Gators' first road game means Napier must cut a travel roster
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The No. 20 Florida Gators have enjoyed three consecutive home games to start the 2022 season. With that, every player on the team has been able to be on the sideline for the game. Sure, Billy Napier can only dress 80, but everyone on the roster can be on the sideline, with the team.
This week, Florida will hit the road for the first time this season. That means the Gators are beholden to the SEC travel roster limit of 70.
Players who have been on the sideline or even have dressed out for games will be left in Gainesville. Redshirt freshman Tyreak Sapp was one of those players in 2021.
As his team packed busses to head to Gainesville Regional Airport to get on a charter, Sapp was left in his dorm room. When his brothers took the field, he watched on television back in Gainesville.
“It was hard, but I ain’t take it personally,” Sapp said. “I was rooting on my boys. That’s all it was.”
Sapp worked his tail off in the offseason. Part of that was fueled by wanting to be able to make more of an impact this season.
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“I was a scout team guy last year and I didn’t take that heart out. Took that with pride. I took it for what it was. I got my reps in. I’m going against 1s, starters. So, actually putting work in and working those guys,” he said. “Those guys can probably attest to how I busted my butt and did everything I could. I took that as an opportunity to get better and get ready for now. So I feel like that helped me out in the long run.”
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Challenge of picking 70
Getting to 70 may not be a huge issue. Florida played less than 50 in the USF game last Saturday. On the season the Gators have played 28 different players on defense and 24 on offense. That’s only 52. Include bringing an extra offensive lineman, punter, kickers, long snappers and every available quarterback, and you’re close to 70.
‘It is tough. You’ve got to get down to 70. We’re limited to 80 at home games. You get a chance to play 70 on the road there,” Napier said Monday. “So I think where we’re at probably not as big of a deal. Down the road, you get into year two, three, four and you’ve got a little bit deeper team, that’s when it becomes a challenge. Special teams depth, that’s ultimately the defining factor in those final 15 or so spots. But outside of that, it’s pretty simple.”
The Gators have their core group that you know will be in the game plan. That doesn’t make it easier for the head coach to leave players behind.
