround midway through the year with midseason wins over UCF and Kentucky, strong performances in close losses to playoff teams Tennessee and Georgia and three-straight wins to end the regular season.

 

In wins over LSU, Ole Miss and Florida State, which moved Florida from a 4-5 record to a 7-5 finish, the Gator defense only allowed 14.6 points per game, sacked the quarterback 19 times and had nine takeaways.

 

Now, Florida will turn the page and look for Armstrong’s replacement. With Roberts holding the defense play calling role and a position coaching role with one year left on his contract, it’s unclear how exactly Napier will want to fill Armstrong’s spot and if that will even be on the defensive staff.

 

“I think all that is to be determined,” Napier said. “I think we’re going to try to get the bowl game out of the way, and then take a deep breath and kind of see where we’re at. But we’re excited for Austin, and we’re thankful for all the hard work he did here.”

 

Florida and Tulane kick-off in the 2024 Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl on Friday at 3:30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

Florida football enters the Gasparilla Bowl with a three-game win streak and as the favorite against Tulane.

Florida football arrived in Tampa for the Gasparilla Bowl on Monday a confident bunch.

 

A three-game win streak catapulted the Florida Gators (7-5) back into the postseason after a one-year absence, and the setup couldn’t have worked out better. Florida enters its matchup with Tulane (9-4) at Raymond James Stadium on Friday (3:30 p.m., ESPN2) as 14-point favorites, per BetMGM,.

 

A big reason why is due to the quarterback situation at both schools. Florida freshman quarterback DJ Lagway is 5-1 as a starter and poised to close the season out strong after an impressive rookie campaign in which he’s thrown for 1,610 yards with 11 TDs to seven interceptions.

 

Tulane, meanwhile, is forced to counter with backup quarterback Ty Thompson after starter Darian Mensah entered the transfer portal following Tulane’s 35-14 loss to Army in the American Athletic Conference title game. Thompson himself is somewhat of a lame duck, as he entered the portal as well but has been given permission by Tulane coaches to compete in the game in an attempt to boost his stock. He’s completed just 6 of 11 passes for 74 yards on the season, but presents a threat with his legs with 243 rushing yards and six rushing TDs.

 

Florida could have possibly faced a harder challenge in a higher-profile bowl against Duke in the Gator Bowl or Texas Tech in the Liberty Bowl had Alabama reached the College Football Playoff. Instead, Florida will get to wrap its postseason up before Christmas playing in its home state.

 

“The way the dominoes fell in the playoff, I think, affected our league in general from a bowl perspective,” Florida football coach Billy Napier said. “But at this point, our crew, we get another opportunity to compete again.”

 

Florida football more enthused about playing in a bowl than two years ago

Two years ago, when Florida finished its first regular season under Napier at 6-6, the Gators traveled across country to play in the Las Vegas Bowl. It didn’t go well, as the undermanned Gators were hammered 30-3 by No. 14 Oregon State.

 

Several draft-eligible UF players sat out the game, including starting quarterback Anthony Richardson and linebacker Ventrell Miller. Jack Miller, who never fully recovered from a broken thumb in his throwing hand, started at quarterback. Florida needed an Adam Mihalek 40-yard field goal with 37 seconds left to keep its 34-year streak of failing to be shut out alive.

 

This season, Florida players are opting in, not out. Wide receiver Elijhah Badger and defensive lineman Cam Jackson are among draft-eligible players competing.

 

“That’s part of the positive here,” Napier said. “Sometimes you’ll have a guy pack it up and head off and start training, but I think these guys enjoy each other’s company. And I think this team, when we look back at it, I think this ‘24 team, what they were able to accomplish, the way they finished, I think would be significant in the future.”

 

Will Florida football need to guard against overconfidence facing Tulane?

Florida handled being heavily favored when it closed the regular season, dispatching rival Florida State, 31-11, in Tallahassee. Tulane won’t provide the same type of rivalry motivation, but Florida also hasn’t won a bowl game since 2019, which would present another step forward in Napier’s third season.

 

“Their quarterback situation is still a little iffy, but they still have a great team, great weapons on the outside,” Florida linebacker Shemar James said. “I think it will be a great game Friday.”

 

Napier has high respect for Tulane coach Jon Sumrall, who, like himself, has Sun Belt Conference roots. Sumrall went 23-4 in two seasons at Troy before taking over for Willie Fritz at Tulane in 2024. Prior to coaching at Troy, Sumrall served as a linebackers coach in the SEC at Ole Miss and Kentucky.

 

“They’ve got a formula that works for them, you know, from a winning perspective,” Napier said. “I think they play really good defense; they’re committed to the run.

 

“Sumrall has had a terrific track record as head coach, you know, to compete for the conference championship this year as a first-year coach, I thought was impressive. And then, you know, familiar with him from his background in the SEC and then certainly watched closely what he was able to do at Troy. So, they’ve got a really good football team. I mean, I think in that part of the country, you can put a talented roster together. I’m very familiar with that.”

 

 

Gators sophomore edge rusher TJ Searcy announced on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter, that he was entering the transfer portal. Searcy

played in all 12 UF games in 2024, totaling 34 tackles (20 solo and 14 assisted) in five starts.

Coach Billy Napier spoke about Searcy’s decision at a press conference Tuesday in Tampa.

“We wish TJ nothing but the best, and maybe we’re not done there, we will see. But just think it’s a product of the world we’re living in,” Napier said. “TJ has done a great job for us, he’s been a productive player, he’s done a good job off the field. He’s really grown up a lot, proud of him and nothing but respect for him.”

Searcy had four tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles. A native of Thomaston, Georgia, Searcy made his mark as a freshman in 2023. He tallied 26 tackles and earned a spot on the Freshman All-SEC team.

Searcy ended 2024 strong with five tackles and a fumble recovery in the Gators’ 31-11 win over Florida State. Searcy’s post on X doesn’t indicate whether he plans on playing in the Gasparilla Bowl Friday vs. Tulane in Tampa.

“It’s definitely very important for me,” Searcy said during the season when asked about making a bowl. “It means a lot because last year I didn’t get one, so I definitely want to experience one.”

Searcy is the fourth edge rusher to depart Gainesville, along with Justus Boone, Quincy Ivory and Jack Pyburn. The interior D-Lineman room also suffered loss with Cam Jackson, Desmond Watson and Joey Slackman all graduating.

Napier said he isn’t worried about the edge rushers for Friday’s bowl game. He added that the deepness causes some problems in a way.

“I do think we’ve got some guys that can play over there, Kam (James) and LJ (McCray) can easily slide over there and play not to mention George (Gumbs),” Napier said. “It’s a deep room so I think we’ll be OK and obviously we’ve got some good rookies coming in and that’s a position where we could potentially go add another player here.”

The Gators’ Class of 2025 includes just one edge rusher in 4-star Jayden Woods.

 

 

Florida football starting center Jake Slaughter added another honor to his growing list of accolades as he was named an AP first-team All-American on Monday.

 

A redshirt junior from Sparr, the 6-foot-5, 308-pound Slaughter joined the late Bill Carr (1966) and Maurkice Pouncey (2009) as just the third center in Florida Gators history to earn first-team All-American honors.

 

Slaughter started all 12 games for UF this season and in 728 snaps, allowed only one sack, one QB hit, six QB hurries and eight pressures while committing only three penalties. He graded out as the top center in the SEC and UF’s top offensive player, best pass blocker, and best run blocker per Pro Football Focus (PFF).

 

In addition to earning AP first-team All-American honors, Slaughter has earned honors of 247Sports/CBS Sports All-American Second Team, PFF All-American First Team, CFN All-American Second Team, AP All-SEC First Team and USA Today All-SEC First Team.

 

With the accolade, Slaughter will have an inscribed brick outside The Swamp that will note the honor.

 

“It doesn’t get much better than that,” Slaughter said.

 

Slaughter also announced at a Gasparilla Bowl press conference in Tampa that he intends to return for his senior season.

 

“I feel like we have a lot of unfinished business,” Slaughter said. “I love this place, love being around all the guys. It seemed like all-around the right decision.”

 

Slaughter joins guard O’Cyrus Torrence (2022) as the second AP All-American in three years under Bill Napier. In all, 13 UF offensive linemen have earned AP All-American honors, a list that includes Pouncey, Carr and Pro Bowler Lomas Brown (1984).

 

Florida football coach Billy Napier praised Slaughter’s leadership along with his high level of play.

 

“He has a way about him that’s inspired confidence to the players around him,” Napier said. “I think he’s helped that room as a whole, that room is as healthy as it’s been since we’ve been here, not only the caliber of player but the culture of that room as he’s been at the center of that.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former Florida football edge rusher Jack Pyburn is heading to a rival SEC school.

 

The 6-foot-3, 265-pound Pyburn has committed to LSU. Pyburn announced the commitment on social media on Monday.

 

A junior with one year of eligibility remaining, Pyburn started eight of 12 games for UF this past season. The former Jacksonville Bolles standout emerged as one of the top defensive players for the Florida Gators during the 2024 season, ranking second on UF in tackles (60), with four tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and one interception.

 

Pyburn’s decision to enter the transfer portal last week surprised some, given how he emerged as a leader on UF’s defense. Last week, Florida football coach Billy Napier said he loved Pyburn “like a son.”

 

“He’s made a tremendous impact on our team, not only with his production on the field, but his attitude, his energy,” Napier said.

 

Pyburn is the second high-profile UF player to leave for a rival school in the past two years. Last season, running back Trevor Etienne left UF for Georgia. Etienne has rushed for 571 yards and nine TDs this season, including the game-winning TD in UGA’s 22-19 win over Texas in the SEC Championship game.

 

Florida will play at LSU in its SEC opener Sept. 13. The Gators snapped a five-game losing streak to LSU this past season, beating the Tigers 27-16 at The Swamp on Nov. 16.

 

 

Billy Napier enters his fourth year at Florida with fans still uncertain about his future. After a 4-5 start in 2024, and with a 15-19 record under his belt, many had called for his firing. However, back-to-back upsets against LSU and Ole Miss, along with a win over Florida State, gave the Gators a late-season boost of hope, leaving Napier with a chance to prove himself in 2025.

Despite his recent successes, Napier’s tenure has been marked by doubts. Prior to the late-season wins, many believed Florida was being misled into thinking Napier’s 15-19 record was acceptable. Fans had expressed frustration with repeated heavy losses and poor coaching decisions. Before the Texas blowout, it was clear that Napier’s team had struggled, losing by 17 or more points in seven games, a sign of ongoing issues. Additionally, questionable decisions, such as mismanagement against Arkansas and lack of game sense in losses to FSU and Missouri, contributed to a growing lack of faith.

Yet, even in the aftermath of a crushing loss to Texas, the narrative wasn’t entirely negative. While Napier did make mistakes, there was acknowledgment that the Florida program was in disarray when he took over from Dan Mullen. Still, his record remained subpar, especially given that Florida’s talent was consistently ranked among the top 15 in the nation. At times, it seemed that Napier’s “process” became an excuse for slow reactions or lack of innovation, as he failed to adapt quickly when his initial plans faltered.

Now, with 2025 on the horizon, Napier has a significant chance to turn things around. The recent wins have provided some optimism, but much will depend on his ability to address the underlying issues that have plagued his tenure so far.

 

 

 

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Florida football edge defender Jack Pyburn’s decision to enter the transfer portal confused fans all across college football — especially the Gator Nation.

 

Why would one of the primary pillars of the Gators’ defense want to leave a team that’s clearly creating an identity on the defensive side of the ball and is on the rise?

 

Well, according to reports by Zach Abolverdi of Gators Online, Pyburn demanded a $45,000 monthly stipend, a guaranteed starting position as an outside linebacker, an assurance of playing on third downs and increased snaps in the rotation.

 

The Gators declined these requests by Pyburn which resulted in his entry into the transfer portal.

 

These demands, particularly the hefty financial request and the guaranteed playing time, are not typical in college athletics, where competition and performance are supposed to dictate playing time and roles.

 

This situation raises several crucial questions about the future of college sports. Are we entering an era where player demands become increasingly bold and universities are forced to weigh the potential benefits of acquiescing against the risks of unmanageable precedents?

 

Pyburn’s case could signal a shift in player empowerment, influenced by the recent changes in NIL rights, which allow players to earn from endorsements.

 

While some may argue that Pyburn’s demands are a natural evolution in a landscape where athletes are looking to maximize their opportunities, others see this as a slippery slope that could undermine the foundational value of collegiate sports.

 

Guaranteeing playing time and significant financial compensation regardless of on-field performance could threaten the competitive integrity and the educational mission of college athletics.

 

For the Florida football program, while losing a player of Pyburn’s caliber is a setback, it also reinforces the team’s commitment to a competitive and merit-based approach to player management.