In what can only be described as a tumultuous year for the Florida Gators, the challenges seem to be piling up as we put a bow on signing day.
Head coach Billy Napier, who finished the season with a disappointing 5-7 record and missed out on a bowl game, now faces a daunting task ahead and his seat is only getting hotter.
The Gators have been hit hard in the transfer portal, losing a staggering 17 players from their program. To make matters worse, a tough week on the recruiting trail saw four-star safety Xavier Filsaime flip his commitment from Florida to Texas, despite being committed to the Gators since April.
Billy Napier is only going to sign 55 HS players in 3 years and 13 of them already hit the portal pic.twitter.com/PZUrEog76L
— Blue-Orange Gator (@blueorangeUF) December 20, 2023
As if these setbacks weren’t enough, Florida is faced with arguably the toughest 2024 schedule in the entire SEC.
ESPN’s Paul Finebaum shared his thoughts on the current state of the program and Coach Napier during an appearance on ‘McElroy and Cubelic In The Morning.”
Finebaum emphasized that, despite any potential successes on National Signing Day, simply landing the players they have won’t be sufficient to rescue the Gators from their current predicament.
“Billy Napier is picking up a few players. But having a big recruiting day nowadays just doesn’t have the same impact,” Finebaum said.
I thought we hired Billy Napier because he was an elite recruiter? But his 3rd class is worse than ANY of Mullen's classes? Weird. https://t.co/6CgSuC4VKi
— T (@tdgator9) December 20, 2023
Finebaum elaborated, highlighting the changing landscape of college football recruiting.
“It used to be able to really get mileage. How many times have you guys seen a program that had a wayward season, had a big December or February for that matter, and everybody gallops into the next season? … That can’t happen because the field is so small now in terms of the actual numbers you need.”
Despite Florida’s initial high ranking of #2 nationally in the 2024 recruiting class, the program has slipped significantly after losing key prospects to other schools.
“I don’t think, even with a major haul, he is going to be able to dramatically change the momentum of that program – short of winning those games,” Finebaum concluded.
Billy Napier showing up to the coaches office tomorrow morning pic.twitter.com/H3nCbB8EPX
— Juicy Smollayyy🏴☠️ (@legoJETTA) December 20, 2023
With the 2024 Florida schedule being touted as one of the toughest in the nation, the pressure on Napier continues to mount.
Is he nearing the end?
Should Florida have fired him already?
Or do you believe he will be able to turn the program around and elevate the Gators back to an elite level???