Billy Napier: Four-star Tony Livingston is as unique as a player as his backstory

The Florida Gators signed four-star tight end Tony Livingston this week, one of the more unique signings of the early signing period for Billy Napier. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound, Tampa Bay native will play football and basketball for the Gators.

Slimming down from over 250 pounds to 225 gives Livingston the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of some great recent Florida tight ends. However, he checks in as the 32nd-ranked interior offensive lineman in the On3 Consensus Rankings.

“Tony’s an athlete,” Napier said. “We had to do a lot of research in this situation. He’s got 11-inch hands, extremely long, big frame. He’s a survivor. All of the things he’s overcome. He came up unofficially this weekend and we just had a really good feeling about the type of person he is.”

Napier, staff sold on Livingston

Billy Napier made a point about wanting to take things slow with his first class at Florida. He’s hoping to avoid any rushed mistakes.

Luckily for Tony Livingston, the staff managed to see enough of him to bring him on board. The 2022 athlete did not play much football this year. Napier even said he probably played his best ball as a 10th grader.

“He’s a developmental player but I think he’s a unique athlete,” Napier said. “They had ground-level footage from a basketball camp here that we were able to watch. We’re extremely excited about his potential. He’s listed as a tight end, and I certainly think he could play that position.”

Livingston, a four-star prospect, committed to the Gators back in March and was in Gainesville over the weekend for an unofficial visit.

Prior to choosing Florida, Livingston reported offers from Alabama, USC, Georgia, Texas A&M, Ohio State, Michigan and Oregon among many others. He will be considered a walk-on for the basketball team since the football season comes first in the school year.

The Hillsborough County native is not enrolling early and will report to Gainesville next spring or summer.