Billy Napier gives surprising take on NIL's impact, projects into the future

Florida coach Billy Napier could be in one of the best positions in college football when it comes to NIL. The Gators have been one of the most proactive programs in navigating the new era of college sports, recently partnering with Gator Collective.

The first-of-its-kind sponsorship will provide Florida fans with unique experiences with Gators student athletes. This includes autographs, interviews, social media content and more for a $5.99 per month fee. The collective receives enhanced visibility and ability to use the Florida logo, while the school and players receive money that otherwise wouldn’t have been available to them.

In his National Signing Day press conference, Napier discussed how he feels the Gators are prepared for the current NIL landscape, as well as what needs to change.

“This name, image and likeness concept, I think we’re all wrapping our heads around it and trying to figure out what exactly this entails,” the coach said. “The issue right now is there’s really no parameters. There’s no guidelines outside of the laws in each state. I think each university is trying to solve that problem and come up with the best strategy.”

Many coaches such as Nick Saban and Lane Kiffin have echoed the sentiments of Billy Napier on NIL regulation. The hope is eventually, a federal bill will be passed providing a set of guidelines for the entire country.

Until then, the Gators coach is going to do his best to work within the state laws.

“It’s an area where we’ve been very aggressive. I’m certainly thankful for the partnership with Gator Collective and their ability to get that worked out. But the players create a tremendous amount of revenue for these universities. This college football deal is major entertainment. They show up to watch the players. They don’t show up to watch anybody else. I think there’s an avenue here where we’re moving toward revenue share. We’re moving toward the player getting a piece of the pie. I think that’s a good thing. I think the players are deserving given supply and demand. I do think we need parameters. We need guidelines. Consistency across the board relative to what there is to offer. But I think it’s also an opportunity for us. I think it can be a strength.”

Florida signed the No. 25 recruiting class of 2022 according to On3’s Consensus Team Rankings. Of the newly acquired Gators, safety Kamari Wilson is the most prepared to capitalize on NIL opportunities with a valuation of $81,000 from On3.

The Gators finished 6-7 in 2021, parting ways with coach Dan Mullen with one game left in the season. They hired Napier from Louisiana as his replacement. The coach is set to make his debut on Sept. 3, when Florida opens the 2022 season against Utah.