Florida Football: Reasons Revisited-Seven reasons the Gators won seven games in 2024

While the season began with critics calling for Napier to be fired, the Gators self-corrected and found themselves in line for 8 wins for the first time since 2020.

By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedai.com, Football Analyst

Heeeeerre come the Gators!! (Chris Spears photo)

On August 18, 2024, a prediction of seven wins for the Gators was made based upon seven key reasons. Coming of a perplexing 5-7 finish, it was thought that despite facing the nation’s toughest schedule the Gators would flip the results of 2023 and find a way to win at least seven games.

The oddsmakers were not as convinced, predicting the Gators win total at 5.5 games, which would mean another disappointing and perhaps disastrous season. But what do supporters think now?

The Gators would falter early, with many calling for the firing of Napier as early as Week 3. Desspite the factors that were predicted to yield at least 7 wins, the situation looked bleak. Then came an SEC road win at Mississippi State, followed by a bye week and the fortunes of this team slowly began to turn.

The seven reasons for seven wins began to show themselves in a positive light and the Gators finished the season with two wins over Top 15 teams and bested FSU for the first time since 2021.

What roles did the seven reasons play in this turnaround? Did we get it right? Or did something so special occur that has the Gators rode momentum into the bowl season and a possible eighth win. Let’s review, shall we?

Seven reasons for seven wins in review.

1.     Improved Roster-With high school recruits and transfers combined the Gators added 33 new athletes to the roster. The Gators ranked 7th overall according to 24/7 Sports and added key players at almost every position. Key additions included safety Asa Turner, receivers Elijah Badger and Chimere Dike, linebackers Pup Howard, and Myles Graham, defensive linemen Joey Slackman and LJ McCray, and offensive linemen Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson and Devon Manuel. 

Only Asa Turner, Joey Slackman, and Devon Manuel failed to make an impact during the Gators up and down season due to injury. Offensive linemen Brandon-Crenshaw Dixon and would be a starter most of the season making 11 starts and earning a Pro Football Focus grade of 81.1.

Chimere Dike and Elijah Badger proved to be better than expected as the two possibly make up the most underrated receiver duo in the country. Dike hauled in 36 passes for 687 yards, two touchdowns, averaging 19 yards per catch. He also handled the primary punt return duties most of the season averaging over 13 yards per return. Badger would become the Gators big play threat leading the team in catches and yards with 37 catches for 789 yards and four touchdowns. Badger’s 21.29 yards per catch ranked second in the SEC and fifth nationally. 

Linebacker Pup Howard would see substantial time at inside linebacker appearing in 9 games totaling 37 tackles to finish eighth on the team. Myles Graham would be a contributor in all 12 games this season. Graham began the season on special teams but late in the season became a catalyst for one of the SEC’s most improved defenses.

In Florida’s final three regular season games Graham would register 13 tackles as his snaps increased over that time. 5-star recruit LJ McCray would have a similar start to the season contributing on special teams early and then finding more snaps as the season progressed. A star in the making according to his coaches McCray appeared in all 12 games tallying 10 tackles and a 0.5 sacks for a unit that helped the Gator’s finish 8th nationally in getting to the quarterback. 

2.     Retooled Offensive Line-Along with the addition of Crenshaw-Dickson and Manuel the offensive line coaches took a look at the personnel that was previously in place and where it fit best. The Gators welcomed back a healthy Austin Barber who would start all 12 games at left tackle and penciled in Jake Slaughter at center full time for 2024. Damien George moved to right guard with Knijeah Harris at left guard. The unit that gave up 39 sacks last season would look to improve in 2024.

While it was not always smooth sailing, the offensive line weathered the early season storm to become a more than serviceable group in in 2024. Both Austin Barber and Jake Slaughter finished the season on the NFL radar due to their improved play. Barber started 11 games on the season and had some of his best games against the SEC’s best pass rushers. Slaughter started all 12 games this season and graded out as the 3rd best center in the country according to Pro Football Focus. At one point in the season Slaughter had a pass blocking grade of over 90 percent and finished with a run blocking grade of 79.1 (7th nationally). 

Collectively, a unit that surrendered 39 sacks last season lowered that total by six this season while the last three games of the season, wins against LSU, Ole Miss and Florida State saw the Gators rush for 515 yards and five touchdowns. Freshman offensive lineman Bryce Lovett and running back Jaden Baugh would be named to the SEC All-Freshman Team as well recognizing the performance of this retooled unit. 

3.     Defensive Staff Additions-This spring the Gators added three assistant coaches to the defensive side of the ball. Defensive line coach Gerald Chatman from Tulane, defensive backs coach Will Harris from the San Diego Chargers, and the “father of the creeper” defense Ron Roberts from Auburn. These three would look to help the Gator defense improve on a historically poor 2023 season that saw them finish with just 22 sacks and a miserable three interceptions. 

2024 didn’t get off to great start for the Gator defense but everything began to change in the fifth game of the season that saw the Gators hold UCF, the nation’s top rushing team, to just 108 yards. Since that game (forget Texas) the Gators have been on a consistent climb to become a formidable unit. Against LSU the Gators would register seven sacks against a team that had only surrendered six to that point in the season. The secondary that had only snatched the ball three times a year ago increased that number to 11 in 2024.

4.     Billy Gonzales and receiver depth-Long hailed as one of the top receiver coaches in college football, Gonzales was a key factor in former Gator Ricky Pearsall Jr. being drafted in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. This season the Gators had a talented room receivers including Eugene Wilson III, Kahleil Jackson, Marcus Burke, Andy Jean, Aiden Mizell, and the aforementioned Dike and Badger. The Gators also welcomed freshmen Tank Hawkins and TJ Abrams who looked to be factors in the return game as well. 

Jackson and Wilson spent most of the season out with injuries. The Gators carried on with a next man up mentality that saw the emergence of Burke and Mizell to go along with the performances of Dike and Badger. Gonzales continues to build excellence as Burke and Mizell would set career highs in catches and touchdowns as they continue to improve under the tutelage of the receiver guru. Andy Jean would battle injuries all season and will look to transfer but Hawkins was solid early in his career with 10 catches for 100 yards and touchdown. Abrams saw limited action in four games and will look to emerge as a part of a retooled group in 2025 with the departure of Dike and Badger. 

5.     Improved Defensive Communication-Ron Roberts arrived in Gainesville off a successful 2023 that saw him bring the defense at Auburn within one play of upsetting Alabama in the Iron Bowl. Roberts would assist Co-Defensive Coordinator Austin Armstrong with a like-minded sounding board and someone to lean on for game-planning and in-game adjustments which were said to be his specialty. In 2023 the Gators defensive unit looked disconnected at all three levels and Roberts, Chatman, and Harris were brought in to bring some continuity to the struggling group.

Early in the season it was not looking good for Gator defense at all. Embarrassing performances against Miami and Texas A&M had many ready to creep the team right out of Gainesville. The unit lacked swagger and bounce and it showed in their performance. The first off-week of the season saw a change in responsibilities bringing Armstrong onto the field and Roberts in moving to the coaches box and it looked as that was step one to getting the unit turned around.  Step two was a change in practice philosophy that while good for the team as whole saw the defense gain a little mojo and play inspired football. While things weren’t perfect the Gators looked their best the last three games of the season with 14 sacks and three interceptions. Linebacker Shemar James noted the defense was more connected due to an increased understanding of the schemes and philosophy as the season progressed. This would lead to the Gators finishing the regular season 8th nationally in sacks (up from 101st) and increasing their interception total by eight. 

6.     Graham Mertz was the unquestioned leader of the team. Last season Mertz had career highs in almost every passing category while throwing 20 touchdowns against only 3 interceptions. Those numbers set the stage for Mertz to improve this season while his understudy DJ Lagway looked to be the Gators quarterback of the future. Mertz’ leadership resonated throughout the team as he built a relationship with Lagway from the day he arrived on campus and was a positive influence on the young quarterback. The two built a friendship that unfortunately would have to pay dividends sooner than later this season.

Mertz did not have the start to the season that he anticipated against Miami where a concussion caused him to sit out the Samford game that saw Lagway make his first start to rave reviews. He then had an up and down game in the loss to Texas A&M but played well in wins against Mississippi State and UCF. Mertz was on his way to possibly his biggest win at Florida when he had to leave the Tennessee game with an ACL tear. Fortunately for Mertz, his last pass as a Gator was a touchdown.

Where Mertz effect on this team would be felt the most was in his continued relationship and guidance with DJ Lagway who would have to navigate the rigors of a tough schedule as a full-time starter. Lagway and his teammates lauded the influence of Mertz on both Lagway and the team by his constant presence in meetings and team activities. Mertz continued to be active in game plans and was a constant voice in the ear of Lagway during games. While Mertz will move on at seasons end, his effect on this team will be felt for seasons to come due to his positive relationship with Lagway.

7.     Head Coach Billy Napier-If you know him you probably love him. That has always been the read out on Billy Napier. This season was to be a defining one for a coach who had recruited well, improved the player experience, and now was looking to take the next step at Florida. With near misses the past two seasons, the self-inflicted wounds were supposed to end and this team with experience on both sides of the ball was ready to roll.

Then the season started and the boos that followed home losses against Miami and Texas A&M began talk that maybe it was time to move on from the soft spoken, philosophical Napier. There was even talk that the 20-plus million dollar buyout had been raised and one more bad loss would be his undoing. As stated before, if you know him you love him, and those that were hunkered down inside the Heavener Complex never strayed from their embattled leader. Players continued their support, staff continued to praise, and those that new him best continued to push the narrative that Napier was the man for the job.

Napier himself acknowledged that things needed to change and what seemed to resonate most was that his team needed to change the way they practiced. As self-deprecating as that admission could be Napier had the right to express the concern and get it fixed.

The team began to compete more in practice and that led to a team that competed better on the field, and while stumbles still occurred the eagerness to get back to work after a win or loss became the standard. Coaches get to change, it is what we applaud them for, and that change may have saved the tenure of Napier at Florida.

A three-game winning streak to end the season has brought a recruiting class that just a month ago was in the 50’s into the top 10 and the transfer portal is sure to be full of players looking to play with a talent such as Lagway. Napier has steered the ship from the abyss and with a win in the Gasparilla Bowl could set sail for a positive outlook in 2025. 

So there you have it. Seven reasons for seven wins. The Gators bested the bookies and are on course for eight wins that many thought would out of sight as 2024 came to a close. An 8th win will certainly make the Gators one of the darlings of the offseason. A star at quarterback along with a possible 17 of 22 starters returning will certainly put that win total closer to 8 or 9 when Vegas assesses the 2025 edition of the Gators. The schedule features the same SEC foes as 2024 but the lineup is a bit more agreeable setting the stage for a return to relevancy.

Prediction: 7-5/Give me the Gators to get to 8-5

Quarterback DJ Lagway (Chris Spears photo)