Fresh off a HOT three-game win streak and battling one of college football’s most demanding schedules this season, Florida Head Coach Billy Napier joined Thursday’s edition of GoJo and Golic to discuss the spark behind Florida’s turnaround, signing day and the state of the Gators heading into the postseason.
Like most teams in this new 12-team College Football Playoff era, Florida has had to battle ups and downs this season. Still, after winning their last three games and securing some top prospects on signing day, Mike Golic Jr. asked Napier what the current vibe around the program was. He said he was happy for the players and his staff, acknowledging that everyone in the organization has worked extremely hard, especially given how challenging the first month of the season was. He double-downed on his praise for his players and credited them for being steadfast and sticking together when they had every reason to splinter. And ultimately, he thinks that’s why the Gators finished strong and built some momentum for bowl season and beyond.
Despite the setbacks at the beginning of the season, Napier was adamant that the Gators would fight back and really see what the team was made of. He wasn’t selling any wolf tickets, and the Gators backed it up on the field, beating the likes of LSU and Ole Miss and even taking their in-state rival Florida State in the Sunshine Showdown. Napier expressed that the first loss of the season to Miami was a critical turning point because they were disappointed in how they played and hoped for a different outcome. He added that the Gators changed how they practiced, but more importantly, the players took accountability. Additionally, the staff did a phenomenal job leading, but at the end of the day, Napier said the team started believing, which made a world of difference.
"We started to believe, and that's a very powerful thing."@coach_bnapier on how Florida was able to end their season on a three-game win streak (beating LSU, Ole Miss & Florida State) after a rough start to the season pic.twitter.com/HW2XMbuG1m
— GoJo and Golic (@GoJoandGolic) December 5, 2024
One of the players who has been an important catalyst in the Gators’ resurgence is true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway. Given the history of Florida quarterbacks, GoJo asked Napier where Lagway ranks among the talents at that position that coach has been around. Napier emphasized that Lagway’s standout traits go beyond his physical abilities. While his arm talent and athleticism for his size at 6-foot-3, 238 pounds are impressive, Napier is most struck by his maturity, character and competitiveness. He highlighted Lagway’s ability to elevate his performance on game day, staying composed, focused and present in critical moments, positively influencing his teammates. Arriving in January allowed Lagway to learn from Graham Mertz, observing his leadership and routine as a quarterback. Napier believes this early exposure was invaluable for Lagway’s development, especially when unexpected opportunities arose, such as stepping up when Mertz faced challenges. Lagway’s early arrival has significantly advanced his progress within the program.
Napier noted that one key factor in Lagway’s growth has been improving coach-to-player communication. He compared the process to moving to another country and learning a new language — understanding verbal commands and non-verbal cues, like sign language. This year, Lagway focused heavily on verbal communication, accelerating his development. Napier also credited Lagway’s growth to the guidance of a strong mentor and the professionalism of the coaching staff. He highlighted quarterback coach Ryan O’Hara’s role in helping Lagway progress through countless repetitions on the field and in virtual training sessions. This intense preparation, including thousands of simulated plays in the spring semester, has paid off significantly for Lagway’s development.
Coming off Signing Day, GoJo notes that Florida added another great crop, by some estimations another top-10 recruiting class. He points out that recruiting involves many nuances, including the transfer portal and some teams having general managers. Highlighting Napier’s use of the word organization, GoJo asked Napier how he stays organized in this current landscape. Napier explained that the program operates within a cap model, having developed a structured system for allocating resources by position with strategic planning. This approach, which didn’t exist when he arrived, replaced the chaos of the first 18 months with a more organized framework over the last year and a half. He noted that in the current landscape of player acquisition, it’s like living in a perpetual free agency, with no contracts and players essentially reassessing their position every six months. Napier acknowledged that this will shift with revenue sharing starting July 1, but emphasized the importance of character, culture, and the influence of families and support systems in building the program. His message in recruiting is clear: Players need to embrace the challenge of restoring Florida to greatness, commit for the right reasons and finish what they start. Every addition to the team has been made with intention, focusing on finding the right fit for the program’s long-term vision.
What is the thing that’s most different for @coach_bnapier in the new era of college football recruiting?
— DraftKings Network (@DKNetwork) December 5, 2024
"I think over the last 18 months, we've kind of settled in, we built the system… you just have a new element relative to player acquisition. I mean, these guys…essentially… pic.twitter.com/cpIkbOYivw
Watch or listen to the full show below and tune into GoJo and Golic weekday mornings from 8-10 a.m. ET on DraftKings Network! See more about how to watch DraftKings Network here.
SHOW BREAKDOWN
Hour 1: Packers at Lions on Thursday Night, Brock Bowers’ OROY + Nik Bonnitto, Broncos LB, on Denver’s Hot Defense and Rookie QB Bo Nix
VIDEO
Watch GoJo and Golic every weekday on Samsung TV Plus, Roku, Xumo Play, Google TV and DraftKingsNetwork.com from 8 to 10 a.m. ET. The show is also available via audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow Mike Golic Sr. on X at @golic and Mike Golic Jr. on X at @mikegolicjr.
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