Finally, Napier and the Gators have an SEC-capable football roster

It has taken three years, but Florida finally has an SEC-capable roster (Photo by Chris Spears)

A few thoughts to jump start your Monday morning:

Three years, 19 wins, 19 losses. That’s Florida’s football record under Billy Napier from 2022-24.  If you add in Dan Mullen’s last season as Florida’s head coach, the Gators are 25-26 the last four seasons, the worst stretch of Florida football since 1978-81. That 19-26-1 record included the 4-7 of Douglas Adair Dickey’s final season on the job and the 0-10-1 of Charley Pell’s first year. After that, the Gators didn’t endure another losing season until the injury-filled 4-8 of Will Muschamp’s third year on the job in 2013.

Things were so bad when Charley Pell took over that it took a total makeover. The roster Pell inherited wasn’t anything close to an SEC roster. It took Charley until 1983 to put together a roster capable of competing with anyone in the country. Twenty-eight Gators who played in the 1983 Auburn game went on to make an NFL roster. If that’s not evidence of a rebuild, nothing is.

It's worth mentioning what Charley Pell had to go through. Now, don’t get hung up on the NCAA thing. This was the era of “if you ain’t cheating then you ain’t winning” in the Southeastern Conference. The same schools that voted to strip the Gators of the 1984 SEC championship were among the worst offenders. Wilber Marshall once told me that what was going on at Florida was Romper Room compared to the other schools in the league.

Pell was 12-21-1 in his first three years on the Florida job. Over the next four years before the sanctions kicked in, the Gators were 35-8-3. The 1983-85 Gators looked like an NFL roster. Florida State and Miami wouldn’t have gone on their record-setting runs had Florida not been hit with some of the most severe sanctions in college football history. It is remarkable that the Gators went 26-21 from 1986-89 considering they were reduced to 12 scholarships for the 1985 and 1986 seasons.

Billy Napier didn’t inherit a team that was decimated by sanctions, but he did inherit a roster that had way too many holes in it. It has taken him three full years and four recruiting classes to get the Gators to a point where the roster looks SEC capable. This 2025 Florida team is the first one of the Napier era that has the size, depth and speed of a top tier SEC team.

Over the weekend, a longtime friend of mine who doesn’t include Billy Napier on his Christmas card list, called the 19 losses of the last three seasons “a total embarrassment. We’re Florida. We deserve a better coach than that.”

He was astonished when I pointed out that 13 of Florida’s 19 losses in the first three years were against teams that won at least 10 wins. You could look it up. Among last year’s five losses, Miami and Tennessee each won 10 games while Georgia won 11 and Texas 13. The year before, Georgia (13), LSU (10), Missouri (10) and Florida State (13). In 2022, Tennessee (11), LSU (10), Georgia (15), Florida State (10) and Oregon State (10).

It's not an excuse to point out all the losses to teams that won 10 games. It’s also not an excuse to point out how few Gators left over from the Mullen era were drafted. Maybe Napier could have won more games had he gone wholesale into the transfer portal, but there is no proof that anyone other than Lane Kiffin has figured out how to sustain success with a revolving door of transfers.

Napier has build a culture and a foundation for prolonged success. Look at how recruiting has turned around in the last two years and how nobody on the planet had a better June than the Gators.

The 2025 schedule is brutal, just like last year, but with a couple of exceptions, most every schedule in the SEC is conducive to at least 2-3 losses. A couple of years ago, this schedule would have spelled doom. This year, it’s a challenge, but it’s manageable. The Gators are capable of winning nine or ten games this year. If you’re a gambler, put some of your disposable cash on the Gators. You won’t regret it.

The good times aren’t necessarily here yet, but they aren’t that far off.

GATORS IN THE NBA SUMMER LEAGUE

Walter Clayton Jr., Utah: In his Friday night debut, Clayton played 25 minutes in a 93-89 win over Philadelphia. Clayton hit 3-8 shots (2-6 on 3-points), 1-2 from the foul line, grabbed three rebounds and handed out six assists. He turned the ball over twice and had a steal.

Will Richard, Golden State: In 25 minutes during a 90-88 loss to San Antonio, Richard scored 16 points while hitting 3-10 overall from the field (2-8 from the 3-point line) and 8-8 from the foul line. He had four rebounds, one assist and two steals.

Zyon Pullin, Memphis: Pullin played 21 minutes in a 92-80 win over Oklahoma City, scoring eight points (1-9 shooting, 0-1 from the 3-point line, 6-6 from the foul line) with three rebounds and five assists.

Phlandrous Fleming Jr., Memphis: Against the Thunder, Fleming played 15 minutes, scoring seven points (3-5 overall, 1-1 from the 3-point line) with three rebounds, one assist and two steals.  

UF BASEBALL: HOW THE ROSTER IS STARTING TO SHAPE UP

Pre-MLB Draft

Aaron Watson (RHP, Jacksonville Trinity Christian): Was committed to Virginia, but when the UVA coach took the Mississippi State job he signed with Florida. He’s not ranked in the top 500 draft prospects by Baseball America, but he’s No. 45 by MLB.com.  If he goes first two rounds, it will be tough for him to turn the money down.

Baseball America pre-MLB Draft prospect ratings

83. Jordan Yost (SS, Tampa Sickles): Expected to go first three rounds, but good chance he’s a Gator if he’s not in the first round. MLB.com ranks him No. 50.

131. Luke Heyman (C, JR): Power hitter (41 career HR) who was hitting .301 before he fractured his forearm when hit by a pitch at the SEC Tournament. Should go first five rounds, but has the option to return.

159. Colby Shelton (SS, JR): Was hitting .377 when he injured his wrist and didn’t return. Projects more as a 2B at the next level. He’s not coming back. No. 142 by MLB.com.

201. Jake Clemente (RHP, RSO): Found a niche as a reliever (2-1, 3.46 ERA, 7 saves). Big strikeout numbers (77 in 54-2/3 innings) should get him drafted first five rounds. No. 189 by MLB.com.

205. Nick Partridge (3B/1B, Mulberry HS): Big power potential yet makes consistent contact. Needs to fill out. College would be a better option. No. 195 by MLB.com.

218. Brody Donay (C/1B, JR): Hit .303 with 18 HR (career 44). Huge power potential but probably projects to 1B at the next level. He’s not coming back. No. 248 by MLB.com.

262. Cade Kurland (2B, JR): Missed most of the season after shoulder surgery for a dislocated shoulder. Hit 34 HR in 144 college games. May come back if he doesn’t get a deal he likes.

270. Blake Cyr (OF/INF, JR): Disappointing year at the plate (.254, 9 HR, 36 RBI). Could use another year but would have no leverage. If he goes first 10 rounds figure he’s a goner.

283. Bobby Boser (3B/OF): Excellent senior season (.336, 18 HR, 67 RBI; 49 career HR) after transferring from South Florida. He will get drafted but he has no leverage since he has no college eligibility so somewhere after seventh round is almost a certainty. No. 188 by MLB.com.

331. Cooper Moss (RHP, Panama City Arnold): Big guy (6-3, 220) who throws low to mid 90s. Probable to UF if he doesn’t go first 10 rounds.

349. Jackson Hoyt (LHP, Brooksville Nature Coast): Throws low 90s with good command. Great student so he’s probable to UF, but lefties who can throw hard and throw strikes sometimes go surprisingly high in the draft.

427. Pierce Coppola (LHP, RJR): When he’s healthy he can be really, really good, but staying healthy has always been his problem. Needs an injury-free year at UF but if he gets drafted top ten rounds figure he goes.

Incoming Gators from the portal

Ethan Surowiec (IF, from Ole Miss): Hitting .427 (7 HR, 36 RBI) with Duluth in the Northwoods League. Three years of eligibility. Projects at 3B for UF.

Jaden Bastian (OF, from Jacksonville University): Outstanding CF with gap-to-gap coverage in the outfield. Hit .302 (11 HR, 33 RBI) and stole 36 bases for the Dolphins. Two years of eligibility.

Sam Miller (SS, from Columbia): Ivy League Player of the Year. Hit .338 (16 HR, 57 RBI; career 340, 31 HR, 117 RBI). One year of eligibility remaining.

Ricky Reeth (RHP, from Notre Dame): Windermere (West Orange HS) native. Had one start, the rest of his appearances in relief (48 innings, 3-2 record, 4.31 ERA, 3 saves). Two years eligibility.

Russell Sandefer (RHP, from UCF): Six starts and 12 relief appearances in 2025 (2-3 record, 3.38 ERA, 49 strikeouts in 50-2/3 innings; career 7-5, 3.36 ERA). Two years of eligibility.

Cooper Walls (RHP, from Hawaii): Big West Conference Freshman Pitcher of the Year. Went 3-3 (3.73 ERA, 13 starts, 45 strikeouts in 60-1/3 innings). Three years eligibility.

Karson Bowen (C, from TCU): Second team All-Big 12. Hit .333 (4 HR, 28 RBI; career .308, 16 HR, 112 RBI).

Cole Stanford (C, from Lenoir-Rhyne): All-South Atlantic Conference 1^st team. Hit .393 (20 HR, 56 RBI; career .338, 39 HR, 135 RBI). Career 76 walks, 65 strikeouts. LR finished tied for third at NCAA DII championship. One year of eligibility.

AJ Malzone (C, from Wabash Community College): Freshman with three years eligibility (.332, 8 HR, 42 RBI).

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT

Delaware and Missouri State are officially members of Conference USA. Didn’t hear about that last week? Don’t feel bad. Bet you didn’t notice that Texas State is moving from the Sun Belt to the re-organized Pac-12 either.

Delaware is the same school that gave us Joe Flacco and Rich Gannon. It has great history in both Division II and D1AA where it has won six national championships. Delaware’s greatest coach was the late Davey Nelson who collaborated with General Bob Neyland to lead a rules change in college football that led to single platoon football from 1953-63. Capacity at Delaware Stadium is 23,000.

Missouri State never won any national championships at either the DII or D1AA levels. Maybe their greatest claim to fame is Bobby Petrino spent three years there trying to rehab his coaching career before Sam Pittman brought him in to coordinate the offense at Arkansas. The Bears play in a 17,500-seat stadium.  

Delaware and Missouri State will compete in Conference USA with Florida International, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, New Mexico State, Sam Houston State, UTEP and Western Kentucky. UTEP will be in Conference USA this year but moves to the Pac-12 in 2025 along with Texas State when the league starts playing football again next year. Louisiana Tech will be bolting Conference USA for the Sun Belt next year.

Texas State, which back-to-back DII national championships for Jim Wacker in 1981-82, went to D1AA and then to Division I in 2012. The Bobcats joined the Sun Belt Conference in 2013, but they haven’t come close to winning the conference championship. Bobcat Stadium seats 30,000.

The new Pac-12 will have Washington State, Oregon State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Boise State, Utah State, Colorado State, Texas State and UTEP playing football with Gonzaga, Cal Poly, Cal State-Bakersfield and Little Rock playing basketball and the other sports.

What does all this shuffling tell us? Well, first and foremost that Division I football is being crowded with teams that have two chances of winning a national championship – no way and now how. The NCAA, in its infinite wisdom, is powerless to stop the movement. Of course, the NCAA is basically powerless to do anything at all.

There is an answer. It’s time for college football to (a) become autonomous and (b) for there to be two divisions. We could call them the Haves and the Have Nots, but while true, that wouldn’t be politically correct. Currently we have four power conferences, plus Notre Dame. There are perhaps 10-12 teams among the Group of Five that would have a chance competing in the new Division I. Let the others in Division I form the new Group of Five. There are D1AA schools such as North Dakota State, South Dakota State and Montana that are certainly capable of competing with the bottom half of the current Division I. Put them in the new Group of Five and give them their own playoff.

It would work. It makes sense, but that might be the biggest reason we’ll never see it.