SEC Spring Check-In: A pivotal year three awaits Billy Napier at Florida

Before the Texas Longhorns officially join the Southeastern Conference on July 1, Inside Texas is going around the SEC to check in with each of Texas’ new conference mates for updates on the latest spring storylines, important roster notes, and much more as the Longhorns embark upon life in a new league.

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Nick de la Torre, senior writer for Gators Online, took the time to answer a few questions about the Florida Gators as they enter year three under Billy Napier. The Longhorns are scheduled to host the Gators on Saturday, November 9 in Austin. Texas and Florida last played in 1940, when the Longhorns won 26-0 in Gainesville, Fla.

1. How much different will the SEC be in ’24 not only with Texas and Oklahoma joining, but also the elimination of divisions?

Eliminating divisions is huge. Unless the league moves to a nine-game SEC schedule permanently it will end some pretty historic yearly rivalry games. Florida fans can’t imagine not playing Tennessee and Georgia or even a newer cross-divisional rival in LSU every year. There’s a lot of history in the SEC and the rivalries are cherished. In the 90s Florida and Tennessee would play in September and the winner of that game early on was in the driver’s seat to get to Atlanta for the SEC Championship. The third week in October, that’s Alabama-Tennessee. The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry between Georgia and Auburn, that could go away without a nine-game SEC slate.

I think that’s what we’re moving towards even though the league kicked the can down the road another year, but adding Texas and Oklahoma has put some storied rivalries in jeopardy. (I love adding UT and OU by the way but would like to see the league maintain some of the rivalry games that make the SEC special).

2. What is the spring storyline to track on offense for the Gators (transfers, star recruits, coaches coming and going, etc.)?

Defense. Defense. Defense.

Florida’s defense has been a disaster. Jayden Daniels might have won the Heisman even without the Florida game but his 606 yards of offense and five touchdowns against a hapless Florida defense certainly aided in bringing the trophy to Baton Rouge. In six years as a head coach, Billy Napier had never fired an assistant coach. Less than 48 hours after Florida’s last game in 2023 he fired two on the defensive staff and a third — linebackers coach Jay Bateman (Texas A&M) — left right after National Signing Day. It’s a totally new defensive staff and they have to be better in 2024 if the Gators want to improve on a 5-7 record from last season.

3. What’s the spring storyline to track on defense for the Gators?

I think the addition of Ron Roberts and how he and Austin Armstrong mesh. Armstrong is the defensive coordinator and Napier says he’ll call plays. However, Roberts was brought in with the title “Executive Head Coach, Co-Defensive Coordinator / Inside Linebackers.” Roberts – 56 – was also a mentor to Armstrong – 31 – who was the youngest defensive coordinator in the Power 5 last year. Armstrong worked under Roberts in 2020 when Roberts was the Louisiana defensive coordinator and Armstrong was the linebackers coach. A complete role reversal.  Will there be egos? How will the two work together and if the Gators defense struggles what will happen to play calling duties on that side of the ball?

4. Which returner from the 2023 roster was the most important for Florida?

It has to be Graham Mertz. Mertz arrived at Florida with little to no fanfare. Florida fans weren’t exactly thrilled to be replacing Anthony Richardson with a quarterback from Wisconsin. He led the SEC in completion percentage and threw a career high with 20 touchdowns and a career low with just three interceptions. Getting a 23-year-old, fifth-year quarterback back to lead the offense and mentor five-star quarterback D.J. Lagway is huge for Florida.

5. Which transfer portal addition was the most important for Florida?

I think that remains to be seen but I’ll give you a couple of names. South Carolina sophomore transfer  linebacker Grayson “Pup” Howard and Washington senior transfer safety Asa Turner. Howard will compete for a starting job in 2024 and Turner should lock down a starting job next to true sophomore Jordan Castell and the pair will be a big part of the plan this year.

6. Which class of 2024 signing was the most important for Florida? 

D.J. Lagway. He’s the kind of quarterback that you can win championships with. It’s Graham Mertz’s team in 2024 but Lagway is the future of the program.

7. The game UF fans have circled on the 2024 schedule is…

The season starts with rival Miami. Florida and Miami used to play every year but that ended when the SEC expanded to add Arkansas and South Carolina in 1991. Now, the two schools rarely play, but it’s a heated rivalry. Napier and Mario Cristobal were hired in the same offseason and both are under .500 heading into year three. The coach that loses this game will have a hard time selling hope to their fanbase the rest of the season.

8. What are Gator fans’ impression of Texas?

Outside of being excited about the trip to Austin in November, Florida fans don’t know a lot about Texas. A Texas A&M writer told me that only Texas will rival Florida’s arrogance, but take that for what it’s worth considering the source!

Texas is a blueblood college football program and they’re an awesome addition to the SEC. Florida fans definitely have respect for the Longhorns. 

SEC Spring Check-Ins

• Mississippi State: Jeff Lebby begins a new era
• Texas A&M: Aggies start over with Mike Elko ahead of the return of the rivalry
• Ole Miss: The Rebels are going for it all in 2024