My oh my, what a difference a few weeks can make.
Don’t look now, but Billy Napier and the Florida Gators are one of the hottest teams in all of college football.
Sure, the Gators have a mediocre 6-5 record, but anyone who’s followed the program over the past few months knows how massive the turnaround in Gainesville has been.
With the early signing period approaching on December 4, college football recruiting is reaching a fever pitch.
As programs fight to secure commitments and poach players from rivals, Napier and the Gators have emerged as a major player in the recruitment wars.
The unofficial college football holiday, “flipmas,” refers to the dramatic period when players unexpectedly switch their commitments.
For the Fighting Gators, this month has been a whirlwind of recruiting victories, capped by a flurry of high-profile flips in the days following their stunning 24-17 upset of No. 9 Ole Miss.
One of the most notable commitment came from four-star linebacker Ty Jackson, ranked No. 124 nationally by 247Sports, who flipped from USC after committing to the Trojans in September.
Jackson was joined by three-star wide receiver Muizz Tounkara, formerly pledged to Arizona, and three-star offensive tackle Jahari Medlock, who had been committed to Cincinnati.
These are just three of the recent additions as Napier and his staff capitalize on momentum and a strong close to the season.
The recent surge began on November 8, when the Gators landed three-star defensive lineman Stephon Shivers from Georgia.
They followed up with kicker Evan Noel, who flipped from Arkansas on November 11, and flipped two players from rival Florida State: four-star quarterback Tramell Jones on November 15 and three-star offensive lineman Daniel Pierre Louis on November 19.
Florida’s recruiting class now ranks No. 18 nationally, according to 247Sports, with signs of more big moves to come.
On3’s Steve Wiltfong reports that the Gators are actively pursuing five-star receiver Jaime Ffrench, a Texas commit.
“I like the way it’s lining up for Florida,” Wiltfong wrote, signaling optimism for another potential coup.
Just weeks ago, speculation swirled about Napier’s job security amid Florida’s disastrous first-half of the season.
There was plenty of talk about Florida firing Napier and replacing him with Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin.
Ironically, Napier and the Gators achieved the high-point of their season last Saturday when they slayed Kiffin and the Rebels.
Now, with a slew of high-impact flips and the signature win over Ole Miss, Napier appears to be vindicating the program’s decision to stick with him.
As the Gators prepare for the final stretch of recruiting, fans are hopeful that the flurry of commitments is just the beginning of a resurgence under Napier’s leadership.
Now bowl eligible, the Gators will look to close out the regular season with a meaningful win over rival Florida State this coming Saturday. (Talk about disasters.)
What are your thoughts on the sudden surge, both on and off the field, by Napier and the Gators???
