The Gators promoted Tyler Miles to Director of Football Strength & Conditioning this offseason, a move that came directly after Criag Fitzgerald took a similar job at Boston College just five weeks after being hired at UF.
Although Fitzgerald’s stint in Gainesville was short, he set the foundation for the new philosophy which Miles has followed and put his own twist on. The reviews on coach Miles have been overwhelmingly positive from both players and coaches.
Florida has struggled to close games under head coach Billy Napier, holding a 4-5 record in one score games and blowing leads to Kentucky and Florida State in the last two years. Napier believes the change in personnel within their strength and conditioning department will help them finish games in 2024.
“I think it’s going to prove to be one of the biggest storylines about this team,” Napier on the strength and conditioning team. “I think we made a philosophy change there. Tyler Miles has been phenomenal. If you ask each one of the players that are here today, and really it would be the consensus amongst our team, the change in approach there, the whole strength and conditioning and sports science, nutrition, training room team, the discipline, the accountability.”
Florida has seen significant progress as a team this offseason relating to body transformations.
“Just from January to April — we do DEXA scans at the beginning of a training block, and then at the end we gained 500 pounds of lean muscle, and we were 500 pounds leaner, as well,” Napier said at SEC Media Days. “We made significant progress. Our team looks different. All the numbers, the metrics, the speeds, the strength improvement, not to mention the culture.”
“I think it’s critical that your players believe in that part of your process, and I think right now, that’s one of the benefits of that change. It’s going to be a huge part of our success this year,” Napier added.
Redshirt junior Damieon George made the transition to guard this offseason after starting 11 games at tackle in 2023. He last logged in at 6’6, 362 pounds, but has reportedly lost 16.9 pounds of fat and gained 15 pounds of lean muscle this offseason, according to Napier.
Other notable weight changes this offseason include WR Eugene Wilson adding 11 pounds, WR Adian Mizell adding 12, OL Rod Kearny adding 17 pounds, S Jordan Castell dropping 13 pounds, and OL Kam Waites dropping 15 pounds.
(Those numbers are from Spring Camp roster weights)
While Florida will need much more than an improved strength and conditioning team to win football games in 2024, it’s certainly positive that the Gators seem to be moving in the right direction with a physical slate of teams on the schedule this season.