How Billy Napier Is Handling "Free Agency"

Photo by Chris Spears

For a couple of hours Thursday Ty’Ron Hopper put his name in the NCAA transfer portal. It would be a tough blow for the Gators to lose Hopper, whose 62 tackles in 2021 included 2.5 sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. For reasons yet unknown, Hopper removed his name from the portal a couple hours later.

Such is life in college football’s newfangled era of free agency.

It is going to take some getting used to because it has changed the entire landscape of the game. Before the transfer portal and the subsequent NCAA rule that allowed immediate eligibility for first-time transfers, there was the one-year sit out requirement serving as a deterrent. Now, it’s the wild, wild west. Not only do coaches have to go out and recruit high school and junior college players, but they have to re-recruit their own players to determine how many transfers they might need to fill voids left by players who are seeking greener pastures at St. Somewhere Else University.

The changing landscape of recruiting has everything to do with why Billy Napier is bringing in an “army” of support staff that will number close to 80 when everyone is hired and busy at work. Napier has staff to evaluate high school and junior college kids. He’s hired a personnel guy from the NFL to take a free agency approach to the transfer portal. He’s kept former Syracuse head coach and coaching legend Paul Pasqualoni from the previous staff to head the scouting department, almost certainly with assignments to scout the current players on the roster to determine who and what Florida needs to improve every single position.

It is a dramatic change from previous staffs at Florida, but a sure sign that the transfer portal has not only changed recruiting but is here to stay.

“Certainly, the transfer portal is a part of college football now, and certainly a lot different dynamic because they can go play immediately,” Napier said after the early signing day back in December. “I think you're going to see this is just part of the game now, and certainly what we need to do is build a really good culture here where players want to be as part of our organization and play for the University of Florida, and hopefully we don't have to deal with those issues unless we're wanting to deal with them.”

If you are keeping score of how Napier is handling the transfer portal, he’s lost five players, all of whom have found a new place to play in 2022. With the additions of running back Montrell Johnson and offensive lineman O’Cyrus Torrence, both of whom played for Napier at Louisiana, five have transferred in (QB Jack Miller III from Ohio State and OT Kamryn Waites from Louisiana are the other two). Additionally, three were in the portal but changed their minds and returned – defensive end Dante Zanders, linebacker Lloyd Summerall III and Hopper.

Napier signed nine players in December and have since added another three commits. By adding those 12 high school kids to the five players who have transferred in, the Gators now have an adjusted recruiting ranking of No. 14 nationally. When the Gators sign high school and juco kids in February and add more via the transfer portal, the recruiting perspective should change dramatically. What seemed a gloom and doom recruiting scenario when Napier took the Florida job is now quite optimistic.

We won’t know how many more Gators will enter the transfer portal for awhile yet. Some will take a look at who Napier signs in February from the high school/juco ranks and that will cause them to transfer out. Others will decide to leave after spring practice when the see they are buried too far down the depth charts or else they just don’t hit it off with their new position coach.

That is why Napier will continue to recruit the portal into the early weeks after the spring semester ends.

“You’ve got the recruiting perspective,” Napier said at a recent press gathering. “You’ve got a window to get them in now, and then kind of a sprint until February singing day. And then you have another opportunity to add some players prior to summer school starting. Three windows of time to add players, and certainly we’re working hard in all three of those areas.”

It is not unrealistic that the Gators would sign another eight high school/juco types and add another 5-7 transfers. UF is allowed to replace as many as seven transfers who leave after December 15 without the new transfers counting against the scholarship cap of 85.

TRANSFERS IN THE SEC AS OF JANUARY 20, 2022

Outgoing starters in boldface

Alabama

Out (11): WR Javon Baker; LB Shane Lee; QB Paul Tyson (Arizona State); TE Jahleel Billingsley (Texas); OT Tommy Brown (Colorado); LB Drew Sanders (Arkansas); LB King Mwikuta (Arkansas State); LB Jackson Bratton (UAB); OT Pierce Quick (Georgia Tech); WR Xavier Williams (Utah State); CB Marcus Banks (Mississippi State)

In (2): RB Jaymyr Gibbs (Georgia Tech); CB Eli Ricks (LSU)

Arkansas

Out (16): LB Andrew Parker; RB Trelon Smith; CB Greg Brooks Jr. (LSU); S Joe Foucha (LSU); DL Jalen Williams (Southern Miss); CB Devin Bush; CB Nick Turner; WR Kendall Catalon; OT Ray Curry Jr.; WR Darin Turner (Alabama A&M); S Jermaine Hampton-Jordan; LB JT Towers; DL Andy Boykin; RB Josh Oglesby (Stephen F. Austin); K Vito Calvaruso; DL Solomon Wright

In (5): CB Dwight McGlothern (LSU); LB Drew Sanders (Alabama); EDGE Landon Jackson (LSU); WR Jadon Haselwood (Oklahoma); QB Cade Fortin (South Florida)

Auburn

Out (14): DL Ian Matthews; OT/TE J.J. Pegues (Ole Miss); DL Lee Hunter (UCF); LB Romello Height; DL Daniel Foster-Allen (South Alabama); CB Eric Reed; CB Dreshun Miller; WR Kobe Hudson (UCF); LB Nick Curtis; DL Dre Butler; S Ahmari Harvey (Georgia Tech); QB Bo Nix (Oregon); OL Tashawn Manning (Kentucky); S Ladarius Tennison (Ole Miss); WR Elijah Canion (Purdue); RB Shaun Shivers (Indiana); EDGE Caleb Johnson

In (5): QB Robby Ashford (Oregon); DL Jayson Jones (Oregon); QB Zach Calzada (Texas A&M); CB DJ James (Oregon); LB Eugene Asanta (North Carolina)

FLORIDA

Out (5): LB Mohamoud Diabate (Utah); WR Jacob Copeland (Maryland); EDGE Khris Bogle (Michigan State); OL Gerald Mincey (Tennessee); CB Elijah Blades (Buffalo)

In (5): Jalen Kimber (Georgia); RB Montrell Johnson (Louisiana); OL O’Cyrus Torrence (Louisiana); OL Kamryn Waites (Louisiana); QB Jack Miller III (Ohio State)

Georgia

Out (8): WR Jermaine Burton; QB JT Daniels; S Latavious Brini; CB Lovasea Carroll (South Carolina); CB Jalen Kimber (Florida); WR Justin Robinson (Mississippi State); CB Ameer Speed (Michigan State); WR Jaylen Johnson

In: None

Kentucky

Out (12): CB Cedric Dort (Wisconsin); WR Isaiah Epps; LB Marquez Bembry; S Moses Douglass; DL Isaiah Gibson (Marshall); LB KD McDaniel (UCF); RB Torrance Davis; LB Jared Casey (Indiana); OT Naasir Watkins; RB Travis Tisdale; OT Jake Pope; QB Nik Scalzo

In (4): QB Deuce Hogan (Iowa); DL Darrion Henry-Young (Ohio State); DL Tashawn Manning (Auburn); WR Tayvion Robinson (Virginia Tech)

LSU

Out (10): CB Dwight McGlothern (Arkansas); WR Alex Adams (Akron); WR Trey Palmer (Nebraska);WR Deion Smith; QB Max Johnson (Texas A&M); EDGE Landon Jackson (Arkansas); CB Eli Ricks (Alabama); LB Navonteque Strong; WR Koy Moore; DL Eric Taylor

In (11): DL Mekhi Wingo (Missouri); OT Tre’Mond Shorts (East Tennessee State); P Jay Bramblett (Notre Dame); LB West Weeks (Virginia); WR Kyren Lacey (Louisiana); RB Noah Cain (Penn State); CB Greg Brooks Jr. (Arkansas); S Mekhi Williams-Garner (Louisiana); S Joe Foucha (Arkansas); Long snapper Slade Roy (East Carolina); OT Miles Frazier (Florida International)

Mississippi State

Out (12): WR Theodore Knox; WR Malik Heath; S Landon Guidry; K Nolan McCord; CB Kyle Cass; WR Quinton Torbor; OT Calvin McMillian (Southern Miss); EDGE Aaron Odom (Southern Miss); DL Armondous Cooley (Southern Miss); S Janari Dean (Southern Miss); LB Aaron Brule (Michigan State); S Londyn Craft

In (6): K Ben Rayben (Northern Colorado); K Massimo Biscardi (Coastal Carolina); WR Justin Robinson (Georgia); WR Jordan Mosley; CB Jackie Matthews (West Virginia); LB Marcus Banks (Alabama)

Missouri

Out (11): DL Mekhi Wingo (LSU); S Shawn Robinson (Kansas State); QB Connor Bazelak (Indiana); WR Jay Maclin (North Texas); EDGE Jatorian Hansford (South Florida); S Ishmael Burdine (TCU); TE Messiah Swinson (Arizona State); TE Daniel Parker (Oklahoma); OT Chris Shearin; LB Jamie Pettway (Florida Atlantic); OT J’Marion Gooch

In: OG Bence Polgar (Buffalo); LB Tyrone Hopper (North Carolina); OT Jayden Jenigan (Oklahoma State); CB Dreyden Norwood (Texas A&M); S Joseph Charleston (Clemson)

Ole Miss

Out (17): RB Henry Parrish (Miami); DB Tylan Knight (Southern Miss); CB Jalen Jordan (South Alabama); OL Bryce Ramsey (Southern Miss); WR Jadon Jackson; QB John Rhys Plumlee (UCF); CB JaKorey Hawkins (Wyoming); DL Quentin Bivens (Southern Miss); DL Sincere David; WR Jamar Richardson (South Alabama); TE DaMarcus Thomas (South Alabama); DL Patrick Lucas (Indiana); DL LeDarrius Cox (Indiana); LB Daylen Gill (Southern Miss); LB Mohamed Sanogo (Louisville); WR Brice Johnson (Houston); S Dink Jackson

In (7): OT/TE J.J. Pegues (Auburn); LB Troy Brown (Central Michigan); S Isheem Young (Iowa State); OT Mason Brooks (Western Kentucky); WR Jordan Watkins (Louisville); S Ladarius Tennison (Auburn); RB Zach Evans (TCU)

South Carolina:

Out (7): TE Keveon Mullins (Jackson State); QB Jason Brown (Virginia Tech); OL Vincent Murphy (Western Kentucky); WR Dominick Hill; LB Jahmar Brown; WR Ger-Caro Caldwell; LB Rosendo Louis; WR OrTre Smith

In (7): CB Lovasea Carroll (Georgia); WR Antwane Wells (James Madison); RB Christian Beal-Smith (Wake Forest); S Devonni Reed (Central Michigan); DL Terrell Dawkins (North Carolina State); TE Austin Stogner (Oklahoma); QB Spencer Rattler (Oklahoma)

Tennessee

Out (12): WR Kaemen Marley; TE Trinity Bell; OT K’Rojhn Calbert (Eastern Kentucky); WR Andison Coby; Long Snapper Will Albright; RB Dee Beckwith; RB Tiyon Evans (Louisville); LB Morven Joseph (Florida Atlantic); QB Harrison Bailey (UNLV); RB Carlin Fils-aime; RB Tee Hodge (Indiana State); QB Brian Mauer (Stephen F. Austin)

In (3): TE Charlie Browder (UCF); QB Navy Shuler (Appalachian State); OT Gerald Mincey (Florida)

Texas A&M

Out (6): RB Darvon Hubbard; S Erick Young; RB Deondre Jackson (Nebraska); QB Zach Calzada (Auburn); CB Dreyden Norwood (Missouri); EDGE Antonio Doyle (Jackson State)

In (1): QB Max Johnson (LSU)

Vanderbilt

Out (11): OT Tyler Steen; Edge Alex Williams; LB Brayden DeVault-Smith; S Brendon Harris; WR Amir Abdur-Rahim; WR Cam Johnson; DL Lorenza Surgers (Minnesota); CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally; DL Terion Sugick (Arkansas State); QB Jeremy Moussa (Florida A&M); DL Marcus Bradley (UMass)

In (1): LB Kane Patterson (Clemson)