Gator Nation will keep a close eye on Billy Napier as he takes the podium at the 2023 SEC Media Days for the second time as Head Coach of the Florida Gators. Junior cornerback Jason Marshall, senior wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, and redshirt junior offensive lineman Kingsley Eguakun will join Napier in representing the University of Florida. The four-day event takes place at the Grand Hyatt in downtown Nashville, Tennessee from July 17th – 20th, with the Gators taking the stand on Wednesday, July 19th at 2:00 PM.
JASON MARSHALL
Third year cornerback Jason Marshall is sure to be in the spotlight as the lone representative on the Gators’ defense at the 2023 SEC Media Days. With newly hired defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong taking over, look for Marshall to highlight the primary differences in this year’s team / coaching staff compared to last season. Florida went through quite the turnover at the defensive back position in the offseason, losing Avery Helm, Jordan Young, Trey Dean, Donovan McMillon, Corey Collier, Rashad Torrence, and Kamar Wilcoxson to the portal and or eligibility. However, the Gators replaced them with a influx of young talent from the 2023 recruiting class in Sharif Denson, Ja’Keem Jackson, Aaron Gates, Dijon Johnson, Bryce Thorton, and Jordan Castell. Marshall served as the leader of the defensive backs throughout spring camp.
RICKY PEARSALL
After just one year with the Florida Gators, transfer wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is representing the University at the 2023 SEC Media Days. The Gators lost WR coach Keary Colbert to the NFL in the offseason, replacing him with a familiar face in Billy Gonzales. Expect Pearsall to highlight the key differences in wide receiver coaching as well as the influx of young talent and his reasoning for coming back to Florida for his final season.
KINGSLEY EGUAKUN
Kingsley Eguakun is entering his 5th season as a Gator and is the veteran on Florida’s offensive line. Billy Napier has placed a huge emphasis on offensive line play since arriving in Gainesville and the rushing attack is expected to be the strength of the Gators in 2023.
MEGA CONFERENCE
One of the main talking points at SEC Media Days will be the expansion of the SEC. Texas and Oklahoma are set to join the mix starting in 2024 after playing one more calendar year in the Big 12.
The SEC has sparked interest in many other teams across college football and a lot of attention is on what the Big Ten and the SEC might do next.
EIGHT OR NINE-GAME SCHEUDLE
The SEC announced the decision to remain at eight conference games rather than move to a nine-game schedule for the 2024 season. Commissioner Greg Sankey indicated this is more of a temporary solution, leaving the door open for a possible nine-game conference schedule in 2025.
NEW QUARTERBACKS
Quarterbacks will be a main topic throughout the 2023 SEC Media Days as many teams will have QB battles throughout fall camp that may result in new arms as the program’s starting QB.
Only five SEC teams are bringing a QB as a representative of their University, a good indicator that many teams do not know the direction they are heading in this fall.
GATOR TALKING POINTS
AUSTIN ARMSTRONG
The Gators are looking to turn around a defense that ranked 87th in college football a season ago. Austin Armstrong took over as Florida’s defensive coordinator following Patrick Toney’s departure to the NFL. The talk of the offseason has been aggression, something Armstrong is looking to implement early on in his Gators’ tenure. Florida’s defense under Austin Armstrong will be a massive talking point for Billy Napier and Jason Marshall next week.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Florida graded out as the 96th best Special Teams unit in division one football in 2022, according to Pro Football Focus. Napier has stood his ground on the committee approach philosophy, something I don’t expect to change in 2023.
NEWCOMERS
As previously mentioned, the Gators flipped their roster during the offseason. 38 players made their Gators’ debut in the 2023 Orange and Blue game while 15 first season Gators made starts, many of which were major contributors in the contest.
With the Gators in rebuild mode, it will be interesting to hear where this team stands as of now compared to last season.
Follow along at Gator Country for full coverage of the 2023 SEC Media Days.