There are many question marks regarding the on-field product for the Gators entering the season. With fall camp and week one right around the corner, Billy Napier and the Gators give us more insight on how this year’s roster is shaping up.
The new year brings a new team. There are about 34 new players on the Gators, according to Napier.
“The 2022 team that we have is a new team, it’s a new year, a new set of challenges and opportunities. I think each year, each team is its own entity. They got to start over every year,” Napier said.
“We have a big portion of our team we think has ability, but it’s inexperienced and needs to develop,” Napier said.
Napier and the Gators have heard the off-season chatter. They realize that a large portion of the fans and media are casting them aside this season.
” I like this group. I think they’ve got a chip on their shoulder. They’re excited about the opportunity to earn some respect,” Napier said.
“This group has embraced the work. I’m proud of our team. This team is not scared. They’re tough, they love to compete. When you put the ball down, they’re about it,” Napier said.
If the Gators are going to compete this season, they will need efficient quarterback play. Gators QB Anthony Richardson says he has improved in the off-season.
“Working hard this off-season, becoming a better leader and a better passer, just trying to be a better overall quarterback,” Richardson said.
We’ve all seen what Richardson can do with the ball in his hands. One of the biggest questions going into the season is whether the Gators’ receiving core is going to create enough separation for Richardson to thrive in the pass game.
The Gators acquired Arizona State’s leading receiver Ricky Pearsall. Pearsall had 48 grabs for 580 yards and four touchdowns for the Sun Devils last season.
“He’s a great person, he’s very smart, he’s fast, I appreciate his speed, it’s going to make it a lot easier for me to throw the ball to him,” Richardson said.
Richard Gouraige, a redshirt senior offensive lineman, says that Richardson has grown into the QB role.
“Anthony Richardson is very athletic, he’s definitely a leader, I knew when he first came here, he was going to do great things for sure. He’s just been doing everything right, whatever coach asks, he do. I know he always stays after practice, watching film with coach Napier. It shows that he’s taking initiative, being that leader and quarterback,’ Gouraige said.
The offensive line will play a major part in Richardson’s success as well. Kingsley Eguakun, a redshirt junior offensive lineman, is another veteran across the offensive line. Gouraige believes that Eguakun is in for a breakout year.
“He works his tail off; he earned his position for sure. he’s going to definitely make a big statement this year, we’ve just been getting after it, we’ve been pushing each other to be great,” Gouraige said.
The Gators will also need to be efficient on the defensive side of the ball. Creating turnovers and establishing good field position will be crucial for the Gators offense to flow. Defense has been a major area of concern over the last few seasons and is a question mark entering this season. Ventrell Miller, 6th year senior linebacker, has high hopes that the Gators will impress this season.
“I’m just excited, i feel like we got a great group of guys, we got the fan base behind us, I’m excited to go out there this year with coach Napier and show the world what we can do,” Miller said.
One of Miller’s teammates that’s tasked with improving the run defense is defensive lineman Gervon Dexter. The former five-star recruit is looking to have a breakout year.
“Love big G being in front of me, he goes out and dominates, it makes my job easy, keeps the lineman off me, we work hand in hand I feel like, looking forward to seeing him play this year as well,” Miller said.
Another defensive lineman working hand in hand with Miller is Brenton Cox. Cox sacked the quarterback 8.5 times last season. With Cox being fully healthy, he is looking to top that number this season.
“Definitely excited to watch him go out there and execute this year, B Cox, great pass rusher, he’s doing his job, we coming out just counting on everybody executing their job, keeping their head down, definitely looking forward to seeing him work this year,” Miller said.
Another edge rusher that is poised for a breakout year is junior Princely Umanmielen. Coach Napier has been impressed with the work Umanmielen has put into his body.
“Princely has had a really good off-season. I admire the work he’s done in changing his body. He was really one of the standouts when we got the DEXA scans back after the nine-week training block in the spring. Really made a ton of progress, Guy did some great things, even today in some of the testing. Princely is primed to have an exceptional year. He’s one of those players that doesn’t have tremendous experience, but we think has the ability and will have an opportunity to impact our team,” Napier said.
Napier understands that the Gators have a lot of work to do, but he’s not backing down. Napier is not interested in how other teams in the SEC stack up against his Gators, at least not right now.
“We’re consumed with Florida right now. We’ve got a lot of grass to mow, right? It’s our grass, not anybody else’s. We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Napier said.
Napier and the Gators have a chip on their shoulder. They are ready to go out and prove that they can compete with the best teams in the country.