During Wednesday’s SEC teleconference, Florida football head coach Billy Napier talked about using this week’s bye as a time for improvement and getting players healthy.
However, the Gators head coach also highlighted the team’s running backs, particularly praising running backs coach Jabbar Juluke for the outstanding job he has done with the group.
“Well, Jabbar (Juluke), I think number one, Jabbar, was a high school coach, you know, and I think he has a unique, sincere care for players,” Napier said. “He does a great job mentoring the players, and runs a tight ship, you know. He does a nice job really modeling what you would want from the players, and then he holds them very accountable.”
Napier continued, “I never have to worry about the running backs, I mean, that group is always toeing the line, and they do it off the field, and they have great practice habits.”
As well as serving as the team’s running backs coach, Juluke is also the associate head coach and is currently in his third season with the Gators.
Napier and Juluke coached together at Louisiana from 2018-2021 before coming to Gainesville with Napier.
“He (Juluke) does a good job teaching, and he has got a framework for success,” Napier said. “I mean, I think obviously at Louisiana, we had three NFL backs. We were very productive there with the other players that we had, Chris Smith, Emani Bailey, not to mention the three NFL players, Trey Ragas, Elijah Mitchell, Raymond Calais.”
“And then we come here, we bring Montrell (Johnson) with us, obviously. And then Trevor Etienne, as a rookie, played well for us.”
Napier went on to praise Florida’s running backs room this season.
“And then these guys are the next, next generation, you know,” Napier said. “I think Jadan (Baugh) obviously stepped up for our team in a major way. And there’s a culture in that room. And I think you take guys like Montrell Johnson, they’re good examples to guys like Jadan Baugh who obviously has some ability.
“We got good solid play from Ja’Kobi (Jackson) as well. And we’re excited about potentially KD Daniels. KD, he’s starting to become, he’s getting healthier, I would say.”
Napier stressed the importance of maintaining player health and noted that several guys are nearing a return.
“So it’s a good room, you know, we got to keep them healthy,” Napier mentioned. “And obviously, Treyaun Webb is on that list as well, and he’s obviously closer to being available for the game. So (I) feel good about getting healthy over the next couple weeks with that group.”
Coming up for Florida
The Gators are off next week due to their bye week. The next matchup for Florida will be against the Georgia Bulldogs on Nov. 2 in Jacksonville. That game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET and can be seen on ABC.
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.