Football is officially back and underway for the Gators after wrapping up the first day of spring practice Saturday afternoon in Year 2 of the Billy Napier era. Despite Florida’s Orange and Blue Game being nearly a month away with staff hires yet to be announced, Coach Napier and the new-look Gators seem to be in a good place heading into the 2023 spring season.
A new chapter has begun for this football team and players are beginning to understand what’s expected of themselves at the University of Florida. As it takes more grit and determination than what they were once used to. New leaders are making an impact and stepping up in place of the ones that came before them.
“I think the big thing for us going into Year 2 is we – I think we understand expectations, but now that we’ve turned the page to football, It’s about kind of establishing how we practice,” Napier said.
“I think we’ve got a pretty good group of players there that have been with us for a year. They experienced the good, bad and the ugly last year. I think we’ve got character. I think we’ve got a group that is setting a really good example and has a voice,” Napier said on the leadership of the team. “We’ve done a little bit of extra from a leadership development standpoint in the first year. Yeah, I feel really good about that part. I think the accountability, the detail has been much better through the first two phases.”
Many different players have embraced a leadership role and have made a huge difference so far for this football team in terms of setting a good example for other players.
“I think from a leadership standpoint, the best thing you can give as far as leadership is concerned is your example,” Hocke said. “So I think if you want to talk about Year 2 guys, I think of a guy like Trevor Etienne. I think of a guy like Shemar James. I think of a guy like Devin Moore. I think of a guy like Miguel Mitchell. Those four guys are as good of an example, like inside the building, outside the building. So when you have all these new guys come in, they’re watching that example done at a high level and it makes a lot of good.”
With most of this group being Year 2 guys or new faces, it’s a great sign for this football team and its future.
There’s only been an increase in the number of players who’ve stepped up and held others accountable on both sides of the ball since Billy Napier arrived at Florida last year.
“I think on offense, Austin Barber, Kingsley Eguakun have been really good,” Napier said on players who’ve stood out. “I think the two backs, Montrell and Trevor. I think Ricky Pearsall. Defense, I think Boone has been impressive. Wingo. Antwaun Powell. Jason Marshall is even growing in that role, is more vocal. We’ve always got pretty good leadership from Crawshaw, too. I do think we’ve done a lot relative to allowing the team to have input on who they think is doing a good job. I think that’s going to pay off.”
If you look at this 2023 Florida football team, there are new faces everywhere. Roughly two weeks ago this team was hit with news that Patrick Toney, Keary Colbert and William Peagler would all be taking jobs in the NFL.
Fast forward to this week and new Defensive Coordinator Austin Armstrong is in the building and on the field at spring practice.
“More than anything, I think it’s a compliment to the staff, but there are challenges that come with it,” Napier said on losing three coaches. “I’m not just going to flip a coin and hire a guy. If we have the person in place that we think is capable, we make those moves quickly. If we don’t, then we’re going to be very thorough. So, we’re making progress in that area. We should have some news here shortly.”
“I think Austin is well respected out there,” Napier said on Austin Armstrong. “I think the opportunities he had this offseason is a reflection of that, Austin was with us in the past as a graduate assistant, came back as a position coach and then certainly for him to get an opportunity to coordinate defense for two years and really do a good job. I think from that staff at Louisiana I think we’ve got four defensive coordinators out there, calling defense. Austin has done a great job, he’s hit the ground running and so far, so good.”
Austin Armstrong was set to be the new inside linebackers coach at Alabama until Billy Napier picked up the phone and gave Armstrong a call.
With 27 brand-new scholarship players practicing this week, there’s a lot to keep an eye on throughout the next couple months with early enrollees and transfers already making a strong impact and shining early on.
“I thought Andy Jean, as a newcomer today, did a lot of really good things. I think we’ve got some guys in the second year in the system. A little wet ball drill out there today. That was beneficial. We’ve only had a couple opportunities to work in the rain. So good day. I look forward to watching that group,” Napier said on Jean and the receivers.
With the safety position lacking some depth for Florida entering 2023, Napier was forced to move Ja’Markis Weston from receiver to safety, which both Weston and Napier are excited about.
It’s also worth noting that the Gators have moved Andrew Savaiinaea from defensive end to tight end, as well as moving Scooby Williams to the edge of the defensive line from linebacker.
“I think it’s a position that’s probably a little thin, truth be known and Ja’Markis is a guy that’s played really well for us on special teams,” Napier said. “He’s done a good job on the punt team and the cover team. And we do a number of drills where we ask those four core offensive players to take part in tackling circuits. I think the defensive staff felt like observing him in those settings that he had the skillset. He knows he was a really good defensive player in high school so there’s a skillset there. It’s just going to be a matter of learning the system, learning the communication, fundamentals but I know Ja’Markis is excited about it and I know our coaching staff is looking forward to working with him.”
Jason Marshall Jr. is someone who has already been getting Weston up to speed and caught up with the scheme.
“Just being with him, communicating with him, make sure he learns the plays and stuff like that,” Marshall said. “It’s a great addition to have him back there than going against him.”
When you look at the hand Florida was dealt a couple weeks ago, I’d say Billy Napier and this staff came out on the better end of things compared to other teams when it comes to coaching changes on the defensive side of the ball.
With spring football already underway for the Gators, we’ll be hearing about a specific hire here shortly.
Some names that I’ve been hearing to replace Colbert as Florida’s wide receiver coach include Joe Dailey, Joel Filani and Taylor Stubblefield.