Billy Napier addresses Florida's recruiting momentum: 'The Gators aren't going away'

The Florida Gators and Billy Napier have come a long way in two months. In June, the new head coach felt compelled to write a letter to the fans and boosters about recruiting as calls of concerns rang out. The 2023 recruiting class was not in the top 30. Now, Napier’s recruiting staff is undeniably red hot.

Over the weekend, the Gators landed four new commitments, including three for 2023, which vaulted that class up into the national top 10.

Napier’s response? “The Gators aren’t going away.”

“We’re learning more about our product, I think we’re getting more comfortable with our processes in-house,” Napier said on Monday during his press conference. “I think recruiting, the intangibles that you challenge your players to have, I think the same thing can be said of your staff. I think what you’re seeing here is that the Gators aren’t going away on the recruiting trail.

“We’re going to follow through, we’re going to be diligent, and look, verbal commitments mean lots of different things these days, so the finish line is out there a few months from now. But I am excited and humbled that the caliber of player, but more importantly the caliber of person and family that some of these young people come from, that that they have confidence in our plan for their son.”

Napier, staff land four new additions over weekend

On Saturday, Florida landed four-star defensive linemen Will Norman and Kelby Collins. Then, on Sunday, the Gators added another blue-chipper to their 2023 class – defensive lineman Kamran James. Florida now has 20 commitments in the 2023 recruiting class, with 15 of those commits holding a four-star ranking, per the On3 Consensus.

The recruiting momentum kept rolling Sunday with a fourth commitment. This time, the Gators landed a 2024 prospect, the first for the next recruiting class.

Myles Graham, the son of former Florida running back Earnest Graham, announced he would follow in his father’s footsteps at the next level. Hailing from Atlanta (Ga.) Woodward Academy, the 6-foot-1, 212-pound linebacker racked up offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia and more. However, he called his recruitment off early in favor of the Gators.