The Gators added another four-star wide receiver, Marquez Daniel, on Saturday.
Regardless of restricted on-field success in three seasons as Gators head coach, Napier’s robust recruiting class ought to give him additional job safety forward of the 2025 season.
In February, The Athletic’s Seth Emerson ranked Napier No. 2 in his SEC teaching scorching seat rankings.
By his first three seasons at Florida (2022-24), Napier has a 19-19 document, together with 1-1 in bowl video games. He posted his first successful season final yr, going 8-5 and main the Gators to a Gasparilla Bowl win.
2024 five-star quarterback recruit D.J. Lagway had a promising freshman season, successful late-season residence video games in opposition to LSU and Ole Miss, eliminating each from the Faculty Soccer Playoff dialog.
Whereas expectations is likely to be increased for the Gators, they may discover it troublesome to enhance a lot from final season.
Per ESPN’s Football Power Index, Florida has the nation’s hardest power of schedule. It ought to start the season 2-0 with video games in opposition to FCS Lengthy Island and South Florida, however a brutal stretch follows.
Florida performs LSU and Miami in back-to-back weeks on the highway. Following a bye, it hosts Texas, then travels to Texas A&M. The Gators additionally play Georgia and Tennessee in The Swamp whereas getting Ole Miss on the highway.
It is a daunting schedule with a number of land mines. Florida is unlikely to emerge unscathed, however Napier would possibly.
Together with his recruiting success, the Gators would danger shedding their proficient prospects by firing Napier ought to Florida underwhelm this fall.
According to Reuters, Daniel, an Alabama native, defined his determination to decide to Florida by saying, “What makes Florida stand out to me are the teaching workers. Coach Napier is known as a nice coach.”
McCoy additionally praised Napier and the teaching workers, crediting the “household ambiance” as a significant attract his alternative.
Florida is not the facility it as soon as was, and it is unclear whether or not Napier is the appropriate coach to return this system to glory. However with each high-profile recruit who commits to the Gators, the possibilities enhance that he’ll be round in 2026.
