Billy Napier on controversial Montrell Johnson penalty: 'We can't control it'
Florida worked its way around a potential controversial call against Montrell Johnson, scoring a touchdown on a drive in which a 65-yard score was wiped off the table.
After the game, coach Billy Napier addressed the foul, which was assessed on Johnson for reportedly hitting a defenseless player. Replay showed that the player might well have been running directly at Johnson when he made the block.
“I saw it,” Napier said. “Look, they’ve got a hard job to do, much like we have a hard job to do. Those are tough judgment calls. The point of view there, the angle. We don’t have anything to do with it. We can’t control it, so we’re not going to spend time worrying about it.”
The flag brought back an otherwise excellent play from receiver Aidan Mizell, who broke into the open field and eluded multiple defenders for the score.
Watch College Football Games Live -Try for Free Fubo! Click HERE NOW
Save $30 on your first month of Fubo by CLICKING HERE NOW! For a limited time, you can get your first month of Fubo for as low as $49.99. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and 200+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
But Montrell Johnson’s block out in the left flats was problematic, at least according to officials. To most it appeared like a controversial call, if not an outright questionable one.
“We overcame it, that’s a good thing,” Napier said. “And there will be some things that we can coach Montrell there. He may be able to save it. Right? Post the guy out, play with low hands, use some of the kicking game tools that we teach. So ultimately we’ll look at the tape a little closer when we see it. I haven’t seen the video.”
As for Mizell, he ultimately didn’t get credit for the touchdown. Still, he finished with a team-leading five catches for 36 yards, hauling in every single one of his targets from the quarterbacks.
Florida’s quarterbacks completed all but two passes on Saturday, aided by efforts like Mizell’s.
Billy Napier said he saw it coming, Montrell Johnson play aside.
“I predicted, I told Aidan pregame I thought it was going to be a great day for him,” the embattled Florida coach said. “And look, he still made that play, right? We still got a chance to see him. He did a lot of good things — run after the catch today. His speed shows up. And he’s another young player that’s gaining confidence, and with Tre Wilson out he was kind of the third guy that we pushed to the forefront there. He made the most of his opportunities.”