Napier

2022 - 4 - 28

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Alligator Army"

An inside look at Billy Napier's coaching clinics and practices (Alligator Army)

I had the chance to hear Billy Napier speak at coaching clinics in both Tampa and Orlando. I was also able to hear from defensive coordinator Patrick Toney in ...

They have at least three coaches dedicated to the position group, and even though most of them are “off the field”, they still have a large hand in development. A lot of work can be done with a quarterback off the field. He told the team they were talented, but that before they can win, they have to understand why they lost. Former NBA coach and author Kevin Eastman said that the constant movement reminded him of the fluidity of a basketball practice. The other featured speaker was Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule. Rhule spoke with the team after practice and all the coaches there for the chalk talk joined the huddle so they could hear his message. The team was in full pads and practicing in the indoor facility. The field was ringed by high school coaches, a few recruits, and even a professional coach or two. In terms of scheme, Toney showed some of the things they liked to do on third down. There’s a way they tackle if they are on the sideline. This thought process allows the coaches to maximize practice time and understanding for the players. There’s a way they tackle if they are forcing the ball back inside. For instance, Napier said they don’t spend a ton of time practicing plays at the goal line, because very few plays actually happen there in a game.

Billy Napier discusses challenges of current transfer portal landscape (Saturday Down South)

Billy Napier is working to put together his first roster at Florida, and the deadline to find a new school via the transfer portal ahead of the 2022 ...

“We’re living in a world where we have free agency with no salary cap and no manual, no rule book, and a lack of leadership,” he said. "We’re living in a world where we have free agency with no salary cap and no manual, no rule book, and a lack of leadership." In an article by Matt Murschel of the Orlando Sentinel, Napier discussed the challenges of the portal and what it means for roster construction in this day and age:

Napier: UF vetting portal prospects, limiting search (247Sports)

Billy Napier took a much more measured tone about his team's potential activity in the NCAA transfer portal prior to a spring speaking tour stop on Thursday ...

"Hopefully as we get going here and we stabilize our roster we won't be forced to even consider it. It's starting to look like Florida might not have quite as much movement in the portal this spring as previously indicated. "I think each one of these players is in a little bit different situation. With May 1 looming as the NCAA deadline for football players to enter the transfer portal without having to sit out a year in residence, all eyes are on which Gators might put their names in and whether Florida might see some movement in the coming days on the transfer front. As Swamp247 wrote when Napier first noted UF planned to be aggressive in the portal, Florida appears to need at least some attrition from the current roster. And the Gators seemingly haven't been involved with many potential additions.

Florida football trying to make up deficit in NIL space (Gators Wire)

Florida seems to have a ways to go to catch up to other programs in NIL after it seemed like it was outbid for a defensive lineman transfer.

Hugh Hathcock has helped Napier and Florida make up a significant amount of that deficit. After being founded last August, the Gator Collective has collected over 2,200 subscribers and has raised more than $500,000. It made fans ponder about how Florida is faring in the NIL space?

Florida's Billy Napier Looking To 'Evolve' In An NIL World That ... (OutKick)

So, with the changing landscape of college football and the transfer portal, NIL has become the point of emphasis with roster management. Before speaking at an ...

They are getting large donations and then able to dish out the money to current athletes in return for advertising or showing up for exclusive events. What was once a tool for current roster players to make money off their name is now a tool to get a player on campus. Billy Napier joins Lane Kiffin and other coaches around the country in calling today’s NIL world exactly what it is, free agency. We all know that these NIL deals aren’t in place for schools to use as a tool to get a player to sign, that would be inducement. Every state has different rules at the moment when it comes to how NIL can be approached by the coaching staff and universities. And compete in a game that doesn’t have a set of rules right now.”

Establishing 'NIL U' paramount for Gator Collective CEO Eddie Rojas (247Sports)

Eddie Rojas sat in front of a coffee shop around 8 a.m. on Wednesday morning, waiting for his drink to arrive. When the beverage reached his table, ...

We got 18-year-olds dying for their country so 18-year-olds can also make money in their country and it shouldn’t be a curse that they happen to be a football player. “The way I see it is 300 miles or 400 miles in a circle around Gainesville is every national championship you ever wanted and I always take it personal when they leave Florida to go somewhere else,” Rojas said. He believes athletes having financial opportunities is long overdue and if programs can find ways to keep a strong footing in the NIL space, maintaining the integrity of the game could follow. Gervon Dexter is going to be a host to the said next guy. “NIL is the most important aspect,” Rojas said. “The coffee I’m buying is probably about five or six bucks,” he said.