The Florida Gators will finally take the field for the first time under Billy Napier on Saturday when they take on Utah in the Swamp.
The Napier era is one that has a lot of fans excited as he and his staff have turned around a lot of things inside the Gators’ program but starting Saturday, we will see how much he has turned around the team.
This season starts off tough with Utah on Saturday, followed by a good Kentucky team before the Gators get South Florida in week 3.
There are a lot of questions surrounding the football team heading into the season and the GatorCountry team will give you their preview of the season as well as make some predictions.
What are your keys for this team to be successful this year on offense?
AS: I’m going to sound like a broken record from years past but for this offense to be successful they must get good play from the offensive line. The offensive line has got to be able to create holes for the running back as this Gators’ offense will be successful if they’re able to run the ball and then let Anthony Richardson play off the run. Napier has said from day one that he wants to be more physical and if that turns out to be true then the Gators’ offense has a chance to be successful.
Nick: The Gators are going to need the wide receivers to create separation. If the Gators can only run the ball effectively, teams will start to key in on it. We know that Richardson is capable, but he will need the pass catchers to be effective if the offense is going to thrive. I’m looking at Justin Shorter and Xzaiver Henderson as two guys that need to step up.
Gentry: It all starts with the offensive line and how consistent Anthony Richardson is this season. The offense must eliminate penalties and unforced errors. If the offensive can do that, I expect the running backs and everyone else to thrive this year.
What are your keys for this team to be successful this year on defense?
AS: The Gators need to create pressure up front, and they need someone to step up to replace Zach Carter on the edge. Outside of creating pressure, the Gators need good linebacker play, and getting back Ventrell Miller will be huge for this defense. Miller is the leader and captain of the defense and he should help this defense out a lot this year.
Nick: The Gators will need to be dominant on the defensive line, specifically with run defense. The Gators struggled to stop the run last year, ranking poorly in the SEC. If the Gators want to have a competitive defense, they will need to keep their front seven healthy.
Gentry: Like the offense, it all starts with the front four as well as eliminating undisciplined penalties. The defense must improve on tackling and pass coverage compared to what it was last season. That includes not just the defensive backs, but the linebackers as well. I expect this defense to take a huge step in Coach Toney’s new defense here at Florida.
Who will be the offensive MVP? Just for fun, we will pick someone not named Anthony Richardson as I think it’s pretty much known that Richardson must play at high level for this offense to really succeed.
AS: Ricky Pearsall is the guy that I think will be the top offensive guy for this team as the Gators need a receiver to step up and be the go-to guy for Anthony Richardson. Pearsall has shown in the past at Arizona State that he can be that guy and all reports from practice have been that he can take the top of the defense.
Nick: I’m going to go with Montrell Johnson. Johnson punched his ticket into the endzone 12 times as a true freshman with Louisiana. I think Johnson has a great chance to be a red zone threat this season for the Gators. Johnson is an elite athlete, and I could see him scoring 10+ touchdowns again.
Gentry: I think Running Back Nay ‘Quan Wright has a great chance to be the MVP on offense this season. Now that Wright is 100% healthy and ready to go, I expect him to have a huge breakout season under Billy Napier and this new offense. He’s patiently waited his turn and I think he’s ready to show out.
Who will be the defensive MVP?
AS: Ventrell Miller is my pick here and it was close between him and Gervon Dexter. I went with Miller because the Gators need someone to step up and be the captain of the defense and lead this linebacker group. Miller is the physical linebacker that will be key early on, especially in the Utah game where the Utes will try to run against the Gators.
Nick: Gervon Dexter. Dexter is a guy that can impact the game in several different ways and is seeking a breakout year. His versatility will allow him to impact the team wherever he is needed. Dexter will need to have a great year if Florida’s going to have a sound defense.
Gentry: Defensive lineman Tyreak Sapp, without any hesitation. Sapp is someone I’ve eagerly been waiting to see hit the field ever since he arrived in Gainesville. I think the spring game did enough justice on what to expect from Sapp this season. He’s quick, has great hands and technique, and plays with a fire that this gator defensive line has been missing for a while. He reminds me a lot of former Florida Gator Dante Fowler Jr.
Who will be the most valuable freshman?
AS: Nick stole my pick, but I’ll stick with my pick in Shemar James. James has been one of the top if not the top freshman of fall camp. James picked up the Gators’ defense very quickly and will likely be a starter by the end of the year. James played running back in high school as well as linebacker so he will be a linebacker that covers in space and be a real asset in covering the opponent’s passing attack.
Nick: The most valuable freshman will be Shemar James. James has impressed the coaching staff thus far. Although he’s a part of a crowded LB room, you can expect to see him in the rotation early on.
Gentry: I think Cornerback Devin Moore will easily be the most valuable and impactful freshman for this team. Given the lack of depth at the cornerback position, Moore will likely see plenty of playtime. Moore had an amazing fall camp and I expect him to have a huge freshman season in Coach Toney’s defense.
What will the Gators’ record be at the end of the season?
AS: I’m going with an 8-4 record for the Gators this season and I think that will be a successful year for this team. A lot of this pick depends on the Gators staying healthy as quality depth is a concern for this team. Billy Napier has tried to improve the depth of this team so if they can stay healthy an 8-4 record is reachable.
Nick: I have the Gators at 8-4 this season. If the Gators can stay healthy, I don’t see how the Gators finish as a .500 team. I think there’s a lot of unnecessary hype coming from some Florida opponents this year. I think you will see improvements on defense, primarily due to scheme changes.
Gentry: This one is tough. If all goes well, I think the Gators go 9-3 or 8-4. Those losses coming from Kentucky and/or Tennessee, Georgia, and Texas A&M. Anthony Richardson staying healthy will be the key here.
What game is the most important to the season?
AS: The Kentucky game for me is the most important game and it really comes down to it being the first SEC opponent but also because the Wildcats have a lot of hype heading into the season. The Gators could be 0-1 heading into that game, and you do not want to start 0-2 so finding a way to win this game will be big. Obviously, the Georgia and Florida State games are always important because they’re against your rivals.
Nick: Normally, I would say Georgia. This year I’m going to pick Utah as the most important game on the schedule, for several reasons. First, there are 32 and counting high school recruits attending this game, including arguably the top player in 2023 and 2024. The Gators will need to impress. Second, It’s the first game of the season and Billy Napier’s first as the Gators’ head coach. A win here would create a lot of buzz around the University of Florida, Billy Napier, and our football team. The confidence in the locker room could get this team going to unexpected heights. It would just create a lot of momentum for our football program. Lastly, It’s a top ten opponent. I know it’s not an SEC team, but most people aren’t expecting Florida to make a serious run for an SEC title. If the Gators were to get a win here, that all changes.
Gentry: In my opinion, this first game against Utah is the most important football game of the season. Coming out with a win would be a huge momentum boost for the rest of the season. Regardless, this game will show us a lot about this year’s team and what to expect this season.
Outside of winning the championship, what will make this season a successful one?
AS: I’ll be the first to say that if you don’t win a championship then it’s hard to say you had a successful season, but I think looking at expectations heading into the year we need to set some goals for this team. Being a more discipline team is goal number one for me as being one of the most penalized teams in the country is embarrassing. Outside of that, I want to see this team be a more physical team as Billy Napier has talked about. Seeing the Gators be able to run the ball and create pressure up front will be huge for me.
Nick: I think taking 2/3 from Kentucky, Tennessee, and FSU would make this a successful season. Winning on the road has been difficult for Florida in years past. Two of those games will be on the road and I think all three of those teams match up with Florida similarly in terms of skill. I want Napier to show that he’s capable of winning on the road and that he can take care of teams with similar or less talent than the Gators.
Gentry: Obviously, I think improving on what this team lacked last year makes any season a successful one. Starting with penalties, eliminating turnovers and unforced errors, there’s quite a lot to improve on. Given that though, there’s also tons of room for improvement and success in those departments. I think Billy Napier and this staff have made that a priority entering their first season and I’m excited to see it play out. If all goes well, I think the results and success will show in our record and how well this team plays.