The next few days are the most critical for Napier, No. 15 Gators

(Photo by Chris Spears)

Only 17 days remain until the 15^th-ranked Gators open the season with D1AA Long Island. That is 17 calendar days. In reality, Billy Napier has maybe nine practice days remaining. Nine practice days because starting Monday, August 25 the Gators go into game prep mode. Once the season begins, there will be only two more weeks to reorganize and make serious adjustments – the open date weeks prior to Texas and Georgia. Otherwise it’s the game week grind.

Considering next week will be when the coaching staff starts putting the rotations together, the next four days will be the most important of the preseason.

“This is a critical week, you know, it's a really, really important week at training camp,” Napier said Monday. “We have to do our best work this week, and, you know, it's one thing to practice like you want to win, it's another thing to practice like you want to win a championship, right? So the level of detail this week has got to ramp up, the quality of the execution has to improve.”

Key words: “… It’s another thing to practice like you want to win a championship.”

Those are words Napier wouldn’t have dared say the previous three years. It has taken three years to build the program into one capable of competing with and beating any team on the schedule. This is an SEC roster which means Napier can put 44 or more players on the field who can compete in the toughest league in the country.

Two things will determine if the Gators are capable of playing well enough to win a championship: Depth and critical injuries. The teams that play for SEC and national championships can rely on depth beyond the 44 who make up the two-deep. Critical injuries begins with quarterback. The odds of winning a championship if your starting QB goes down are incredibly reduced. It can be done, but the degree of difficulty increases exponentially.

TUESDAY PRACTICE IN NON-CONTACT JERSEYS

Per Zach Goodall of Swamp247, wide receivers Tre Wilson and Aidan Mizell, corner Dijon Johnson and linebacker Grayson “Pup” Howard.

MIA

Out Tuesday were running back Treyaun Webb, wide receivers Dallas Wilson and Kahleil Jackson, O-lineman Enoch Wangoy, EDGE LJ McCray and safeties Aaron Gates and Drake Stubbs.

SLAUGHTER ESPN FIRST TEAM PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA CENTER

Jake Slaughter, last season’s first team All-America center, was selected first team on ESPN’s preseason All-America team. Slaughter was also named first team center for Sporting News.

Slaughter has also been named to the watch lists of the Rimington Award (best center in the country), Outland Trophy (best interior lineman) and Lombardi Award (down lineman either offense or defense). Also named to the Outland Trophy watch list from the Gators was left tackle Austin Barber.   

ESPN first team offense

QB: Cade Klubnik, Clemson; RB: Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame and Nicholas Singleton, Penn State; WR: Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State, and Ryan Williams, Alabama; TE: Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt; C: JAKE SLAUGHTER, FLORIDA; OG: Olaivavegna Ioane, Penn State and Ar’Maj Reed-Adams, Texas A&M; OT: Spencer Fano, Utah, and Kadyn Proctor, Alabama; AP: Desmond Reid, Pittsburgh

ESPN first team defense

DE: Dylan Stewart, South Carolina, and TJ Parker, Clemson; DT: Peter Woods, Clemson, and LT Overton, Alabama; LB: Anthony Hill, Texas, Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh, and Gabe Jacas, Illinois; CB: Leonard Moore, Notre Dame, and Jermod McCoy, Tennessee; S: Caleb Downs, Ohio State, and Michael Taaffe, Texas

ESPN first team special teams

PK: Dominic Zvada, Michigan; P: Brett Thorson, Georgia; KR/PR: Barion Brown, LSU

ESPN second team offense

QB: Garrett Nussmeier, LSU; RB: Kaytron Allen, Penn State, and Makhi Hughes, Oregon; WR: Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State, and Antonio Williams, Clemson; TE: Max Klare, Ohio State; C: Parker Brailsford, Alabama; OG: Joe Brunner, Wisconsin, and Cayden Green, Missouri; OT: Francis Mauigoa, Miami, and Kage Casey, Boise State

ESPN second team defense

DE: Colin Simmons, Texas, and Keldric Faulk, Auburn; DT: Christen Miller, Georgia, and Rueben Bain, Miami; LB: Deontae Lawson, Alabama; Taurean York, Texas A&M, and CJ Allen, Georgia; CB: Avieon Terrell, Clemson, and Chandler Rivers, Duke; S: Koi Perich, Minnesota, and KJ Bolden, Georgia

ESPN second team special teams

PK: Will Ferrin, BYU; P: Ryan Eckley, Michigan State; KR/PR: Kam Shanks, Arkansas  

Billy Napier on Jake Slaughter: "Jake's got a great story. He's a product of his environment. His family, where he's from, his passion for this place. I think he's very driven to contribute to the team, to be at his best for his teammates. Very underappreciated coming out in high school. And then really, I think, early in his career, not much expected from him. I think he probably doubted himself. Just having conversations with him. And he had been here six months, I think, when we got here, and then his development process started. I can remember the valuation workout we did with the team during bowl practice immediately upon arrival, and I wrote down that I felt like the guy had tools to be a really good player. He's big, he's long, he's got power, and I think he can move. So I think he had the traits to do it, I just think he needed to develop some confidence, and he just needed repetition, right? 
So, I think he's a testament to our coaching staff, too, in terms of the development process. I think our track record to developing offensive linemen is, you know, pretty well documented. And, Jake's the next one. I think he has earned every single thing that he has got, and he is an absolute top leader on our team and sets the tone and the pace every day. So I love Jake because he makes everybody around him better. And I think that says the number one most of the admirable trait, in my opinion, is his ability to elevate the others around him and how they play and how they live life."

Hayden Hansen on Mackey Award watch list

Hayden Hansen was named to the Mackey Award watch list. The Mackey Award goes to the nation’s top tight end. A year ago, Hansen caught 15 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown. Two Gators have won the Mackey Award: Kyle Pitts (2020) and Aaron Hernandez (2009).

Banks, Sapp named to Bednarik Trophy watch list

Named to the Bednarik Trophy watch list were Gators Caleb Banks and Tyreak Sapp. The Bednarik Award is given annually to the nation’s top defensive player. Sapp, who plays defensive end, was in on 47 tackles last year with 13 for loss and seven sacks. He also forced two fumbles and was credited with five quarterback hurries. Banks, who plays all three defensive line positions, came on strong at the end of 2024, finishing with 21 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, six quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.

SEC FOOTBALL (AP RANKINGS)

No. 8 Alabama: HBC Kalen DeBoer announced that 4^th-year junior Ty Simpson will start the season as the No. 1 quarterback. No word on who will be the backup among redshirt sophomore Austin Mack and freshman Keelon Russell … The Crimson Tide is a 13.5-point favorite in its season opener against Florida State in Tallahassee.

Arkansas: Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino says redshirt senior QB Taylen Green seems much improved since last season. Petrino said, “His knowledge of defenses is way better so he understands, which allows you to make quicker decisions. His accuracy has really improved.”

Auburn: Domestic violence charges against wide receiver Malcolm Simmons have been dismissed. As a freshman last season, Simmons caught 40 passes for 451 yards and three touchdowns. He also returned a punt for a touchdown … Auburn will be a 2-point favorite on the road at Baylor in game one.

No. 5 Georgia: Former Georgia QB and CBS college football analyst Aaron Murray believes the Bulldogs will be in trouble if quarterback Gunner Stockton goes down with an injury. Speaking to UGASports.com, Murray said, “I know it sounds crazy but we don’t have a backup quarterback that’s played football at this level … Because if he [Stockton] goes down there is no experience behind him with (Ryan) Puglisi and (Ryan Montgomery) and down the line.” … Georgia is a 39.5-point favorite in its season opener with Marshall.

Kentucky: Quarterback Zach Calzada, who has 32 starts in 38 games at three other schools (Texas A&M, Auburn and Incarnate Word) has played well in an up tempo offense Kentucky is trying to implement … The Wildcats have been established as 8.5-point favorites over Toledo in game one.

No. 9 LSU: Freshman running back JT Lindsey is suspended from the team until legal matters have been taken care of. Lindsey was arrested back on Friday. He faces a count of accessory to a 2^nd-degree murder for allegedly providing housing for the two suspects who have been charged with the crime … Clemson has opened up as a 4.5-point favorite over LSU in the season opener.

Mississippi State: Redshirt freshman cornerback Kelley Jones had a scoop and score fumble recovery in the Sunday scrimmage … The Bulldogs are 12.5-point favorites over Southern Miss in game one.

Missouri: West Virginia transfer linebacker Josiah Trotter was named to the Lombardi Trophy watch list. As a redshirt freshman last year when he was named Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, Trotter was in on 93 tackles.

No. 18 Oklahoma: Quarterback John Mateer issued a statement after screenshots of his Venmo account showed payments in 2022 to someone with the phrase sports gambling on the memo line. Mateer was a freshman at Washington State at that time. Mateer’s statement read: “The allegations that I once participated in sports gambling are false. My previous Venmo descriptions did not accurately portray the transactions in question but were instead inside jokes between me and my friends. I have never bet on sports. I understand the seriousness of the matter, but recognize that, taken out of context, those Venmo descriptions suggest otherwise. I can assure my teammates, coaches, and officials at the NCAA that I have not engaged in any sports gambling.” There is no indication that the NCAA is investigating.

No. 21 Ole Miss: Charlotte transfer PJ Wilkins (6-5, 340) started fall practice at guard, but he’s been working mostly at tackle recently … The starting corners will likely be Auburn transfer Antonio Kite and LSU transfer Sage Ryan … The Rebels are favored by 38.5 points in their season opener with Georgia State.

No. 13 South Carolina: The highlight of South Carolina’s first scrimmage was no turnovers in 117 plays. A year ago, the Gamecocks fumbled the ball away 14 times and threw seven interceptions … South Carolina will open as an 8-point favorite over Virginia Tech in game one.

No. 24 Tennessee: The Vols led the SEC in rushing last season(225.85 yards per game). The running backs are new this year and there are three new starters on the O-line but the Vols are expected to go top heavy with the run this season … The Vols are 14.5-point favorites for their season opener with Syracuse.

No. 1 Texas: Four Longhorns – RG DJ Campbell, TE Jack Endries, LB Anthony Hill and EDGE Colin Simmons have been named to the Lombardi Award watch list … The Longhorns might be the No. 1 ranked team in the country on both the AP and AFCA Coaches polls, but they’ve been established as 2.5-point underdogs for their season opener at No. 3 Ohio State.

No. 19 Texas A&M: Deuce Fetheree was the No. 1 right tackle Tuesday with returning starter Dametri Crownover with the second unit … The Aggies are favored by 21.5 points for their season opener with Texas-San Antonio.

Vanderbilt: Liberty transfer Jordan White has taken over as the No. 1 center. Cole McConnell and Chase Mitchell are the guards. South Dakota transfer Bryce Henderson (6-8, 325) and Isaiah Glass are the first team tackles.