“Every day when you wake up, take care of your guys and go play your best ball,” said Slaughter. (UAA Photo)

The best there ever was. In the opinion of the Associated Press, which earlier in the week named its all-time college football All-America team, that is Tim Tebow, who was picked as the quarterback for this elite team. There was no second team selected, just a first team.   There have been so many great college quarterbacks, but Tebow is the only one who won a Heisman Trophy and finished in the top five of the Heisman voting two other seasons. He played an important role as the backup to Chris Leak on Florida’s 2006 national championship team, then won the national championship as the starter for UF in 2008. As the starting quarterback at Florida, Tebow was 35-6. In the 55 games he played, the Gators went 48-7.   The career numbers are 661-995 passing (66.4 percent) for 9,285 yards (9.3 per attempt) and 88 touchdowns (just 16 interceptions). He ran for 2,947 yards and 57 touchdowns. Florida hasn’t won a national or Southeastern Conference football championship since Tebow’s junior year in 2008, the year the Gators beat Oklahoma for the national title.   Most fans don’t realize just how close the best there ever was came to choosing Alabama. Ranked the No. 1 dual threat quarterback in the country in 2005, Tebow was a 5-star who was the subject of one of the most intense recruiting battles of this century and it wasn’t until the day he made his college commitment that even he knew for sure where he was going to sign.   Here is a timeline of how Tim Tebow came to be a Florida Gator.   October 1, 2005: Tuscaloosa, Alabama   Bryant-Denny Stadium was rocking an hour before kickoff. It was unbeaten No. 5 Florida against unbeaten No. 15 Alabama. Urban Meyer, who had yet to convince Paul Finebaum that he could win big in the SEC with what he called a gimmick offense, and Mike Shula, needing a big season to save his job after a 6-6 record in 2004.   What had the Bama crowd juiced was official visitor Tim Tebow, subject of scorching hot  recruiting battle between Florida, Alabama, Southern Cal, LSU and Michigan. Nobody thought it would be LSU or Michigan. They were in the mix, but nobody really thought Tim would ever go to either one of those places. Southern Cal was a concern because Pete Carroll had produced two Heisman quarterbacks (Carson Palmer and Matt Leinhart), plus had the best player in college football in Reggie Bush. Carroll’s lead recruiter was Lane Kiffin.   All eyes were focused on Florida and Alabama. Since Florida already had a commitment from Jevan Snead, a 5-star quarterback from Stephenville, Texas, Alabama believed it was the front runner for Tebow, particularly when the Crimson Tide jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter and went on to a 31-3 hosing of the Gators. By the time the fourth quarter arrived, Bryant-Denny was a zoo and the decibels were eardrum shattering. Under the stadium in a makeshift press room, Meyer tried to explain what had happened to the Gators. Bama fans were still roaring and chanting “Tebow! Tebow!”   When Tebow left Tuscaloosa that weekend, Alabama was clearly in the lead.   November 26, 2005: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium   Alabama would go on to a 9-2 record in the regular season. Florida salvaged 8-3 with a 34-7 Thanksgiving weekend win over Florida State, a game that pretty much signaled the end of the road for Bobby Bowden. In the Florida locker room after the game, a recruiting tsunami began for Meyer and the Gators, after which a recruiting tsunami began for Meyer.   Future All-American Brandon James committed to the Gators as did 4-star corner Jacques Rickerson, 4-star wide Jarred Fayson and 4-star safety Bryan Thomas. Suddenly, the Gators had momentum on the recruiting trail.     December 12, 2005: At the Tebow family farm, West Jacksonville   Early morning Mike Shula and defensive line coach Buddy Wyatt showed up at the Tebow home in West Jacksonville. They would stay for 12 hours, departing for the short flight back to Tuscaloosa convinced they had their quarterback of the future.   Tebow really loved Mike Shula, loved Alabama’s history winning championships, the passion of the fans and how they had chanted his name for what seemed like the entire fourth quarter of the game back in October. When Shula showed up that day, he was embraced by the entire Tebow family. They, too, thought Tim would be in good hands if Mike Shula were the head coach.   Reflecting about his decision the day before the 2008 SEC Championship game, won by the Gators 31-20 thanks to an incredible fourth quarter by Tebow, Tim said, “I really liked Coach Shula. I liked what he stood for on and off the field. I liked everything about their program and the passion that their fans have for football and how big it is there because I’m very passionate about it as well. I thought it was just a great fit and I liked him and I thought it would be great playing for him.”   December 12, 2005: On a Pennsylvania airfield awaiting takeoff   Urban Meyer and co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison were on a recruiting trip in Pennsylvania to land Plan B quarterback Pat Devlin, who would eventually sign with Penn State. Knowing how Meyer had actively recruited Tebow, Jevan Snead de-committed a few weeks earlier. The quarterback situation seemed Tebow or bust and the fact Mike Shula had been at the Tebow farm all day left Meyer in a dour mood. All day long, Meyer was in touch with Tebow’s high school coach Craig Howard let him know exactly how long Shula had stayed at the Tebow farm.   Twelve hours. Simply calling Meyer nervous would be an understatement. Meyer’s mood went further south while sitting on a private jet with co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison while waiting to take off in the late night darkness. The conversation turned to Tebow.     “I had convinced myself that if we lose him we’ll be all right,” Meyer said in Atlanta in December of 2008. “Then Greg Mattison looked at me and it’s about five degrees out. We’re sitting there and I’m freezing. He [Mattison] said, ‘You realize that if we don’t get him that will set the program back ten years.’   “I said shut up and he said, ‘Ten years!’ I got so upset with him I grabbed a blanket and didn’t talk to him the rest of the night.”   December 13, 2005: A little after midnight in West Jacksonville   Tim dialed up his close friend Larry Fedora, formerly Ron Zook’s offensive coordinator at UF. Fedora had been the lead recruiter for Tebow, but after Zook was fired, Fedora took the offensive coordinator job for Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State. Although he was coaching at a school that wasn’t involved in Tebow’s recruitment, Fedora stayed close to Tim.   On the phone for a couple of hours, Fedora let Tebow talk about Shula and everything he loved about Alabama. When Tebow asked Fedora about the decision he was about to make, Fedora asked him where the entire Tebow family had gone to school, what was on the mailbox at the Tebow farm and the name of Tim’s dog.   The answers: Florida, Gator and Gator.   Then came the question that stuck with Tim up until shortly before he made his announcement at the Nease High School auditorium in the afternoon.   “Whose poster is on your bedroom wall?” Fedora asked. The answer: Danny Wuerffel. Then he followed with “Where’s your heart? Where has your heart always been?”   December 13, 2005: Nease High School Auditorium   The Nease Auditorium was packed with fans and media. Tebow’s announcement was broadcast live on ESPN. While waiting for the announcement, Tebow’s high school coach Craig Howard was leading Tebow cheers. It was a mostly Florida crowd in the auditorium, but there was a noticeable presence of Bama fans. This was probably the biggest recruiting announcement in the history of the network. Just prior to the Tebow announcement, ESPN showed a documentary entitled “The Chosen One” about the already legendary high school career of Tim Tebow.   Bob Redman and I were there in Ponte Vedra Beach to cover the announcement. On the drive over from Gainesville we felt Florida would be the call when Tim took to the podium. The Gator in us couldn’t imagine Tim in Alabama colors, but neither one of us were 100 percent convinced. That Mike Shula had been in the Tebow home for 12 hours had both of us feeling nervous about the impending announcement.     Throughout the drive over, Bob was on the phone with a producer at the Paul Finebaum Show along with a member of the Tebow family. Finebaum had a massive audience waiting an answer. Bama fans thought Tim would pick the Crimson Tide, but they were every bit as nervous as those from Florida. At Nease High School, a Florida fan who recognized me told he was so nervous he thought he might puke if Tim picked Alabama.   Perhaps five minutes before Tebow announced, Bob got the call from the family friend that Tebow was going to pick Florida. Bob made the call to Finebaum to tell him Tim Tebow would pick Florida.   I looked at Bob and Bob looked at me, both of us happy, but still nervous.   “What if he changes his mind?” I asked pessimistically. Bob answered emphatically, “Don’t even think about it.”   Meanwhile, over in Gainesville Urban Meyer was pulling into the driveway of his Haile Plantation home when the phone rang. It was Tim Tebow, who told him, “I’ve made a decision to go …”   The battery on Tim Tebow’s phone went dead. Silence.   Frantically, Meyer tried to call Bob Tebow. No answer. He called Craig Howard. Again, no answer. Meyer rushed into the house where Shelley and the kids were watching ESPN, waiting the announcement. Urban was too nervous to watch. He went out past the pool to the back yard near the batting cage that had been constructed for son Nate.   He had no clue what Tebow was going to do. He hoped and prayed Florida, but the way the phone call had ended left his stomach churning.     Introduced as the guest of honor in Ponte Vedra, Tim proceeded to offer thanks to Lloyd Carr (Michigan), Les Miles (LSU) and Pete Carroll for recruiting him. That left Florida and Alabama.   “This is a big day in my life,” Tebow said. “This is the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make.”   Everybody in the auditorium held their breath for what was next. The choice was Florida. Did anyone hear Tebow speak glowingly of Alabama while thanking Mike Shula?   Gator fans never heard. They erupted. In Gainesville, Urban Meyer heard his wife and kids scream. He didn’t know if it was because Tebow was a Gator or going to Alabama. He rushed into the house where he knew for the first time that he had his quarterback.   In the aftermath of the Tebow announcement …   A day later, 4-star defensive end Jermaine Cunningham committed to the Gators.  Three days later, 4-star wide receiver Riley Cooper committed to UF. On December 20, the No. 1 player in the country, Percy Harvin, sent Seminole fans into apoplexy when he announced for the Gators. This was a mind-altering moment for those remaining who thought the Seminole Dynasty was still alive and kicking.   Three weeks At the Army All-American game in San Antonio, Percy told Bob Redman and me that his decision to choose Florida was sealed when Tebow picked Florida.  Also there in San Antonio was 5-star linebacker Brandon Spikes, who would announce at halftime of the game. Three or four days before the game Spikes told me that he would be a Gator, that he and Tebow agreed to go to school together. There in San Antonio was Sam Young, a 5-star tackle from St. Thomas Aquinas. Young picked Notre Dame but his STA  teammate Marcus Gilbert picked Florida. Young never played for a championship at Notre Dame while Gilbert played for two at Florida. Young was a sixth round draft pick and a career NFL backup. Gilbert spent 10 years in the league as a starting tackle.   Florida wound up with the No. 2 recruiting class in the country.     The long term Tebow effect   A couple of years ago, Tebow was a guest on the Paul Finebaum Show. The two work weekends together on the SEC Network version of Game Day so they’re quite friendly.   During this particular, episode, Finebaum said, “You know what’s so interesting? And not to make you larger than life, although you are. Had you decided to come to the University of Alabama, Nick Saban wouldn’t be here because Mike Shula would have done much better than he did, Alabama at some point — Saban would have eventually gone somewhere else. So, Bama fans, don’t begrudge Tim Tebow anything. Thank him for Nick Saban. This is the man that brought Nick Saban to Alabama.”

Vernell Brown 3 Emerging (UAA Photo)

The Gators made life miserable for LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier last year (Photo by Chris Spears) “I’m not one to complain now son, I tell you true When the black cat cross your trail, Lord It comes in misery times two” – from “Double Trouble” by Lynyrd Skynyrd   Can the Florida Gators avoid trouble times two in 2025? The difference in the championship season envisioned by head ball coach Billy Napier and a season of almosts could come down to two back-to-back games on the schedule: at No. 9 LSU September 13 and at No. 10 Miami September 20; No. 1 Texas at The Swamp October 4 and at No. 19 Texas A&M October 11.   After facing Long Island University and South Florida at The Swamp in the first two games, the Gators hit that first critical juncture, road games at LSU and Miami. A 2-0 start and the Gators will vault from their No. 15 ranking to likely in the top eight. The Gators will stay top 20 if they split those first two, but 0-2? That is a deep hole that will take a lot of digging to get out of.   Now, both those games are winnable. Florida will certainly go into Tiger Stadium with plenty of confidence. The Gators snuffed out LSU’s SEC Championship Game and College Football Playoff hopes last year at The Swamp when the defense made life miserable for Garrett Nussmeier, who was seeing ghosts in the fourth quarter. Getting sacked six times and nearly sacked six others will do that for you. Florida’s offensive line didn’t give up a sack and the Gators didn’t turn the ball over. If DJ Lagway can pilot the offense to a turnover-free game and the defense does its part, this game is very winnable. LSU is transfer heavy, but the Tigers are 19-2 at home under Brian Kelly, 9-10 on the road. To Florida’s advantage, the game is two weeks following LSU’s road opener at Clemson.   While Miami has a top 10 ranking to start the season, the Hurricanes play a pansy schedule so they’re going to win nine or ten games. Florida is a game they could lose. Miami’s home field advantage isn’t exactly intimidating. There will be as many Florida fans in the stadium as Miami fans. If the Gators protect the ball and establish the running game, they can put points on the board. Miami will be quarterbacked by Carson Beck, who last year at Georgia threw three interceptions and was sacked twice by the Gators. Miami’s season opener is against Notre Dame. If the Canes lose, then this will have the atmosphere of a playoff game. Two losses in September could absolutely kill Miami’s season.   A 2-0 effort in those two games is ideal for the Gators, but 1-1 won’t necessarily destroy the season.   Texas, especially if the Gators are 4-0, will be the most hyped game in the country because it will be Arch Manning going against DJ Lagway, maybe the two quarterbacks who will duke it out for the Heisman Trophy when all is said and done. This is going to be the most difficult road game in Texas’ short time in the SEC. The Swamp will be rocking and Arch Manning will discover what decibels are all about when the fourth quarter arrives is this one is a white knuckler. On the road, this might be a belly up game for the Gators, but at home, Florida might be favored, especially if UF is off to a good start.   Texas A&M in College Station is my prediction as Florida’s toughest game of the season. A 5-0 start, while the oddsmakers think is unlikely, isn’t beyond question. Here is where the problem will be. The Gators will be coming off an enormous emotional game against Texas. Maintaining that emotional edge on consecutive weeks is going to be very difficult, particularly at Kyle Field, which will have more than 102,000 jammed into the rafters. The Aggies are 25-7 at Kyle Field since 2020. One of those home losses was to Billy Napier and the Gators in 2022 when Anthony Richardson had perhaps his best game as a Gator.     It will be midseason after the Texas A&M game and we should have a really good clue as to Florida’s chances to make the College Football Playoff. If the Gators are 4-2 or better, they will be very much in the hunt for the playoff. Florida’s schedule is so brutal that a 9-3 or better season should get the Gators into the playoff. If the Gators come out of these four games 1-3 or 0-4, this is a season that could go south.   Prediction: The Gators will go 3-1 and will be 5-1 at midseason.     CBS SPORTS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA 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; OT: Spencer Fango, Utah, and Francis Mauigoa, Miami; OG: Ar’maj Reed-Adams, Texas A&M, and Olaovavega Ioane, Penn State; C: JAKE SLAUGHTER, FLORIDA; AP: Desmond Reid, Pittsburgh   First team defense DE: Colin Simmons, Texas, and Dylan Stewart, South Carolina; DT: Peter Woods, Clemson, and Zane Durant, Penn State; LB: Anthony Hill, Texas; Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh; and CJ Allen, Georgia; CB: Leonard Moore, Notre Dame, and Jermod McCoy, Tennessee; S: Caleb Downs, Ohio State, and Dillon Thieneman, Oregon   First team specialists PK: Dominic Zvada, Michigan; P: Brett Thorson, Georgia; RET Barrion Brown, LSU   Second team offense QB: Garrett Nussmeier, LSU; RB: Jaydn Ott, Oklahoma, and Isaac Brown, Louisville; WR: Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State, and Elijah Sarratt, Indiana; TE: Max Klare, Ohio State; OT: Kadyn Proctor, Alabama, and Isaiah World, Oregon; OG: Cayden Green, Missouri, and Jaeden Roberts, Alabama; C: Nick Dawkins, Penn State; AP: Zachariah Branch, Georgia   Second team defense DE: TJ Parker, Clemson, and Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon; DT: Christen Miller, Georgia, and Mikail Kamara, Indiana; LB: Gabe Jacas, Illinois; Whit Weeks, LSU; and Sonny Styles, Ohio State; CB: Chandler Rivers, Duke, and Aveion Terrell, Clemson; S: Koi Perich, Minnesota, and KJ Bolden, Georgia   Second team specialists PK: Peyton Woodring, Georgia; P: Palmer Williams, Baylor; RET: Keelan Marion, Miami   SEC FOOTBALL Alabama: Speaking about newly anointed starting QB Ty Simpson, DT Tim Keenan says, “Ty , he can get up out that pocket. He got a little wiggle to him. He ain’t made me touch no grass or nothing like that, but he disappeared on me a couple of times. Ty, he be back there moving around.”   Arkansas: The starting offensive line looks like this: LT Corey Robinson (6-5, 311); LG Fernando Carmona (6-5, 325); C Caden Kitler (6-3, 305); RG Kobe Branham (6-5, 326); RT E’Marion Harris (6-7, 313).   Auburn: D-line coach Vontrell King-Williams says the Tigers have 10 linemen worthy of playing at least 10 snaps per game.   Georgia: Georgia has lost 60 players to the transfer portal since 2023. The Bulldogs have added 25 transfers to the roster. Tom Fornelli of CBS says, “… they don’t have the same level of replacements to compete at the same level as they did a few years ago.”   Kentucky: Kentucky added former Hawaii special co-special teams coordinator Jack Ray to the staff as assistant special teams coach. The Wildcats also added Yusuf Corker as a grad assistant helping with the secondary and Jervontius Stallings as a defensive line grad assistant.   LSU: Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports says the Tigers “have a chance to compete for an SEC title, a playoff spot and even a national championship” because “the defense is poised to be a lot better than it was last year.”   Mississippi State: The Bulldogs are depending on a number of junior college transfers to step in and play immediately at a high level. The 2024 defense gave up 456.4 yards and 34.1 points per game.   Missouri: A year ago Mizzou’s roster included three former 5-star recruits: wide receivers Luther Burden III and Theo Wease and defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri. Burden and Wease are now in the NFL while Nwaneri transferred to Nebraska.   Oklahoma: Walk-on wide receiver Jakeb Snyder was awarded a scholarship. Snyder got the word on a video message during a team meeting, delivered by Baker Mayfield and his wife. Mayfield was a walk-on at both Texas Tech and Oklahoma. The scholarship is named the Baker and Emily Mayfield Walk-on Scholarship.   Ole Miss: Missouri transfer Kewan Lacy and Logan Diggs, formerly of Notre Dame and LSU, are competing for the first team running back job. Lacy ran for 104 yards as a freshman at Mizzou last year. Diggs was injured in the only game he played and took a medical redshirt. At LSU two years ago, Diggs gained 653 yards while scoring seven touchdowns.   South Carolina: Sophomore Mazeo Bennett, who caught 30 passes for 337 yards and three touchdowns last season, is making a bid to be the go-to receiver for quarterback LaNorris Sellers.   Tennessee: This will be Tennessee’s final year with Nike. The Vols have signed a new 10-year deal with Adidas that goes into effect in July of 2026. The deal also includes NIL opportunities for UT athletes. Tennessee was an Adidas school before going with Nike more than 10 years ago.   Texas: After the Longhorns play Samford at home September 20, they won’t have another game in Austin until they play Vanderbilt at home November 1.   Texas A&M: HBC Mike Elko expects running back Le’Veon Moss to be back 100 percent by the time the Aggies open the season. Moss suffered a knee injury last November and didn’t participate in spring football practice. He ran for 765 yards and 10 touchdowns last year.   Vanderbilt: Diego Pavia dressed out Wednesday but only did conditioning work. There is no mention of any injury for the 6 th -year quarterback.   A MOMENT OF SELF-INDULGENCE   My book chronicling Florida’s brilliant run to the 2025 NCAA basketball championship is off to the editor and soon to the printer. The hope is that it will be ready to go at least a couple of weeks ahead of Florida’s season opener against Arizona in Las Vegas.   This championship season was special for me because the Gators lifted me up when I really needed a lift following the death of my stepfather and then the loss of my parrot, who sat on my shoulder faithfully while I wrote for 31 years. Also, this championship came 18 years after Billy Donovan and the Oh-Fours went back-to-back in 2006-07. I am no spring chicken. National championships don’t grow on trees. At 73 years old I wasn’t certain I would ever see another NCAA title in basketball, but Todd Golden told me last summer, “We got some dudes.” And, as I discovered starting with the season opener against South Florida, the dudes would abide.   The book takes the Gators from the season opener all the way to Walter Clayton Jr.’s defensive gem that sealed the win over Houston. To write about this championship has been an effort of love.

(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.

(Photo by Chris Spears) In a perfect football world, DJ Lagway would be taking every preseason snap as the Florida Gators ready themselves for a season opener August 30 against Long Island University. Despite the imperfection of an August in which Lagway has yet to face live contact while rehabbing a soft tissue injury to his left calf, Billy Napier doesn’t seem all that concerned.   “Look, any football player would be better off taking the reps, right?” Napier replied to a question at his Monday morning press conference. “So, but the key is to be creative in terms of how we format practice, format the walk-through. We've got to maximize all the mental reps, the process reps, the communication reps, right? I think, so – you know, it's not ideal. I mean, that's the way I’ve tried put it in the past, and I still kind of stand by that.   “You know, in the perfect world, he’d be 100 percent and taking every single rep, but he's not able to do that. It does give us an opportunity to really figure out who the backup is. I think it helps us do that. So he's – I mean, he's getting 70 competitive throws every day. So his workload is high, it’s just not with a pass rush, you know? Think we're controlling the environment, trying to take care of him from a soft tissue standpoint."   When the Gators scrimmaged Saturday, it gave Napier a chance to evaluate his three backups. Aidan Warner and Harrison Bailey split up most of the No. 1 and No. 2 snaps, but true freshman Tramell Ward played well enough that he is on track for more work, some of it with the No. 1 offense.   “Tramell Jones is buzz-worthy,” Napier said. “I think he has gotten more reps with the first and second units. I think we're dividing those reps up among those three players. Initially, he [Jones] wasn't taking any. And then obviously, we’ve increased the reps as he has done more and proven that he's capable. So, I think he obviously was injured when he got here and then limited in the spring. And then, you know, he's back to being 100 percent now.”   Jones came to UF as a midyear enrollee out of Jacksonville Mandarin, but injuries set him back in the spring. He’s added muscle to what was a lean frame when he arrived (he’s 202 pounds now) so he’s bigger and stronger. What is critical now is development between the ears. Typically, that’s the last piece of the puzzle for a freshman quarterback.   “I think he did a nice job at the scrimmage, I think made some plays with his feet, he made some off-schedule plays. Still got to operate much quicker, got to process quicker, communicate better, under the gun and the play clock; you know, his ability to manage the problems as they arise, all those things need to improve. But throws a really good ball, he's very accurate, he's got arm talent, and I think he's a smart kid.”
   From a strictly experience standpoint, Bailey should win the competition for the No. 2 job. He began his career as a 5-star recruit to Tennessee where he spent two years before transferring to UNLV. From there he transferred to Louisville. As a freshman at Tennessee in 2020, Bailey got SEC starts in the six games he played. He completed 48-68 passes for 578 yards (8.5 yards per attempt), good for four touchdowns (2 picks). When there was a coaching change at Tennessee in 2021, Josh Heupel brought in Hendon Hooker as his QB. That brought on the subsequent transfer to UNLV, but when there was a coaching change after the 2022 season, he transferred to Louisville. For his career, Bailey is 108-171 passing for 1,190 yards (7.0 per attempt) with 10 touchdowns and only three interceptions.   Warner has the most experience in the Florida offense. After a redshirt year as a freshman at Yale, Warner walked on at Florida. He finished the Georgia game after Lagway hurt a hamstring and got a start the next week at Texas. For his career he is 21-50 for 228 yards (4.6 per attempt) with no touchdowns and three interceptions. Warner seems to have made tremendous progress in the offseason. He is throwing a better pass and has more confidence.   Then there is Jones. Napier says his rookie could very well end up as the backup quarterback.   Ideally, Lagway will be the starter on August 30 and he will be healthy. He was 6-0 last year in the games he started and finished. The team has tremendous confidence in him. If you combine skills and the physical element (Lagway is 6-3, 247), Lagway might be the most talented quarterback the Gators have ever had.   Right now, the chief goal for Napier and his staff is to get Lagway ready physically to play at 100 percent by August 30. It’s a good thing the game is not this weekend because Lagway wouldn’t be ready to go, but that shouldn’t be a problem the final Saturday in August.   “Yeah we don't play Saturday,” Napier said. “I think he's doing great. I think he's on schedule. He's executing our plan. You know, I think he had a great day today. I think he had his best day today, he took more reps today than he's been taking. Obviously didn't participate in scrimmage, but he's, you know, he's hitting all his numbers from a throw perspective. Ball is coming out of his hand with more velocity than any time in his career. You know, I think he's just, obviously, we're working on the soft tissue with the calf, and we're going to, we're going to execute our plan there, so he'll be modified for a while here. But, yeah, I wish we played Saturday, but we don't.”   GATORS OPEN AT NO. 15 IN AP TOP 25 POLL There is good news and there is bad news for the Florida Gators when it comes to the first Associated Press top 25 poll. The good news is the Gators will open the season at No. 15, which is two places ahead of where they are ranked in the first AFCA Coaches top 25.   The high ranking is also bad news. When asked Monday about the ranking, Billy Napier replied, “ Yeah but there’s seven teams we play ahead of us.”   The Gators played No. 9 LSU and No. 10 Miami in back-to-back road games in September. The Gators also have games against No. 1 Texas, No. 5 Georgia, No. 19 Texas A&M, No. 21 Ole Miss and No. 24 Tennessee.   If we gauge the AP ranking as progress, then this is the highest ranking in the preseason of any Napier-coached team at Florida, but the coach is keeping it all in perspective.   Look these are all fun to cover, you know, but ultimately the game’s will be played this fall, and that will decide who ends the year ranked what,” Napier said. “We have work to do to get ready for those opportunities. So 20 days until we spot the ball, and I think we're focused on the work at hand, but hey, good to be ranked in the preseason. But we all know that those are projections, and we're going to have to go perform to earn those.”   ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25 1.Texas; 2. Penn State; 3. Ohio State; 4. Clemson; 5. Georgia; 6. Nore Dame; 7. Oregon; 8. Alabama; 9. LSU; 10. Miami; 11. Arizona State; 12. Illinois; 13. South Carolina; 14. Michigan; 15. FLORIDA; 16. SMU; 17, Kansas State; 18. Oklahoma; 19. Texas A&M; 20. Indiana; 21. Ole Miss; 22. Iowa State; 23. Texas Tech; 24. Tennessee; 25. Boise State   NOTABLE NAPIER COMMENTS FROM THE MONDAY PRESS CONFERENCE Which unit is ahead? “I mean, I think defensively probably a little bit further ahead, just because of the, you know, I think we're without a few players on offense, right? So I think that affects our ability to perform. But today, the offense won, right? So I think the defense had some rookie players they had to emerge in the two-deep today, and had to take reps, and I think they felt the urgency of having to perform when the spotlight was on.”   Injuries allowing young guys to step up “I'm thinking the secondary, we've had a chance to see some of these guys that – they need to grow and develop, so it's been beneficial for them to get reps. The inside backers, Ty Jackson and Myles Johnson have been able to take advantage. Pup [Howard] was able to do a little bit more today, he's been kind of progressing back in, so it's good to have them back out there today. Yeah, I think just in general, we're working three groups, and I think a lot of players are getting an opportunity.”   What he’s seeing in the running game “I'm pleased with that part. I think we've been able to rush it effectively. I think we've done a nice job on the perimeter as well. All positions contribute to that, but, in particular, I think our receivers and their pride in blocking on the perimeter has impressed me. Tough group, physical group. (Billy) G’s done a nice job with that group. And the tight ends and the backs are also involved in that as well. I think those are two strengths right now, in my opinion."   On VBIII and his chance to contribute as a true freshman “Vernell is one of the emerging players in camp, in my opinion. I think he's very mature, aware. He’s in great condition, and I think he's durable. He plays fast for a young player, and I think he's decisive, and it's not too big for him. He's very comfortable in the moment, so he's got a chance to impact our team as a freshman. So, overall, not a day goes by where I'm not impressed with some of the things that he does. Hopefully we can continue that way.”

(Photo by Chris Spears) When the Gators held their first real scrimmage Saturday, DJ Lagway didn’t play. Nor did wide receivers Dallas Wilson, Tre Wilson, Aidan Mizell and Kahleil Jackson, EDGE rusher LJ McCray, linebacker Grayson “Pup” Howard, corner Dijon Johnson and safety Aaron Gates.   Should you be worried? Not really. There are still two weeks to get these guys healthy enough to play, three when you consider the season opener is with Long Island University. It would be great to have them all healthy and ready to go against LIU, but the only real necessity on the health front is Lagway. Even though any of Florida’s backup quarterbacks could lead the Gators to a win over the D1AA Sharks, the priority is getting Lagway ready to go. Those reps, even against a bad D1AA team, will pay off once the SEC schedule kicks in with a roadie at LSU in game three.   From all accounts, Lagway has been looking good throwing in practice, so holding him out in the scrimmage wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Napier has decisions to make about who goes into the season opener as the No. 2 and No. 3 quarterback. From various reports, both Warner and Louisville transfer Harrison Bailey split time running the offense and both had some very good moments. It should also be noted that true freshman Trammell Jones continued to show the kind of talent that could move him up the depth chart in a hurry.   Lagway will get plenty of work with all the receivers the next two weeks. Against LIU, he probably will only play a handful of series before Napier gives him the rest of the day off. His work load will certainly increase game two against an improved South Florida team that finished the 2024 season 7-6 with a bowl win over San Jose State.   As for the receivers, Florida is loaded with players capable of stretching defenses and making plays. And, until the Gators get everybody healthy, they can rely heavily on the running game. Jadan Baugh, Ja’Kobi Jackson and KD Daniels apparently had exceptional days running the ball Saturday behind an O-line that continues to impress.   TWO THINGS THAT STILL IRRITATE ME 1. THE SWINDLE IN THE SWAMP IN 2003   The Gators led Florida State 27-24 with a little more than six minutes left in the fourth quarter when Leon Washington fumbled at the Florida 3-yard line. Channing Crowder emerged from the pile with the football but the Atlantic Coast Conference officiating crew headed by Jack Childress determined that Washington had recovered his own fumble. Adding to the insanity – this was the fourth fumble of the game that Florida recovered yet somehow FSU was awarded the football – Crowder was whistled for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty when he spiked the football. It took FSU three plays to score and take the lead.   Florida regained the lead at 34-31 on a 25-yard Chris Leak to Ben Troupe touchdown pass with 2:50 remaining, but FSU would score the game-winning touchdown on a Chris Rix to PK Sam touchdown pass with 55 seconds left in the game.   When FSU players started stomping on the big F at midfield after their 38-34 win a brawl broke out that required the police and tear gas to break it up.   Bobby Bowden shrugged his shoulders about the brawl and the officiating but he did say something to the effect of being sorry there was a fight. When asked about all the fumbles that somehow or another were recovered by FSU, Bobby kind of grinned and said he was glad the calls went his way.   Jack Childress and his crew should have been suspended from ever calling another college football game.   Had there been instant replay, the Gators would have wound up with at least three of the four fumbles including the one by Leon Washington.   2. JAMIE LUCKIE’S CASE OF THE RED ASS IN NEW ORLEANS IN 2011   Florida led Butler by 11 (51-40) with 9:26 left in the game. With 9:03 left, Luckie called a jump ball when Butler’s Shelvin Mack drove into the paint and tried to get up a shot. Scottie Wilbekin got both hands on the ball and a held ball was called. Butler coach Brad Stevens disagreed and when Luckie comes by the Butler bench, he said, “You’re a better official than that Jamie.” It happened maybe 8-10 feet in front of Marty Cohen and I on the press row.     Butler got the ball on the alternating possession but on the inbounds play, Matt Howard scored a layup. He was clearly fouled – by Alex Tyus – but Luckie called Vernon Macklin for the foul. It was the fourth foul on Macklin, who had scored 20 points already. Vern sat the next four minutes during which time Butler got back in the game and eventually own in overtime. The way Vern was dominating the game offensively and with his paint defense, no one will ever convince me that Florida wouldn’t have won the game by anywhere from 12-15 points.   From the 9:02 point in the game, Butler went to a scratch and claw defense, but Jamie Luckie had a tendency to overlook Gators getting hammered. No autopsy, no foul seemed to be his take on Butler’s defense the rest of the game. Florida never regained its rhythm and Macklin lost his aggressiveness with the fourth foul.   I believe the Gators would have won the national championship if they had gotten to the Final Four. UConn won it with a 53-41 win over Butler in the championship game at Reliant Stadium in Houston. No one will ever convince me that UConn could have beaten the Gators.   There are certain officials that coaches know before the opening tip that it could be a very long game. I’ve talked to plenty of SEC coaches and there is universal agreement that Jamie Luckie was too thin skinned and when he got a case of the red ass, their team was in trouble.   THREE THINGS THAT STILL MAKE ME GO HMMM … 1. WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF CAM NEWTON HAD REMAINED AT UF   Cam Newton was in academic trouble in 2008 when he was the subject of an investigation by the University Police Department. Newton had purchased a stolen computer. Did he know it was hot at the time he bought it? He said he didn’t and a deal was made that if he turned the computer over to the UPD and fingered the guy who sold it to him, he would be off the hook.   When the police arrived he panicked and threw the computer into a dumpster below his second floor dorm room. He was charged with larceny and obstruction of justice, plus suspended from the team. He made a plea deal but made the decision to transfer to Blinn Junior College in Texas where he led the team to the 2009 juco national title. In 2010, Newton led Auburn to 14-0 record and the national championship. He threw for more than 2,800 yards and 30 touchdowns, ran for 1,473 and 20 more.   Florida went 13-1 in 2009, Tim Tebow’s final season. In 2010, the Gators went 8-5 in what was Urban Meyer’s final year on the job. Florida averaged 100 fewer yards and one less touchdown a game, largely due to Meyer being forced to make the offense work with a 3-headed quarterback in John Brantley, Jordan Reed and Trey Burton.   There was more than enough talent on that Florida team. More than 30 players eventually spent at least one year in the NFL. The problem was at quarterback. Brantley was a pocket passer. Reed and Burton could run but couldn’t throw. The Meyer offense only worked well with a dual threat. Put Newton on the field and that team probably makes it to Atlanta. Maybe more.   2. WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF VINCE CARTER HAD SIGNED WITH UF?   As a high school senior at Daytona Beach Mainland, Vince Carter was thought to be the greatest high school basketball player in the history of the state. When it came time to sign scholarship papers, Carter signed with Dean Smith and North Carolina rather than play for Lon Kruger and the Gators.   Kruger was a very good basketball coach who took the Gators to their first Final Four in 1994. From a pure talent standpoint, the 1994 Gators rank close to the bottom of the UF teams that made it to the NCAA Tournament. Andrew DeClerq might be the only player on that team that might have had a role on any of Florida’s five other teams that made a Final Four.   Kruger needed a recruiting breakthrough but Carter said no. Playing for Dean Smith had something to do with it, but Florida’s lack of support and sparse crowds was another factor. Kruger was convinced Florida would never be able to recruit studs to Florida, so he left after the 1995-96 season for Illinois.   Florida took a gamble by hiring this kid named Billy Donovan who had two years of head coaching experience at Marshall. We all know what Billy was able to do, but a lot of people who know Lon Kruger well still wonder out loud what he might have done with the Florida program if he had landed Carter. Lon Kruger won 674 college basketball games as a head coach. He took Kansas State, Florida, Illinois, UNLV and Oklahoma to NCAA Tournaments, but the 1994 Gators were the only Kruger-coached team that made the Final Four.   3. IF OLD YELLER HAD TOLD THE TRUTH WOULD HE HAVE KEPT HIS JOB?   On October 23, 2017, Jim McElwain claimed at a press conference that there had been death threats against himself, his players and his family. The Gators were 3-3 at the time, coming off consecutive losses by a grand total of three points to LSU and Texas A&M. McElwain was given a chance to explain himself later that day, but offered nothing in the way of proof.   On Saturday, the Gators were hosed by Georgia, 42-7. Even with a week in which he could have provided even a shred of evidence, McElwain either couldn’t or simply wouldn’t offer anything to back up his story. So, he was fired with cause.   The question worth asking is would Florida have fired him during the season if McElwain had told the truth? Would Scott Stricklin given him the rest of the season to try to right the ship, and if he had turned things around and won games, could that have saved his job?

George (70), Slaughter (66) and Harris (77) are the strength in the middle of the O-line (Photo by Chris Spears) “You can prevent your opponent from defeating you through defense, but you cannot defeat him without taking the offensive.” – Sun Tzu, “The Art of War”   Offense really hasn’t been Florida’s problem in Billy Napier’s first three seasons. The Gators would have finished with winning records in seasons one and two if they had simply won a couple of shootout games. A year ago, the defense finally figured things out and the offense did its part although injuries prevented it from being as explosive as it might have been.   Year four promises to be a completely different story. The defense should be better and that should prevent the Gators from having to win games via shootout, but even if the defense has one of those no show games, the offense will be the best Napier has had.   The reason? Napier has more options than he’s ever had. The Gators have the talent to win whether it’s an everybody out for a pass attack or ground and pound. This is the best offensive line Napier has had and they’re perfectly capable of giving DJ Lagway adequate time to throw or line up and impose their will on the other team’s front seven. There isn’t a better center in the country than Jake Slaughter, who has a legitimate shot at becoming Florida’s first Rimington Award winner since the great Marquise Pouncey. Austin Barber at left tackle has first round written all over him and guards Knijeah Harris and Damieon George Jr. are beastly. The only newbie is right tackle Bryce Lovett, but he started three games last year at right guard and showed enough in the spring that Rob Sale has confidence to move him outside. The backups are huge and there isn’t a lack of talent.   An O-line like that lends itself to balance and that is going to be the reason why the Florida offense will be as good as there is in the SEC. Napier has never had the options he will have this year but it does start up front. No matter how sophisticated the offenses and defenses get, football will always be about blocking and tackling. The tackling should be much improved. The blocking should be impressive.   Their job will be keeping DJ Lagway’s jersey clean. The recent calf injury set the national media into a dither, but Napier didn’t seem to panic in the least. He knows what he has in Lagway, who is a proven quick healer, but people tend to forget that backup Harrison Bailey is a former 5-star QB who has started SEC games in the past. If Lagway is injured, Napier will lose a once-in-a-lifetime arm, but this Florida team can flip the switch to more of a grind it out attack.   Those of you old enough to remember, think back to the 1984 season. When Dale Dorminey tore an ACL just days before the season opener with 1983 national champ Miami, the Gators had to go with redshirt freshman walk-on Kerwin Bell. The offense went more conservative as a result. The Gators only threw the ball 209 times in 11 games, down 100 passes from the year before. Kerwin threw for 16 touchdowns while averaging 8.8 yards per attempt. Behind the Great Wall of Florida, the Gators went beast mode with the 3-headed running back unit of Neal Anderson, John L. Williams and Lorenzo Hampton, all future No. 1 draft picks who combined for 2,402 yards. The Gators pounded teams into submission, won their last eight games and finished 9-1-1.   Should Lagway go down for a game or even more, you can figure the Gators will go beast mode like they did in 1984. Bailey won’t be called on to throw nearly as much and the Gators will turn to Jadan Baugh, Ja’Kobi Jackson, Treyaun Webb and KD Daniels to run behind that big, talented O-line. The Gators will be able to shorten games, effectively playing defense with the offense with ball control.   Of course, a healthy Lagway and Florida’s offense is good enough to keep opposing defensive coordinators up all night every night before playing UF. Who do they intend to stop? Passing game? The Gators will simply run it down their throats. Running game? Load the box and Lagway will go over the top to guys like J. Michael Sturdivant, Dallas Wilson, Tre Wilson, Vernell Brown III, Aidan Mizell and Tank Hawkins.   There is reason to like Florida’s possibilities for 2025. Even with a schedule that ranks among the most difficult in the country, there isn’t a team the Gators can’t beat. Napier has the talent and the experience to turn this into a season to remember.   WILL ARCH MANNING WIN THE FIRST SYDNEY SWEENEY AWARD?   There is no such award. Yet. There could be, however.   No question Sydney Sweeney has nice jeans, which she wears in the American Eagle ad campaign. She also has nice genes. You can’t look like her if a ton of your genes were drowned in the pool.   Enter Arch Manning. He has nice genes, too. Those who saw him play at Ole Miss shudder to think the kind of numbers grandpa Archie Manning could have put up in today’s wide open offenses that go 4-wide and turn defenses into picket fences. Archie’s kids – Peyton and Eli – did pretty well too. None of their genes got drowned in the pool, although we would be remiss if we didn’t mention the fact that Peyton was 0-4 against the Gators.      Now we have Arch, heir of the Manning legacy and the expected Moses who will lead the Texas Longhorns to the Promised Land of college football. Sporting News has already proclaimed him the next great thing by making him their first team preseason All-American quarterback.   Now Arch has a world of talent. It would be all but impossible not to have skills with that kind of gene pool and two years of coaching by Steve Sarkisian. Some think Sark is the best play caller in all of college football. He took Texas to the College Football Playoff with The Mighty Quinn (Ewers) at quarterback a year ago. He threw for 3,472 yards and  31 touchdowns in 2024 although he did complete 12 passes to the other team. He also fumbled with just less than five minutes to go and the Longhorns teetering on the verge of tying up Ohio State in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Jack Sawyer ran it back for a touchdown that clinched the semifinal win that sent the Buckeyes into the national championship game.   Arch isn’t supposed to do things like that. He’s a Manning. He has great genes, which has everything to do with why he’s getting all this hype even though he’s only started one game in his collegiate career. Arch has plenty to do with why Texas is ranked No. 1 in the preseason. Anything less than a national championship will be a disappointment for the Longhorns. Only God has more money than the Longhorns, who would gladly punch a few more oil wells into the West Texas desert if they thought it would give them enough Yankee spending dollars to buy the first national championship since 2005 and just the second since 1970.   If the Longhorns win the national title and Arch does what Arch’s genes say he’s supposed to do, then he should be the winner of the first Sydney Sweeney Great Jeans/Genes Award.   SEC FOOTBALL Alabama: Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack says redshirt sophomore Qua Russaw is the ultimate freak on the Bama defense. As a redshirt freshman last year, Russaw had 36 tackles, two interceptions, one sack and a forced fumble.   Arkansas: Running back Mike Washington is expected to carry the rushing load for the Razorbacks. The 6-2, 228-pound Washington ran for 725 yards and eight touchdowns last season at New Mexico State. In four seasons of college football, two at Buffalo and two at New Mexico State, Washington has run for 1,844 yards and 18 touchdowns while catching 45 passes for 244 yards and two more TDs.   Auburn: Former Gator Chris Doering of the SEC Network named Auburn’s Eric Singleton Jr. and Cam Coleman among his five best receivers in the league for 2025. Singleton is a Georgia Tech transfer who caught 56 passes for 754 yards and three TDs last year. As a true freshman last year, Coleman caught 37 passes for 598 yards and eight touchdowns.   Georgia: Georgia lost out on 5-star home state linebacker LaDamion Guyton, who has committed to Texas Tech. The deciding factor for Guyton was an NIL deal that will pay him $900,000 as a true freshman.   Kentucky: The Wildcats look to have a 5-man rotation at linebacker in Alex Afari (6-2, 228), Daveryn Rayner (6-2, 217), Landyn Watson (6-1, 245), Grant Godfrey (6-3, 233) and Antwan Smith (6-3, 215).   LSU: HBC Brian Kelly says quarterback Garrett Nussmeier does not have an ACL injury but instead is suffering from patella tendonitis. “We have not amputated his leg,” Kelly said Friday.   Mississippi State: Canon Boone seems to be the leader in the competition for the starting center job. Luke Work, who started seven games last year as a true freshman, is getting most of the work at right guard. Albert Reese and Jacoby Jackson look to be the starters at the tackles.   Missouri: Wide receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. has been named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list. A season ago at Mississippi State, Coleman caught 74 passes for 932 yards and six touchdowns.   Oklahoma: Injured running backs Jaydn Ott and Deion Burks have been dressed out in pads but haven’t been doing contact work. Jovontae Barnes and Tory Blaylock have been the only two fully capable running backs in practice so far.   Ole Miss: Linebacker Tyler Banks is the recipient of the Chucky Millins Courage Award. Mullins, who was paralyzed after a hit in a game against Vanderbilt in 1989, wore No. 38. The winner of the Mullins award wears No. 38, which is considered one of the highest honors for an Ole Miss football player.   South Carolina: Defensive end Jatius Geer and offensive lineman Rodney Newsom Jr. were not dressed out for the Gamecocks’ Friday practice.   Tennessee: Corner Jermod McCoy has returned to practice. McCoy tore an ACL last year and is ahead of schedule on his rehab.   Texas: Archie Manning says Arch Manning won’t be heading to the NFL Draft after the 2025 season. Agreeing with that assessment is ESPN analyst Damien Woody, who said, “ It’s all about just getting reps, getting snaps. We see the correlation. A lot of these guys that come into the league that play a lot more games, like a Bo Nix. It’s not a coincidence that a guy like Bo Nix had a lot of success. Jayden Daniels played a bunch of games in college. He comes into the National Football League and has a lot of success. So I don’t think the Manning family is going to sway off of that. They’re going to play a bunch of games… so they’re naturally prepared for what’s coming at the pro level.”   Texas A&M: Former Aggie coach Jimbo Fisher, who is being forced to squeak by on the $75 million Texas A&M paid him when they fired him after the 2023 season, is interested in getting back into coaching. “ If the right situation comes along and it’s right,” Fisher said on a podcast. “I’m still 59. I’m still in great shape. I’m healthy. I’ve had success everywhere we’ve been. At the end with A&M, it’s unfortunate, but we also had the highest-ranked team they’ve ever had there in 2020.”   Vanderbilt: Quarterback Diego Pavia thinks Vanderbilt has what it takes to shock the world this year. “I think we’ve got the tools (offensively) and defensively to go put our foot forward and win the national championship,” Pavia said. That’s the standard.”