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When Billy Napier first got the call about the open Florida coaching job, he asked himself a question: “How did Florida end up there?”

“There” was not only 13 years removed from its last national championship and its last SEC title, but far behind rival Georgia, now a national power. Florida fans had been accustomed to winning championships. Even Napier grew up in Georgia watching Steve Spurrier dominate the Bulldogs.

“What do we need to do,” he wondered, “to right the ship and maybe change the attitude and approach?” Napier poked around to see what was wrong with the program and what would need to be done to fix it. Satisfied the administration would help him modernize the football program, Napier took the job.

Now headed into Year 3, Napier has overhauled everything, from the roster (only 12 players remain from his first team) to staffing, organization and approach. The problem is the on-field results have not yet followed, putting an even larger spotlight on Napier — who is 11-14 at Florida — and the Gators as they head into their highly anticipated opener against rival Miami on Saturday.

“I’m not a fool,” Napier said when asked about people who think the clock may be ticking on his tenure. “Part of leadership is you’ve got to have some self-awareness, and you have to make tough decisions. You have to make necessary changes. We’ve done that. I have a ton of confidence. This is all just part of the story.”

The story at the moment is about a Florida program that has been on a roller coaster since Urban Meyer stepped down following the 2010 season. Will Muschamp, Jim McElwain and Dan Mullen all found brief periods of success — each won at least 10 games once — but none of them made it a full four seasons as head coach.

As Florida struggled to find stability at head coach, Kirby Smart elevated Georgia to a national championship contender in short order, turning the tables on a rivalry the Gators dominated in the 1990s and 2000s. In nine seasons with the Bulldogs, Smart has lost to Florida just once. That has only added to the consternation among a Florida fan base eager to see a return to success.

The coaching transitions and slip from atop the SEC East affected recruiting, too. Since 2015, Florida has signed just two recruiting classes ranked in the top 10 — in a state known as a recruiting hotbed. The Gators are now recruiting players who were babies the last time they hoisted the national championship trophy.

Something more likely to be top of mind: Florida has posted three straight losing seasons for the first time since the 1940s and failed to make a bowl game last year for the first time since 2017.

“Once upon a time, there was a standard out there that we were the best of the best, and we are working to get back to that,” running back Montrell Johnson Jr. said during SEC media days, before minor knee surgery in August left his status for the opener in doubt. “That kind of makes me mad at times that we haven’t upheld it.”

When Napier made his calls during his interview process to find out why Florida had not won consistently enough, he learned the Gators had fallen behind with both their facilities and budget and were woefully behind from a recruiting, staffing, organization and sport science perspective.

His predecessors worked out of the same offices and meeting rooms inside the football stadium that had been used for decades. Players had to walk to and from practice fields located a quarter mile away and across a busy main road from their locker room inside the stadium. Mullen spearheaded the drive to get a $85 million standalone football facility built — it opened in 2022 and connects to the indoor practice facility.

Napier also asked for a significantly larger staff. The team’s support staff went from 45 people to 62. Florida has increased its assistant coach salary pool nearly $3 million to $7.5 million; another $5.3 million has gone to support staff.

The recruiting budget also has mushroomed to $2.89 million — after ranking No. 14 among SEC schools in Mullen’s final year, when the budget was $900,000. According to the latest athletic department operating budget in 2022-23, Florida spent $90.2 million on football.

Now Florida is in line with other SEC schools after years of complaints that these two specific areas were holding the program back. As one person familiar with the program pointed out, Napier has been given everything he wanted. But the on-field results are not there yet. Napier points to the rapidly changing college football landscape — including transfer rules and NIL — as one reason.

“I knew it was going to be very challenging because in our league, you’re chasing the top of the mountain,” Napier said. “To get there, it takes multiple cycles. The evolution and the chaos of our sport in the last couple of years is what’s been challenging.”

What has not helped is the way Florida has played. In Year 1, Florida had future No. 4 pick Anthony Richardson but won six games. Last year, special teams gaffes turned the Gators into a punchline at times. Napier never hired a special teams coordinator, and mistakes cost Florida in multiple games. Against Utah in the season opener, the Gators got a penalty after two players wearing the same number went onto the field during a punt, resulting in a penalty. The Utes got a first down and eventually scored on the drive in a 24-11 victory.

Later in the season against Arkansas, the field goal unit was coming onto the field as the offense was trying to spike the ball at the end of regulation to set up a game-winning field goal. The penalty forced a longer kick, which Trey Smack missed. Florida ranked in the bottom four in the SEC in field goal percentage (.750).

And though the Gators made improvements on defense, they still struggled on that side of the ball as well. They allowed Missouri to convert a fourth-and-17 with 38 seconds remaining, leading to a last-second field goal to give the Tigers a come-from-behind win. Florida ended last season on a five-game losing streak. In three of those games, the Gators had a fourth-quarter lead.

To address the issues, Napier overhauled his staff headed into 2024. Joe Houston came from the New England Patriots as an analyst, specifically focusing on special teams. Ron Roberts came in as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, a veteran presence to help Austin Armstrong, the youngest coordinator in the SEC at 31. Napier also hired a new strength and conditioning coach and nutritionist.

“We’re close,” Napier said. “We’ve got a good thing going. I think maybe what you hear on the outside is not necessarily what it’s like on the inside. So, we’re anxious to get out there and play this year. This is the best team we’ve had since I’ve been here.”

Off-field headlines have not helped, either. Napier and two co-defendants are the subject of a lawsuit filed by former Florida signee Jaden Rashada over a failed NIL deal in 2022; Napier has said he feels “comfortable” with his actions and has filed a motion to dismiss the suit.

Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin has said he fully supports Napier, telling reporters at SEC spring meetings in May after Rashada filed his lawsuit, “I’ve got a tremendous amount of trust for Billy, not only who he is as a person, but how he conducts himself and how he treats other people.”

In addition to the lawsuit, Florida lost several high-profile players to the portal, including Trevor Etienne, who ended up at rival Georgia, and Princely Umanmielen, who went to Ole Miss and has publicly criticized the Florida strength program.

The focus in Gainesville is on the players who have opted to stay. Napier points to the team leadership, starting with quarterback Graham Mertz, who returns for a second and final season with the Gators after transferring from Wisconsin in 2023. Though Florida signed elite prep quarterback D.J. Lagway, the No. 8 player in the ESPN 300, Mertz is entrenched as the starter.

Mertz had the best season of his career in 2023, completing 72% of his passes while throwing for 20 touchdowns and a career-low three interceptions. One opposing coach praised the job Mertz did last season, calling him a difference-maker. Mertz, though, was not satisfied with his team’s losing record.

“You go back and you just turn on the games we lost, we just didn’t execute,” Mertz said. “We had too many penalties. We might have made the wrong read on a play. There are so many different things. We needed to get better, and that’s where I’ve seen across the board everybody’s been putting in that effort to hold up their end of the bargain.”

Still, it is impossible to talk about Florida without addressing Napier and his long-term future. The Gators’ schedule this year is ranked among the toughest in the nation with four games against preseason top-10 teams (Georgia, Texas, Ole Miss, Florida State) and four others against teams in the top 25 (Miami, Tennessee, Texas A&M, LSU).

Those familiar with the program said they knew the rebuild would take time because of the program Napier inherited, and because of the timeline of the vast overhaul he laid out. Napier would be owed a $25 million buyout if Florida decided to make a change after this season. The Gators have spent $20 million to buy out McElwain and Mullen. Would there be an appetite to keep spending money to get back on the coaching carousel for a fifth time in 14 years?

Three people familiar with the program said they believe Florida cannot keep hiring and firing coaches every four years — it will only keep setting the program back.

“I don’t think he has to do too much to save his job because there’s so much invested in the whole staff and everything,” Spurrier said. “I hope we can have a winning season. I predicted a winning season and [a win in] a bowl game. If we can do that, I think that would make everybody happy right now.”

Napier says he understands the speculation about his job security comes with his position, and that is not unique to Florida.

“Florida’s a lot like some of the other places I’ve worked,” he said. “When it’s good, it is phenomenal. When it’s bad, it’s horrendous. So, I think that’s the leadership challenge — trying to stay objective and stay steady and really evaluate things for what they are.” To that end, he said, “We’ve got work to do, and we’re in the middle of that.” Even if outsiders have put him on a proverbial “hot seat,” that term does not exist inside the Florida athletic department. Napier says he feels confident that those with decision-making power are behind him.

“You’ve got to deal with the outside noise, but you know the administration, you understand the heavy hitters, the big investors, they’re fully behind you,” Napier said. “They’re helping you solve problems. They’re invested in your team.”

In response to the idea coaches are no longer allowed enough time to build their programs, Napier said: “When you really look at college football, how many times has [winning right away] happened? Very rarely. Depending on the roster you inherit and the league you compete in, all those things matter. We’re chasing the 1 percent here, so it’s going to take some time to get there.”

Napier harks back to his late father, Bill, a high school football coach who inspired him and his brothers to become football coaches. Bill Napier was interwoven into the fabric of their community in Chatsworth, Georgia, as the winningest coach in Murray County High history.

“My dad, he wanted to win because he wanted that community to be proud,” Billy Napier said. “I’ve met former players, I’ve met investors, I’ve met die-hard Gators on the road in the springtime. That’s motivating to me, to get this right so that these people can wear their orange and blue and be proud of it again.”

If he does that, nobody will have to ask that question that he asked himself three years ago.

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Ranking Elite 11 quarterbacks by system fit: Who could thrive at the next level

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Ranking Elite 11 quarterbacks by system fit: Who could thrive at the next level

The Elite 11 Finals annually spotlight the nation’s top high school quarterbacks, offering a firsthand look at how the next wave of signal-callers stacks up against elite competition.

With most participants already committed, it’s a valuable window into how these prospects will fit into their future college systems and translate to the next level. Here are the top 10 committed quarterbacks attending the event later this month ranked by system fit.

ESPN 300 ranking: 8

Tennessee’s scheme is plug-and-play friendly and fits Brandon’s big arm and sneaky mobility. There’s a clear trend emerging in Knoxville when it comes to quarterback traits in terms of stature, athleticism and arm strength. Brandon checks all three boxes. He’s very similar to former Vols standout Hendon Hooker and is further along developmentally than Hooker was at Brandon’s age. Though not quite as polished as Nico Iamaleava coming out of high school, Brandon throws a great deep ball, which Tennessee coach Josh Heupel requires from all his quarterbacks. By the time he arrives on campus, it’s likely at least one quarterback currently on the Tennessee roster will have hit the transfer portal.


ESPN 300 ranking: N/A — three-star

Duke offensive coordinator Jonathan Brewer is looking for a run-pass option quarterback with consistent accuracy and high-level production in the run game. Walker is that guy. He’s strikingly similar to Darian Mensah, the quarterback Duke brought in via the transfer portal, only Walker has a stronger arm. The Blue Devils want a dynamic runner at quarterback — something former QB Maalik Murphy wasn’t — and that’s what Walker is. A true playmaker, he also has a sky-high ceiling for development as a passer. Walker’s commitment is more evidence that the perception of Duke is shifting among top-tier recruits.


ESPN 300 ranking: 157

It’s easy to see why Arizona State’s coaching staff loves Fette considering he’s a mirror image of current quarterback Sam Leavitt. Fette is a sandlot-style riverboat gambler who thrives when the play breaks down. He looks like a pocket passer, but has the athleticism of a runner and can stress defenses with his legs. Coach Kenny Dillingham will use a lot of smoke and mirrors with shifts, motions, personnel groupings and backfield action to maximize Fette’s dynamic skill set and make him a threat both inside and outside the pocket.


ESPN 300 ranking: 6

Bell enters an ideal situation. The Longhorns don’t need to rush him, and instead can allow him to develop at his own pace. His fit is quite akin to Arch Manning‘s, and if Bell follows a similar blueprint he will get bigger, stronger and more mature over time. He already displays the tools of a high-level passer and adds value as a more capable runner than Quinn Ewers did in Steve Sarkisian’s system. Bell is a naturally gifted passer with a long track record of performance against elite competition, so he is ready to make the jump.


ESPN 300 ranking: N/A — three-star

Regardless of Carson Beck‘s production this fall, Coleman will be able to deliver the dynamism that Miami showcased with Cam Ward at the helm, which will make the Hurricanes much more difficult to defend. Coleman is the type of player Miami will prefer at quarterback in the long run. He has moxie, a gunslinger’s mentality and a live arm capable of making off-platform plays look routine. Remind you of anyone?


ESPN 300 ranking: 155

It’s easy to see shades of former Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams when watching Jonas Williams. He’s a naturally creative and improvisational quarterback. The play is never over, sometimes to a fault, but often to devastating effect. Williams can move the launch point and change arm angles, especially when asked to get the ball out quickly on screens and underneath throws. He thrives in chaos and can run the play-action offense Lincoln Riley loves to employ.


ESPN 300 ranking: 16

Henderson is another signal-caller with similarities to Darian Mensah, who played for current Houston coach Willie Fritz at Tulane. Landing Henderson was a huge win for Fritz. Henderson is a terrific athlete who can reach 20.6 mph max speed, an elite number for a quarterback. We’re intrigued to see whether he sticks at quarterback or moves to another position. For that reason, he’s more of a developmental player who needs to get more consistent in the passing game, but he has a high ceiling regardless of position.


ESPN 300 ranking: 198

At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Huhn has the kind of stature coach James Franklin and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki love. Though not as mobile as Drew Allar, Huhn is very athletic in the pocket. He can extend plays and shows strong anticipation off play-action. Huhn loves to play under center, which is a valuable trait in a Penn State offense that blends shotgun and traditional looks. With a scheme that frequently shifts the launch point through varied play-action concepts, Huhn’s footwork and functional mobility make him a natural fit.


ESPN 300 ranking: N/A — three-star

It’s still unclear exactly what North Carolina’s offense will look like under Bill Belichick, but recent quarterback additions offer a clue. The Tar Heels brought in dual-threat options in South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez and 2025 commit Bryce Baker. Neither is a traditional pocket passer, nor is Burgess. He’s a great get for North Carolina with his athleticism, live arm, quick release and developmental upside. He also won’t be thrust into action immediately. Once the staff understands his strengths, he’s the kind of player it can build a system around. Though not as tall, he’s reminiscent of NC State’s CJ Bailey.


ESPN 300 ranking: N/A — three-star

Cherry is the prototypical athletic pocket passer for Jeff Brohm’s system. He’s decisive, releases the ball quickly and anticipates plays well. Combine that with Brohm’s tried-and-true scheme, and it’s easy to see why Louisville is a destination for quarterbacks such as Cherry who are looking to up their game. He is similar to Cardinals transfer quarterback Miller Moss in both skill and style. Cherry thrives in quick-game concepts, excels in the intermediate passing attack and is highly effective off deep play-action. Louisville is attractive for Cherry because it always layers good skill players around its quarterback.

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Panthers-Oilers Game 6 preview: Can the Oilers force a Game 7?

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Panthers-Oilers Game 6 preview: Can the Oilers force a Game 7?

Will Tuesday night’s matchup between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers be the final game of the 2024-25 season? Or will there be one more on Friday?

The Panthers lead 3-2 in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final ahead of Game 6 (8 p.m. ET, TNT/Max). If they win, they skate the Cup on home ice. If the Oilers win, Game 7 is back in Edmonton.

Here are notes on the matchup from ESPN Research, as well as betting intel from ESPN BET:

More from Game 5: Recap | Grades

Matchup notes

Florida Panthers at Edmonton Oilers
Game 6 | 8 p.m. ET | TNT/Max

With a 3-2 lead ahead of Game 6 on home ice, the Panthers are now -400 favorites to win the Cup and the Oilers are +300; those numbers are adjusted from prior to Game 5, when both clubs were -110. As for the Conn Smythe Trophy, Sam Bennett remains the leader, but his odds have shifted from +150 to -190. Brad Marchand (+300), Connor McDavid (+700) and Leon Draisaitl (+700) round out the top four.

The Panthers are seeking to become the first team to repeat as Stanley Cup champions by beating the same team since the Montreal Canadiens did so against the Boston Bruins in 1977 and 1978 — for the Habs, those were titles No. 2 and 3 of four straight earned between 1976 and 1979. A Panthers win would be the fourth Stanley Cup for a team based in the state of Florida this decade (the Tampa Bay Lightning won in 2020 and 2021).

The Oilers are facing elimination for the first time in the 2025 playoffs. Last year, they were 5-1 when facing elimination — including three wins in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final after falling behind 3-0. Road teams facing elimination in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final have gone 6-6 in the past 12 occurrences.

Marchand is having a superb Stanley Cup Final, scoring six goals thus far. That marks the most goals in a Cup Final since Esa Tikkanen (1988, also six). Marchand is the first player to score five or more goals with multiple teams in a Cup Final, and his five road goals in this series are the most in a single Cup Final since Jack Adams had six for the Vancouver Millionaires in 1922. With multiple multigoal games in the Cup Final, Marchand joins Jeff Friesen (New Jersey Devils, 2003) and Max Talbot (2009, Pittsburgh Penguins) as the only players to pull off that feat in the past 30 years.

Teammate Sam Bennett is also entering historic territory. With a goal in Edmonton in Game 5, he became the fifth player in NHL history with a streak of six straight road games with a goal. He is also the fourth active NHL player to score 15 goals in a single postseason, joining Zach Hyman (16, 2024), Alex Ovechkin (15, 2018) and Sidney Crosby (15, 2009).

Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky tied the NHL record for most road wins in a single postseason (10). The other five goalies tied atop the list are: Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues, 2019), Braden Holtby (Washington Capitals, 2018), Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles Kings, 2012), Miikka Kiprusoff (Calgary Flames, 2004), Martin Brodeur (Devils, 2000 and 1995).

With three goals in this series, Edmonton’s Corey Perry tied Mark Recchi (Bruins, 2011) and Igor Larionov (Detroit Red Wings, 2002) for the most goals by a player age 40 or older in a single Cup Final.

McDavid scored a point in every home game he played since the 4 Nations Face-Off break — a run of 17 straight games, with 36 points in that span. He reached 150 playoff points in 95 games, the third-fastest player in NHL history to reach that benchmark, behind Wayne Gretzky (68 games played) and Mario Lemieux (86).

With one more game-winning goal this series, Draisaitl would become just the third player in the NHL’s modern era (since 1943-44) — and first since 1977 — to have three game winners in a single Stanley Cup Final. The previous players to do so are Jacques Lemaire (1977) and Jean Beliveau (1965 and 1960), both of whom accomplished the feat for the Canadiens.

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Oilers coach: We’ve overcome difficult situations before

Kris Knoblauch keeps faith in his Oilers as he reflects on losing Game 5 in Edmonton.


Scoring leaders

GP: 22 | G: 15 | A: 7

GP: 21 | G: 11 | A: 22


Best bets for Game 6

Evander Kane over 4.5 total hits (+107): The Oilers need to be more physical if they hope to have a legitimate shot at pushing this series to a Game 7. Saturday’s team total of 25 hits, including only a pair from Kane, isn’t going to cut it. An aggressive difference-maker when he’s at his best at nearing, but not crossing, the line as he has too often this series, the winger will be one to watch from the get-go Tuesday. Notably, he registered 17 total hits through both overtime games to open this series in Edmonton. Win or lose, Kane is going to serve as a factor. Hopefully for the Oilers, not by earning himself time in the penalty box.

Stuart Skinner under 25.5 total saves (-120): If Skinner — presuming coach Kris Knoblauch goes with his No. 1 netminder to start Game 6 — struggles, or the rest of the Oilers fail to perform well enough out front, he won’t last long enough in the crease to make 26 saves before all is said and done. The leash will be short in this must-win contest. Or perhaps Edmonton’s team defense rises to the occasion and prevents more scoring chances in support of their starting goaltender, as it did in earlier rounds versus Dallas and Vegas.

Connor McDavid first period anytime goal-scorer (+600): After Leon Draisaitl scored the opener in Game 1, the Panthers are perfect in four straight games at catching the back of the net first, outscoring Edmonton 11-4 altogether in the initial period. The Oilers understand reversing that trend would go a long way in helping them survive, particularly by forcing Florida to sway from their stifling defensive play. Who better to look to than McDavid, who finally found the back of the net this series in Saturday’s losing effort? The sport’s best player needs to shoot more, and he knows it. He’ll be revved right up to make a statement, early. — Victoria Matiash

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Ohtani allows 1 run, 2 hits in 28-pitch inning

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Ohtani allows 1 run, 2 hits in 28-pitch inning

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani jogged off the pitcher’s mound and leaned against the dugout railing while strapping on his elbow guard and batting gloves. He was thrown a towel to wipe the sweat off his face, then walked to the batter’s box to face San Diego Padres ace Dylan Cease without taking any practice swings.

With that, Ohtani began his quest to once again do what many in the sport consider impossible.

Ohtani made his pitching debut from Dodger Stadium on Monday, giving up a run in his lone inning of work, then struck out in his first plate appearance as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ designated hitter, marking the first time he has pitched and hit in a game since Aug. 23, 2023. He would eventually finish 2-4 with two RBIs in his club’s 6-3 victory.

Ohtani is close to 21 months removed from a second repair of his right ulnar collateral ligament but faced hitters only three times before essentially rejoining the Dodgers’ rotation, his last session, from Petco Park in San Diego last Tuesday, spanning three simulated innings and 44 pitches.

Ohtani communicated to the Dodgers that facing hitters hours before games, then cooling off and having to ramp back up to DH later that night, was more taxing on his body than doing both simultaneously, prompting him to return to pitching sooner than expected. These initial starts will basically function as the continuation of Ohtani’s pitching rehab. On Monday, he was basically utilized as an opener.

Ohtani reached 99.9 mph and 100.2 mph with his fastball but also uncorked a wild pitch while utilizing 28 pitches to record the first three outs. Fernando Tatis Jr. led off with a bloop single and Luis Arraez followed with a line-drive single. Ohtani should have recorded a strikeout of Manny Machado, who went around on a two-strike swing. But first-base umpire Ryan Blakney ruled otherwise, bringing the count to 2-2 and later prompting a sacrifice fly to score the game’s first run.

Ohtani followed by inducing groundouts to Gavin Sheets and Xander Bogaerts, and with that, his pitching debut was over.

The Dodgers hope it’s the first of many starts.

Ohtani, 30, functioned as a transformative two-way player from 2021 to 2023, winning two unanimous MVPs and also finishing as the runner-up to Aaron Judge. On offense, Ohtani slashed .277/.379/.585 with 124 home runs and 57 stolen bases. On the mound, he posted a 2.84 ERA with 542 strikeouts and 143 walks in 428⅓ innings.

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