The quarterback controversy in Gainesville during the 2021 season may have overshadowed how badly the running back room was handled, but there’s hope [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and position coach [autotag]Jabbar Juluke[/autotag] will provide the right template for success on the ground in their first season at Florida.
Unfortunately, the team lost its top two running backs from a year ago to the NFL. [autotag]Dameon Pierce[/autotag], who didn’t hit the 10-carry mark in a game until after [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag] was fired, now looks like a legitimate part of the Houston Texans‘ backfield, and [autotag]Malik Davis[/autotag] recently rushed for 51 yards on eight carries in a preseason game for the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. Losing both to the pros left just [autotag]Nay’Quan Wright[/autotag] on the roster with a decent amount of SEC experience under his belt.
Napier brought over one of his players, [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag], from Louisiana through the transfer portal and there’s still former five-star [autotag]Lorenzo Lingard[/autotag] to consider. All three should see carries throughout the season, and there’s even a chance [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] sees some action as a true freshman.
In 2021, Napier’s Louisiana team scored 34 of its 53 offensive touchdowns on the ground and three backs broke the 500-yard mark — two eclipsing 800 yards. A similar mix could be in store for his first year at Florida, and at least Johnson has played in Napier’s system before.
Here’s a look at all eight running backs listed on the 2022 Florida Gators’ fall roster.
See also:
