Billy Napier shares how Florida is preparing for multiple Vanderbilt QBs

The Florida Gators match up this Saturday will be on the road against Vanderbilt. The Commodores are riding high after a surprise victory on the road against Kentucky. That win came while starting quarterback AJ Swann was on the bench with an injury. So instead, last year’s starting quarterback Mike Wright took over the offense leading Vanderbilt to a 24-21 win. Now entering into this game, both quarterbacks appear to be healthy and ready to go. But which one will get the nod as the starter on Saturday? According to Gators head coach Billy Napier, it doesn’t matter which one it is; Florida will be ready.

“Well, they’ve played both players throughout the year. So it’s a little bit of a catch-22 either way,” said Naiper. “I mean, totally, I understand that. Certainly, we’re anticipating both players playing; we’ll plan accordingly and adjust as the game sees fit. But it has been a situation where the guy that started last year he’s somewhat of a role throughout the season.”

Napier is just months removed from dealing with a similar type of quarterback situation when he had to choose between Emory Jones and Anthony Richardson. In the end, Richardson’s passing ability won him the starting role, and Jones elected to transfer in the offseason to Arizona State. Vanderbilt essentially followed Florida’s game plan going with the younger, more polished passer of the two in Swann. But with him out last Saturday, the Commodores were able to pick up a surprise victory over the Wildcats. Either way, whoever Vanderbilt decides to go with, it appears as if Napier has a plan to handle one or the other, if not both. So, expect for the Gators’ defense to be able to stop whichever quarterback Vanderbilt elects to go with.

Napier shares how Florida has built confidence nearing season’s end

Things got off to a bit of a shaky start for Florida in its first year under Billy Napier. The Gators were 2-2 a month into the season, then 4-4 two months in. But now Florida has built some confidence heading into the back end of its schedule.

The Gators have won two staight to become bowl eligible, blowing out both Texas A&M and South Carolina over the last two weeks.

“I think probably the most gratifying thing is probably that these kids have been working extremely hard,” Napier said on Wednesday. “Working hard at their routine, specifically, their process, their weekly approach. And to see them start to get some rewards of the work, as a coach you’ve been pushing them to their limits for a long time and to get to the point where there’s fruit from their labor, if that makes sense.”