Billy Napier explains why bringing Jack Miller in was necessary

Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier had a perfectly solid option under center heading into the 2022 season in Anthony Richardson, but the first-year head coach still felt it was necessary to nab Ohio State quarterback Jack Miller out of the NCAA Transfer Portal.

Miller was a highly-touted recruit coming out of Scottsdale, Arizona, and he was tabbed a four-star prospect, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. However, Miller hardly played in one season as a backup, ultimately taking a redshirt year, and decided to enter the portal and transfer to Florida. Napier said it was necessary for the Gators to bring in another quarterback because it creates competition. Plus, Miller has college experience, which always helps in the quarterback room.

“Well, there’s a reason Jack (Miller) is here, first of all. I think we anticipated potential issues,” Napier said, explaining that Florida now has a bit of a quarterback competition. “I think Jack comes across as a guy who has been in competition before. He’s played in games before. And I think he does come across like it’s not too big for him. He’s comfortable.”

Miller in 2021 appeared in four games as a backup quarterback, playing largely garbage-time minutes in beatdowns against Indiana, Maryland, Rutgers and Akron. In those four appearances, he completed 7-of-14 passing attempts for Ohio State, throwing for 101 passing yards. Napier praised him for both his experience and his ability to brush off mistakes.

“(Miller) able to handle the good and the bad,” Napier continued. “I think he can make a play and be the same guy the next play. He can make a mistake and then be the same guy the next play. So, there is some steadiness there that I appreciate. Certainly, you can see that the ball comes out of his hand. He’s got arm talent, he’s accurate, and so far he’s picking it up pretty quick. So, I think we made a great decision there, and we’re glad that Jack’s on our team.”

Billy Napier updates quarterback competition through start of spring practice

First-year Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier has a bit of a quarterback competition on his hands, as he looks to select an opening-day starter between Anthony Richardson and Jack Miller.

Richardson, a 6-foot-4, 237-pound quarterback from Gainesville, Florida, is entering his redshirt sophomore season with the program — but his first under Napier. Miller, on the other hand, transferred into Florida from Ohio State, where he spent the 2021 season, his true freshman year, burning a redshirt as he sat behind CJ Stroud.

It’s still quite early in the competition, and it may even be safe to assume that Richardson, a 2021 All-SEC Freshman Team selection, is the likely starter. But Napier has been impressed with what he’s seen from both candidates.

“It’s been good. I think we take a step forward each day. I think obviously the install is starting to pile up. Today was the first day I felt like, ‘OK, hey, we got quite a bit in.’ A few more mental errors today than we need,” Napier said in his spring press conference. “But overall, I think those guys are doing really well. They’re coming in extra. I see it sticking. A little bit of a whole part, whole approach. But it is sticking in their routine and information and I see improvements, so I’m pleased with that group.”

Well before Napier’s arrival, Richardson was a highly-touted recruit heading into Florida, and last year as a redshirt freshman — despite the Gators’ struggles in 2021 — he showed both his athleticism and poise in the pocket, providing the stepping stones to a successful 2022 campaign. Richardson completed 59.4 percent of his passes last season in limited minutes, throwing for 529 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions. More impressively, though, he showed some incredible speed, rushing for 401 yards on 51 carries — averaging 7.9 yards per rush — and rushing for three touchdowns. Richardson eclipsed the 100-yard mark twice, needing just four carries to reach 115 rushing yards against USF and seven carries to go for 160 rushing yards against FAU.

Miller, by comparison, comes into Napier’s system at Florida with a relatively clean resume. He was a four-star recruit coming out of high school, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, but he only briefly appeared in two contests last season as a freshman at Ohio State.