Tag: Quotes

Everything Billy Napier said in his midweek presser ahead of Ole Miss matchup

Everything Billy Napier said during his Wednesday press conference ahead of the Gators matchup with Ole Miss.

Florida football head coach Billy Napier met with the media on Wednesday to discuss the team’s preparations for their Week 13 matchup against the Ole Miss Rebels.

Napier touched on everything from the team’s competitive practices to individual player progress and the broader implications of roster limitations. He also discussed honing key matchups in the trenches and managing a roster facing evolving NCAA regulations, and what those challenges bring both on and off the field.

As game day approaches, the Gators aim to fine-tune its strategies and build momentum for a strong finish to the season.

Here’s everything Napier said in his Wednesday evening press conference.

Opening Statement

“Look I think it’s really important at this point in the season, you gotta be very process-oriented. You gotta have systems for everything you do, and you gotta be very consistent. Hopefully, we’ve developed some habits with our players, some routines. The more consistent we can be with those things, the better we have a chance to play.

“You know, I think that the next couple of days will be really important to detail up the plan. It was a barn-burner out there today, extremely competitive. Came down to the very last play of practice. So two good days in a row, and excited about Saturday. Good to be back in The Swamp.”

On the offensive line facing Ole Miss’ defensive line

“Yeah it’s one of the premium matchups in the game, you know. I think each week we play a bunch of really good teams that have great personnel, and sometimes they have some unique players in certain positions, and that becomes one of the premium matchups of the week.

“So definitely a big part of the game, you know. I think both sides, always protect and affect. Protect the quarterback, affect the quarterback. That’ll be a big component this week, for sure.”

On Jake Slaughter’s strengths as a pass blocker

“Well, first of all, he (Slaughter) works extremely hard, extremely smart, very diligent, he’s six-four and a half. He’s got some length in there, he’s got some power. And I just think he’s a technician. You know, he’s very good with his hands and feet, and so, veteran player, and a guy who, in my opinion, continues to get better. (He’s a) great leader, very rarely inside you’re always working as a team, right? So he’s got good guys around him as well.”

On the return of Ole Miss receiver Tre Harris

“Yeah, very familiar with Tre (Harris). You know Tre was right there, from right there in the backyard in Lafayette, him and Kyren Lacy the same year, Jack Bech as well, who’s one of the leading receivers at TCU, so crazy that we had three of the top receivers in the country right there in Lafayette.

“But Tre, a phenomenal football player. Really proud of him in terms of his journey, see him develop. He was a high school quarterback, and to see him grow, you know, I’ve been keeping up with him, know him well. Great, great kid, great family.”

On the secondary getting healthier

“No setbacks there, I guess is what I would say. You know, at this point in the year, there’s a bunch of guys out there that you know, 24 more hours later, feel a little better. 24 more hours, we got a lot of that going on, not just in the secondary, but across the board.”

On reps at LB from Myles Graham, Aaron Chiles, Jaden Robinson

“Confidence, you know, I think. And then they adapt, right? So, they adjust their week, you know? They adjust their work habits, their film study, their practice habits. The consequence of error starts to become really real, right?

“So, it’s one thing. It’s kind of like when, when you have your first child, right? Like, they tell you the entire time, like, look, this is going to change your life, you know, forever. And you’re like, ‘Yeah, I understand. It’s a big deal.’

“Well, yeah, we’re telling you that these things are important. Okay, then you get out there and play, and then you realize how consequential some of those minor details can become. So, I just think that sense of accountability, knowing that every play counts, you know, when you’re out there.

“So, you see a little bit more urgency, and then they get they gain some confidence. They start to realize that they can do it. And I think experience is critical, especially for a young player.”

On Ole Miss defensive coordinator Ron Roberts

“Yeah, no, I think there’s different, you know, that every system continues to evolve, different play callers, different coordinators. You know, I do think obviously those are two completely different staffs and group of players.

“So maybe there’s some carryover, familiarity. Certainly, bowl games spend quite a bit of time. But just in general, I think they, you know, both sides have continued to evolve for sure.”

On limiting explosive plays

“First of all, I think you got to play with the right leverage in coverage, you know. So, you know, I think every week, turnover margin, like we were 4-0 last week, you know. They missed the field goal, two fourth-down stops. We got a strip sack and then recovered the fumble after we knocked it off the guy.

“So, we were 4-0, played clean on offense, we had a 162-yard advantage in the kicking game. So, those made up for the lack of time of possession and play count. I think we’re about eight yards a play on offense. So, we were explosive.

“So, turnover margin is one, and then explosive plays are two. It’s always been that way. We’re going to need to make our fair share. We’re going to try to limit theirs.”

On DJ Lagway’s progress this week

“Yeah, good. Very similar to last week, hasn’t missed a rep. I think he (Lagway) gets a little better every day. No setbacks there. That’s a positive.”

On rotating players at the STAR position

“Well, we rotate — we try to play all the deserving players. I think sometimes you have a scenario where maybe there’s a huge dropoff and then you have some scenarios where you got some depth and you want to develop depth because this is a game where you need depth, especially in this league. And big picture, I think some players can handle high load and some can’t.

“The STAR position is one where you are very active. You’re almost a linebacker and a cover guy at the same time so that workload is different than maybe a corner or a safety. It’s a hybrid role so you’re in the run fit, you’re chasing slot receivers all over the field. I think the player load is high there. You want to have multiple players who are capable there and we do.”

On Ole Miss’ JJ Pegues

“Yeah, no, I can remember specifically evaluating him (Pegues) as a player when he came out. He was kind of, I think, a late take for them maybe. It’s awesome to see him playing and he’s got a lot of position flex, he plays inside and outside, plays on the edge a little bit.

“Obviously, he’s a ball carrier and he’s a guy who had some experience in high school doing that. Yeah, it’s good stuff, part of the matchup.”

On NCAA roster limits and changes

“I think it’s going to be one of the more transformational things in our game in the last 20 years. I think just relative to your year-round process, how do you practice, how you do all season, how do you develop players. I think it’s a product of revenue sharing but I would say we lack clarity there, right?

“Like we have no idea when that is going to happen. hat are the details of that? What are the rules going to be? When do you have to be at 105? Can you be over in the spring and the summer and training camp and then you get to 105 when school starts or can you have a waiting list?

“If you get a guy hurt, can you bring a guy up. I think there’s a ton to talk about and define here. We’ve asked for clarity and I think it’s to-be-determined so, yeah, I mean, I think it’s all going to be much different. I think it’s going to change the game in a significant way.”

On whether college football is changing too quickly

“The game has always changed. I think there’s always been some adaptation required. I think we just had some very significant ones. I think the process of acquiring a player has significantly changed every six months since I’ve been at Florida for sure.

“I think that’s probably the number one thing. And then the retention of players has changed, that process is significantly different, and I think those two combined together, and now you’re talking about practice, that part, now you develop players and developing your team is going to change next year. The game is always evolving, gotta be ready to go.”

Managing roster numbers

“The issue is we are not the National Football League, we can’t replace players. I would just say you have a certain number per position on your roster relative to the scholarship number, and then you have the next 20 who are walk ons. We used to go to training camp with 105.

“Typically, if you get a guy hurt, you would add a guy to the mix. I think the issue is going to be late in the season, scout teams, your just gonna have to evolve how you practice, it’s going to be very much the NFL the back half of the year, the sports science component will be critical, you gotta keep them healthy, strength and conditioning, being on top of all the science relative to player load and all the things that we do to prevent injury.

“I just think it’s going to change, we have 131 guys out there, we probably have 15 that are out, so our ability to replicate the opponent on offense, defense, and special teams, we can work at the same time, like the offense can go against the scout team, the defense can go against the scout team, whereas you may not be able to do that.

“All of a sudden your twos are servicing ones and you are less efficient with your time. Then you could have some nightmare scenarios with certain positions where you get short-handed in a hurry.”

Ideal scholarship numbers

“I think there’s been some research done. An NFL team, typically, in a calendar year might go through 120 players. I don’t know the answer to that. I just know we’re gonna have 105. We have to figure it out.”

Theoretical mid-season walk-on tryouts

“I’ve asked specifically. I even threw out the idea you could have a club team on campus. When I was in Louisiana, I used to train 160-70 players in the summer, and then we’d trim it to 135 on the first day of class. If we got a guy hurt, we make a phone call, we bring a guy up. So could you do that? But those are all … It has not been fine for us. We need some clarity.”

Importance of a general manager by the time this all occurs

“Yeah, so we’re built to do it now. I think that the big thing here is that we’re getting ready to we’re really, literally going to be in a business model. We have a cap, we have contracts, we have negotiation, we have strategy about how we distribute those funds, and it’s a major math puzzle.

“Man, it used to be simple five or six years ago, 25 hard cap, 85 scholarships. Now we’re in the eight digits, something like that. So big-picture-wise, that’s the No. 1 skill set. We’re going to build out a front office here in the next couple of months, and it’s primarily that purpose is to help us manage that huge math problem. There’ll be a ton of strategy around that, I’m looking forward it.”

On the noon kickoff

“I think it’s mental. It’s a mindset. We talk about it. But look, they gotta wake up at the same time we gotta wake up. We’ll be eating about the same time, get on the bus about the same time, and put the ball down at 12 noon. So we both gotta deal with it, part of it.”

How to watch Florida-Ole Miss

The Gators play their final home game of the season against the Rebels on Saturday, Nov. 23. Kickoff is set for noon ET and will be broadcast 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.

Todd Golden breaks down Florida basketball win vs. FAMU

Florida beat FAMU by 24 points on Tuesday, but there are many areas where head coach Todd Golden would like to see his team improve. Here’s everything he said after the win.

Florida basketball is 5-0 to start the season, but head coach [autotag]Todd Golden[/autotag] wasn’t happy with his squad’s second-half effort against Florida A&M on Tuesday night.

“Look, I thought we played really well in the first half,” Golden opened his post-game press conference. “I thought we did a good job to get a 24-point lead, and I just thought in the second half we let our foot off the gas a little bit. Stylistically, I thought offensively we played pretty well.

“Obviously, we did not shoot it well. We missed 15 threes and I thought we allowed that to affect our defense a little bit in the second half, and we just fouled way too much on the defensive end — sent them to the line 19 times in the second half.”

Moving forward, the goal is to put forth a more competitive effort for the entirety of the game, starting with Friday’s matchup.

“Like I talked about with the guys in the locker room, our expectation is to be able to play two complete halves, play 40 minutes. I thought tonight, we played 20 really good minutes in the first half and then we were just okay in the second. A lot to improve upon. We’ll have some good film to break down tomorrow with the guys as we prepare for Southern Illinois on Friday.”

Florida has struggled to jump out to early leads the season, especially within the first five minutes of the game.  The Gators have not trailed at any point this season by the 15-minute mark of the first half, but they’ve only jumped out ahead early against Grambling State — tied against South Florida, up three against Jacksonville, up six against Grambling State, up one against Florida State and up four against FAMU

“I think we come out with the right mentality,” he said. “We haven’t played our best in the first four minutes. We did win the first mini-game. I think we were up 7-6, or whatever it was, but sometimes it does take you a couple possessions to get in the flow and to get comfortable. But I do believe our mentality was good and we had the right spirit about us coming out. We just didn’t play our best until kind of the middle of the first half.”

Strong finishes to each half

Despite the slow start to each half, Golden praised his team for putting a better effort together in the final minutes on both sides of the break.

“I was pleased with both (finishes to each half) for different reasons,” he said. “In the first half, to be able to extend (the lead) to 24 on a 19-2 run was awesome. Different guys stepped up and helped us create that lead. We challenged our guys (in the second half).

“The last eight minutes we were getting after them pretty good because we have bigger goals. Making sure we’re competitive for all 40 and not letting ourselves off the hook.

“In that last mini-game, we challenged them and said, ‘Listen, we’re not satisfied with how this game is ending right now. We have to find a way to spread it out a little bit,’ and we did. Again, we want to more complete, but in those specific situations, I thought we did a good job.”

Golden praises veteran leaders

The returning duo of [autotag]Walter Clayton Jr[/autotag]. and [autotag]Will Richard[/autotag] have helped keep the team level through these first five games, and Golden added FAU transfer [autotag]Alijah Martin[/autotag] into that group as well.

“I’d throw Alijah in there, too. He had 14 (points), nine (rebounds) and four (assists), no turnovers. Those guys, as you all know, we built this team with those three guys being the main cogs on the perimeter and guys we play off of and lead us with their veteran leadership and their experience,” he said.

“All three of those guys have scored 1,000 points in college, all are great shooters, tough, physical defenders and guys that understand how to win.”

Golden added that being able to rely on that trio allows him to make adjustments on the fly, even if it means giving them more minutes in a game that should be able to go to the backups.

“It gives you a lot of confidence as a coach to be able to rip those guys out there. When we’re at our best, they’re just playing, right? Like we’re getting stops, we’re getting clean rebounds and we’re getting out in transition and they’re just making plays.

“I had to play them a little more than I wanted to tonight to be able to make sure that we finished the game the right way but, yeah, it gives you a lot of comfort as a coach when you’re able to roll those guys out there.”

Martin stepped up in particular against FAMU, which speaks to his competitive nature as a player.

“It’s one of his best qualities, his competitiveness and his maturity in the way he attacks it,” Golden said. “First of all, he knows what winning is, playing in the Final Four (a year ago), and to have someone like him on the floor with Will and Walt that has that kind of mentality — this is all three of those guys’ last rip, and so the way they compete on a daily basis is really important.

“Alijah’s a guy that, regardless of what the score is, he’s going to compete at a high level. He’s not always going to be perfect, but he’s a guy I’d always want on my team. He’s always going to play the game the right way. I’ve seen his floor game improve dramatically since he’s been with us — another four-assist, zero-turnover night tonight. He’s just becoming a really complete basketball player this year.”

Thomas Haugh stepping up

With Sam Alexis out, [autotag]Thomas Haugh[/autotag] played a season-high 28 minutes against Florida A&M. He made an argument for increased playing time by breaking the double-digit barrier in points and forcing a handful of turnovers.

“He’s the definition of a winning player,” Golden said. “He does all the quote-unquote little things that impact winning. He’s a guy that can switch defensively, he’s a very good rebounder, a really good ball mover and facilitator on the offensive end and he hit a couple shots tonight. Twelve (points), seven (rebounds), I guess two assists and three steals, he just finds ways to impact (the game). Plus-23 in 28 minutes.

“Without having Sam, without having Denzel (Aberdeen), obviously our bench was shortened and we needed a guy like Tommy to step up and play more minutes and we knew he’d be up to the task. He’s fantastic. He comes to play and compete every day, and he generally gives us a better chance to win when he’s on the floor.”

Other players stepping up off the bench

With Haugh taking the bulk of the extra minutes in the frontcourt, Golden split Aberdeen’s minutes between freshman [autotag]Isaiah Brown[/autotag] and first-year sophomore [autotag]Urban Klavzar[/autotag], who recently was cleared by the NCAA to play this season.

“I though Urby played well, he just didn’t shoot well,” Golden said. “I thought he played hard, I thought he defended well, had a good floor game with three assists, zero turnovers. I think for him it’s just going to take a little bit to get comfortable playing at this level — just kind of getting thrown into the mix early in the season, but I was pleased with his effort. Obviously, we want him to make a couple more shots but I was pleased with his effort.

“I thought Zay was awesome. I thought he did a really nice job at the end of the first half taking advantage of the minutes that he got in the last mini-game. Hit those two big threes that really extended it to 24. Got a great defensive stop at the end of the first half. Kind of was put in a one-on-one situation in the middle of the floor, moved his feet and kind of used his physicality to force a turnover.”

With the aforementioned trio of guards in the starting rotation all set to move on from Gainesville after this season, Golden is eyeing Brown as a potential replacement in the backcourt for 2025-26.

“Zay Brown is a guy we believe will be a great player here at Florida and obviously has some really good ones in front of him right now but as early as next year, we think he can be an impact player in a big way. I was happy for him that he got to play a little more tonight and proud of him for taking the opportunity.”

Off night for Alex Condon

Preseason All-SEC forward Alex Condon scored 14 points in the win, but he shot 3 of 14 from the field. A 7 of 8 night from the free-throw line saved him and he remained effective on the glass with nine rebounds, but the poor shooting performance as him at a season-low 12.2 points per game.

“I think tonight was hopefully a little bit of an aberration,” Golden said. “He was shooting like 85% from two coming into this game and tonight just had some bad breaks. Credit to FAMU, I thought they bothered him around the rim. They blocked a couple of his shots and didn’t go for a couple of his pump fakes. He kind of got caught in no-man’s land. But Condo is always playing hard.

“He didn’t have his best game, his most efficient game, but he’s always playing hard and competing his tail off. Got on the glass, protected the rim again, got two steals so, again, he found ways to impact winning, he just did not finish tonight. Hopefully as we kind of prepare for SIU, I think he’ll be better on Friday night that way.”

Transition offense good, but could be better

Florida dominated the fast-break against FAMU, but the Gators still aren’t knocking down all of the open shots they’re creating, especially from distance.

“That’s kind of who we are,” Golden said. “We want to get out in transition and score early in the clock, and to win that battle, 30-4, is important. To be honest, I thought we should have done a little better, in terms of what we were able to do on the offensive end. I do think that when we go back and watch, we missed some really good looks from three. I thought we maybe took three quick ones or ones that weren’t great shots, but for the most part I think we got some really great catch-and-shoot looks that we just didn’t knock down.

“Playing the percentages, I do believe that will go in our favor here shortly, especially with the guys that are taking those shots. It just hasn’t gone that way for us, but fortunately we’ve still been able to wins.”

Drawing fouls a positive for Florida

Florida has attempted 25 or more shots from the free throw line in all but one game so far this weekend. With the three-ball not falling as frequently as the Gators would like, the ability to draw fouls consistently has helped Florida stay out in front in most games.

“When you’re not shooting the ball well, you can go through spells where you have a lot of empty possessions. When you’re able to get to the line, I feel like that settles you a little bit. We shot it decent from the line, about 70% tonight, but that’s the most efficient way to score. You get to the line, it’s about 1.4 points per possession. It’s a good way to maintain consistency and not allow teams to go on runs against you.”

On the flip side of that coin, Florida got in some foul trouble during the second half, which hurt its ability to extend the lead.

“To be honest, that’s why we were having so much trouble keeping FAMU down in the second half. We just let them get to the line 19 times, and to their credit, they made 85% of them. Our field-goal percentage on defense was great, 34 from the field, they only shot 24 from three, but that free-throw percentage for them was the equalizer and allowed them to play us even in the second half.”

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Takeaways from Billy Napier’s Monday presser ahead of matchup vs. Ole Miss

Billy Napier praises Gator Nation for their support, previews Gators matchup vs. Ole Miss.

Florida football head coach Billy Napier had nothing but praise for Gator Nation ahead of the Gators final home game of the season against the Ole Miss Rebels.

Florida is coming off a strong performance against the LSU Tigers and face a tough challenge against a veteran Ole Miss squad that is 8-2.

Napier acknowledged the Rebels’ playoff aspirations and emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and intensity. With Senior Day adding extra significance, Napier highlighted the role of leadership and the younger players’ determination to honor their teammates.

Napier spoke with the media on Monday and here are the takeaways from the press conference.

Napier thanks Gator Nation

“I just want to thank our fans. I mean, I think it’s 11-straight sellouts. We’re hoping for the 12th this weekend. But just (a) really special environment. I thought they played a major factor in the game. I think this group and our team have been vocal about how thankful we are that our fans continue to show up.

“You know, I think obviously we’ve been frustrated ourselves at times, and for them to continue to be there and play a major factor in the game, I think we’re very appreciative of that. So we’re going to need them Saturday.”

Excited for the challenge vs. Ole Miss

“Ole Miss has got playmakers on offense, obviously a veteran quarterback (Jaxson Dart), and then defensively, they’ve got some disruptive players up front. I think overall, just a very veteran team. 32 seniors in the two deep on offense (and) defense, not to mention a couple red-shirt juniors.

“So you know, in general, they’re in position to (make the playoffs). They’ve had a good year. So I think this is a good football team, a ranked opponent, and we’re excited about the challenge.”

Talks about Lane Kiffin

“Lane’s (Kiffin) always been that, that guy, and he’s got tremendous experience, you know. I think Lane’s shown a ton of growth, in my opinion. I think I’m obviously, knowing, well, you know, when his dad passed away, we spent a lot of time talking about some of that. Obviously having been through that.

“So, you know, he’s the coach’s son. I’m a coach’s son, and I think we love ball. We love everything about the game. So Lane’s continued, he’s got multiple opportunities as a head coach. I think maybe this is his fourth opportunity. So just in general, very accomplished and experienced.”

 On Senior Day

“I think it’s a unique week in that regard, you know, and obviously this, this group of seniors, are a unique group. I think there’ll be a part of that for the younger players to want to do their part for that group. And so that would be a portion of the motivation, I would say, and those guys will talk about that.

“Obviously, it’s going to come up, and the families are involved, and I think it’s a big deal. So especially in a place like Florida, played in that venue, which is a privilege, and obviously, you only get so many opportunities to do it, so I do think it’s a special, special day.”

On the secondary coverage vs. LSU

“Yeah, I thought it was huge. I mean, it was a big part of the challenge in the game that get really good skill, and obviously the quarterback to go along with that. You paired the running game with the tight end and the receivers there on some of the unique matchups. So I thought we stayed on top of them pretty good. We played with better leverage, off the communication was really good.

“There’s only a handful of plays where maybe we were a little bit out of whack, and some of that was underneath coverage. So Trikweze Bridges’s position flexibility has proved to be very valuable, right? He played corner the entire game, and then Bryce Thornton, I thought, really stepped up, and we’re getting good play out of the nickel three safety position.”

On the Ole Miss offense

“I think they are committed to the run. There’s a ton of RPOs in this system as well. So that’ll be one of the chess matches that will be taking place. And one thing I would say about Jaxson Dart is he’s 225 pounds. He’s six (foot) one and a half, you know.

“So he’s, he’s dense, you know, and he’s proven to be effective in the sleeve. He’s a runner, so they mix him in there throughout the game when they need him, and he’s effective.”

On taking the same approach with DJ Lagway this week

“Well, I mean, I think he (Lagway) didn’t miss a rep with the first unit last week, so we’ll take the same approach this week. You know, I think the soft tissue injury, again, those are very subjective. So we’ve got every gadget that you can imagine downstairs.

“So, I mean, I think we’re using all that data and all these metrics to make decisions, to try to put him in position to be the healthiest he could be. So, yeah, I mean, we’re going to just go day-to-day. You know, he didn’t have a setback, and I think he feels a little bit better at this point in the week than he did last week.”

Up next for the Gators

The Gators play their final home game of the season against the Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday, Nov. 23. Kickoff is set for noon ET and will be broadcast 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.

Billy Napier talks LSU win, keys players following Week 12

Here’s everything Billy Napier said after Florida’s huge win over LSU on Saturday.

Florida football head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] scored what may have been the most important win of his Gators career on Saturday night when his team overcame the top-25 ranked LSU Tigers inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, 27-16.

The victory gives the Orange and Blue a clear path to the magical six-win mark, thus earning a bowl berth and a chance at snapping the three-straight season losing streak it has suffered through.

The key to the Week 12 triumph was the return of freshman quarterback [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag], who powered the offense with his golden arm. But make no mistake, this was a total team effort that also relied on strong play from the defense and a typical superlative effort from the special teams.

After the game, Napier spoke to the media about how his team played on a crisp fall day in Gainesville. Take a look below at what he had to offer.

Opening statement

“I think before we get to the players and the staff, I think we have to give the crowd a ton of credit. That place was electric tonight and played a major factor in the game.

“Obviously, the kids feed off of it. And 11 straight sell-outs, and something about when the sun goes down, it’s pretty special in there. Very thankful for our fans. And to continue to show up, right, and do their part.

“Obviously, we’ve struggled at times, but I’m just very thankful for the overall support and the way they impacted the game tonight. I think you’ve got to give this group of kids a ton of credit. Relative to the resiliency they’ve showed, I think for me there’s a purpose behind the game, and that starts with the players, and I certainly think this group would not be able to have done what they did tonight without a good foundation, something to stand on.

“I think they’ve got good character, and I’m very thankful for them relative to how they’ve stuck together and continue to work extremely hard and continue to improve. A lot of young players continue to grow up out there.

“So this was complementary ball at its best. Felt like an NFL game. It was back and forth. We did a lot of things well. There are areas we can do better. I do think we made them earn it on defense. We limited the big play, but obviously we’ve got to do a better job getting off the field on third down, especially in the first half. The play count and time of possession was very unique.

“It was 48-21 at halftime, and then obviously look at it really out of whack at the end of the game. I think they ran 92 plays to our 43. We had a few penalties on offense we need to clean up. We had some delay of games. Couple of false starts. Obviously a holding. ‘

“But in general, we did enough to win, and we stood up in that second half and I thought the defense got a couple of takeaways. Obviously a sack fumble. And then the missed field goal, and we played clean on offense and didn’t turn it over. Punted them deep a handful of times. And I thought the field position was key. So credit to the staff for having a good plan.

“In particular, on defense, I felt we were really sharp on normal downs. And these kids showed up and played. And I’m proud of them.”

On Lagway’s off-balance throw to set up game-winning TD:

“Elite play. That throw to Badger, stepping up into the pocket, left tackle was on an edge and just those are throws — God blessed that young man, is what I would say.

“But, yeah, I think your question is key, and I think we all felt that last week and this week. I thought there was a difference knowing that he was working his butt off with our training staff to get back and be available in the game and the way he approached that this week, the way the training staff worked overtime.

“And again, the guy wasn’t 100%. He wanted to play last week. And then obviously he came in the building Sunday, said, “I’m playing this week.” And we kept him in the pocket for the most part, limited the read game and the run game and overall it ended up working out.”

On Florida’s defensive line, pass rush

“Seven sacks. I thought we stayed on top of them for the most part. I thought the leverage in coverage was pretty good. That was one of the keys to the game was we covered them with the group of DBs that we had, I felt we hung in there pretty good.

“A lot of those are coverage sacks, where we’re landing, but we certainly affected the quarterback. And he made a lot of unannounced plays, off-schedule plays, where we did get him off of spot, and then giving Nussmeier some credit, I thought he made some plays on the run, a lot of impressive plays.”

On not giving up a sack

“I thought it was solid. Obviously, we did enough in the run game. Obviously, the one explosive helps the numbers. But keeping him clean was a big mission. Part of the mission was to keep him clean. They’ve got some good rushers. But overall I felt for the most part we did a good job in that area.”

How pride impacted Florida’s defensive performance

“I think last week was unacceptable, is what I think. And I think they took ownership of that. There wasn’t a lot of moping around. I think they ultimately took ownership of it, and we did some of those things better. We tackled better. I thought the rushing the coverage worked better together. We covered them.

“We played with the right leverage and we were able to get to the quarterback. So gotta clean up third down. I think they were 15-28 on conversion downs. A little over 50 percent, which is a good day. About 45 percent would be a goal, and they obviously, met their goal.”

On defensive tackle Caleb Banks

“I’m proud of Caleb. We tried to include him more on third down. And I think he’s really worked hard this offseason. Really 58 plays at his prior stop. 300 plays last year. And this year, a starter, and obviously trying to grow his role and create more value for him.

“So playing him on third down tonight, and he was a factor. I think Caleb has a bright future in front of him. He can really go places.”

On Florida’s game-sealing drive

“Huge. We had a lot of bullets in the gun at that point, right, because we had run minimal plays; but, yeah, I think the quick game completion to Hansen over the middle was huge and Haden did a great job running after the catch.

“And you’re going to watch that play where Jadan scored, and you’re going to see guys playing without the ball, Badger, Hansen, Barber, critical point of attacks there on the perimeter run, and 13 did the rest. But it was a good-looking play.”

Picking spots to throw given Lagway’s health

“Yeah, I think we threw it 26 times out of 43, right? So he had opportunities tonight. I think we’ve got to protect him a little bit better, and I think there were some opportunities to make some plays.

“In the seams, there was a lot of bang-bang throws in the seams, couple of opportunities early with Dike. And then I thought he did a good job extending a little bit, throwing it away when he needed to. But, yeah, I mean, 26 passes out of 43 plays, he got a lot of opportunities.”

On senior receivers Dike and Badger

“Those two guys have been key, really good evaluations. I think the personnel, Burt did a phenomenal job identifying those guys, and we were able to recruit them and they hit the ground running. Dike was here in the spring.

“But Badger, getting here in the summer, both have improved as players. Coach Gonzales has done a great job with both players. They’ve really — the scouts are high on them. They’ve increased their value. But there’s no question, when you play quarterback, the players around you have to play well.

“And those guys, they separate, they get open and they make plays on the ball. They make contested catches, and there’s no question those guys have done a great job for the Gators.”

On Florida’s special teams performance

“We had some frustrations in the fringe landmarks there and we had to hang punt a couple times and play field position. Jeremy obviously is a Ray Guy finalist this week. Has an elite future. Best punter in the country. And those are the little things. Those are the situational football things. Really good job by Rocco. Chim was in position. We were able to play field position and the defense took advantage of that position. You’re spot on.”

On junior linebacker Shemar James:

“I think lately he’s really starting to play well. Shemar is a three-down player. He can play — I thought he’s improved as a tackler. Just his stopping power has improved. And I think just in general him as a communicator, as a leader.

“He’s a guy that has a ton of positive energy. Fun to be around. Does a great job throughout the week affecting the other players. He can play on all three downs, good match-up backer on pass coverage. And he’s a heck of a blitzer. He’s loose and slippery and a guy who weighs 235 pounds. Shemar continues to get better.

“Obviously, overcome a lot with injury. We’re proud of him.”

On Florida’s LB play without Grayson Howard

“I think with Pup being out, Jaden — Myles Graham and Aaron Chiles played significant snaps tonight as well. But that’s a room that has depth. A lot of smart players in that room. And we’ve been rolling those guys, playing some of the young guys, and certainly I think that experience paid off tonight.

“But Jaden Robinson is one of my favorite players. Guy just shows up and works, and he obviously was a factor today. Good to see those young kids in there making some plays too.”

On validation win provides Florida

“Look, I think the big thing is just you’ve got to compliment our players and staff just for staying the course. I mean, it’s no easy task to keep focused on the work in front of you and be present.

“We talked all week about working as if we’re on a one-day contract. And every day, hey, look, if we’re watching you the entire day and evaluating how you work, would you get the call back for the next day? And I think they took that personal, and I think that we had a good day every day of the week.

“I thought we built momentum to the end of the week. And certainly they played that way with that type of attitude tonight.”

On future of Florida’s program

“I think it’s the players reflect that. I think obviously we’re trying to create a culture here. I think the intangibles of the group are what we would want from our players.

“Obviously, the football needs to continue to improve. I do think it is improving, and I think that’s a result of each individual player contributing. The way we practice, the way we prepared throughout the week, if you’re going to have a good football team, you’ve got to do it all. And I think this group continues to show that they’re up for the challenge.

“When we recruited these guys, part of this sale was like, look, you have to understand, you have to be up for the challenge. If we’re going to rebuild this place and create a championship contender, it will be rocky at times and you’ve got to be a tough guy and you’ve got to be up for the challenge. And I think this group has proved they’re up for that and we need to continue the work.

“We’re right in the middle of this journey here. Look, it’s harder than ever, in my opinion. I think these guys could have pointed fingers and splintered a long time ago. That’s what I’m most proud of.

“We played well tonight, but the way they’ve handled their business throughout the year and for them to continue to show up and work and care for each other and try to get better and compete, I think we’re learning how to win and ultimately I think belief is the most powerful, belief and hope are the most powerful things in the world, and I think we’ve got that. Just proud of the players.”

On Florida’s secondary play

“Quez’s versatility has been critical. Played both safeties and corners. And Gates continues to improve. And Denson played some snaps, but for Dijon Johnson, he’s out there playing banged up, showed toughness, grit, sacrificing for the team.

“He’s in the training room every day of the week all day to try to get ready. He played last week and he was not even close to 100%. I think him and Gates and Castell and Thornton, big part of the game tonight is we covered them, and I think ultimately hats off to that group.”

On Steve Spurrier telling fans to rush the field with a win:

“Yeah, I’ll tell you what, I think, first of all, let me say this, okay, our players got wind of that. And they were talking about it earlier today. I think it juiced them up a little bit. Anytime a head ball coach speaks, we listen. This is his place.

“Player, coach, Gator legend, and I’m thankful for Coach. Coach has been phenomenal since the first day I got here, for him to continue to support these guys, I think, is a big deal. And we’ll get to do that in the future.”

On DJ Lagway

“I think it slows down. You’ll have to talk to him a little bit. DJ told me specifically earlier in the week the game was slowing down. You’ve got to go back all the way to January. This guy is playing plays in the Gator room.

“Coach O’Hara has done a phenomenal job, all the way back to day one, he’s had a chance to observe Graham Mertz and how he worked like a professional, how to prepare, how to lead, and I think DJ has — the game has slowed down. He’ll tell you that.

“Look, he’s only going to get better. I respect him as a competitor on game day, the way he handles himself between the lines. The guy’s completely into it as a competitor, doing everything he can to win the game, and he did enough tonight.”

On Florida running back room, Jabbar Juluke

“They’re good evaluations from the personnel department. I think both are fantastic kids. Look, they both had incredible training camps. They ran the ball like that in training camp. Jabbar continues to produce.

“I mean, look, now as much as they play well on Saturday, I don’t ever have to worry about a running back off the field. I mean, his group is accountable. They do everything right. They’re a class act. And he did it at Louisiana. He’s done it at other stops in his career.

“I think his background as a high school coach, he cares for kids, and he’s tough on them and he holds them accountable. Hats off to both those guys, and certainly hats off to Coach Juluke as well.”

Up next for the Gators

The Gators play their final home game of the season against the Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday, Nov. 23. Kickoff is set for noon ET and will be broadcast 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.

Todd Golden talks after road win at FSU on Friday night

Todd Golden did not have too much to say, but what he noted after Friday night’s game was pertinent.

Florida basketball traveled to Tallahassee on Friday evening to take on their in-state rivals, the Florida State Seminoles. The Gators came away with an 87-74 victory after leading most of the way, giving Todd Golden’s team a 4-0 start to the 2024-25 campaign.

Walter Clayton Jr. led all scorers with 25 points on an 8-for-15 effort from the field, including a 4-for-10 tally from beyond the arc; he also finished with five free throws in as many attempts. Two other Gators — Alijah Martin (17) and Same Alexis (12) — also scored in double figures while nine total team members made the scoring sheet.

Following the big rivalry win Golden spoke with the sports media. Here s what he had to offer.

Handling FSU’s full-court press

“You know, I honestly thought we handled the press well. It was more the halfcourt pressure that we had issues with. And, you know, we did a good job staying organized. I think we only had like one or two turnovers in regards to them trying to keep us from getting the ball inbounds.

“But, you know, we had lapses, you know, I thought early in the game we struggled, which can happen especially the first time you play a team like Florida State with their athleticism, their length, their quickness.

“Middle of the first half, I thought we were really, really good. We got up 18 points, and a big part of that was just taking care of the basketball. We had eight turnovers at halftime. We got 11 in the second half. And if the end of that game would have gone differently, that would have been the issue. That would have been what we pointed at and said, ‘This is what cost us the game.’

“We had some guys step up and made some big shots late, kind of saved us, but we obviously, we have to do a much better job taking care of the ball, especially as we will see more teams that guard like this when we get into SEC play.”

On winning rebounding battle on both ends

“That was the offset for us, right? We lost the turnover battle by 11, but we won the boards by 18. And, you know, sometimes it’s as simple as that. Both teams, you know, we shot 52% from the field, but they won the shot battle. They got nine more attempts than we did, and four more free throws than we did. That’s usually a losing proposition, but the glass is what saved us tonight.”

Can Gators shoot better from long-range?

“Yeah. I mean, obviously we shot it really well in the first half. In the second half, we regressed. We’re only 23%, only three makes. But, you know, I do think to Florida State’s credit, they did a good job of slowing us down in the second half and really kind of getting the momentum of the game shifted.

“They were playing downhill. We were kind of playing on our heels a little bit, but again, you know, we just dug in and found a way, especially in those last four minutes. Tommy’s free throws were huge, and then those two threes from Alijah and Walt back-to-back were the separators.”

On Sam Alexis’s performance off the bench

“Sam’s really good. You know, he’s coming on for us. You know, he’s a guy that’s a young junior. He just turned 20 years old. His best basketball is in front of him, but I think you’re seeing a guy that is really comfortable out there. You know, his field goal percentage is insane.

“He was five for six again tonight. Did a good job, to your point, defensively moving his feet. Good job on the glass, and, you know, he had some minutes in that game where he was a difference-maker.”

Crowd toughness according to Alexis

“I would challenge him. You know, last year at Chattanooga, they played at Auburn, which I would say is probably similar to this. But I think kind of being in our program now, you know, coming in a rivalry game, you know, I think was something that was probably really new and unique to him, and credit him to the way he handled it.”

Next up for Florida

The Gators return home to host the Florida A&M Rattlers inside the O’Connell Center on Tuesday, Nov. 19. That game tips off at 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on the SEC Network+.

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.

Takeaways from Billy Napier’s midweek press conference ahead of LSU game

Gators head coach Billy Napier gives an update on DJ Lagway and others in his midweek press conference.

During his midweek press conference on Wednesday evening, Florida football head coach Billy Napier addressed several key points ahead of their Week 12 matchup against the LSU Tigers.

Napier emphasized the importance of “talent not being enough” and outlined how consistency, discipline and commitment are key for the Gators to succeed.

Florida’s skipper also addressed questions about players’ injury statuses, bowl eligibility goals and improving defensive fundamentals as he sets a clear expectation for his team to compete at a higher level this weekend.

Napier stressed that these attributes, combined with physical talent, would elevate their performance.

Here are the key takeaways from Napier’s press conference on Wednesday night.

On the impact of becoming bowl eligible

“Well, I think you’re always thinking big picture, but it’s important, like it’s a big picture, but it’s a little process, right? So one of the terms I’ve been using all week from the very beginning of the week, is work as if you’re on a one day contract, and maybe you get to call the night to come back. Maybe you don’t, you know.

“So, if we prepare and train and practice and have the self discipline, as if we were always being observed and we were on a one day contract, and if we do our job well enough and at a high level, you get the call to come back.

“And, you know, let’s focus, be present. Let’s focus on the work and the task at hand. And then, hey, we’ll take a deep breath, eat a good meal, get a good night’s rest. We’ll get the call to come back and come back tomorrow. So we’re completely 100% focused on LSU, nothing else matters. And you know, we just did Wednesday.

“Hopefully we’ll get a callback tonight, and we’re going to show up tomorrow and do Thursday.”

Update on DJ Lagway

“He’s (Lagway) been being able to practice. Obviously he’s modified a little bit, but he’s making progress every day, he is getting closer and closer to being prepared to play. So I do think we are creating a game day environment in terms of the treatment and modifications we’re using, you know, just to make sure he’s comfortable with that.

“So he did work today, and obviously, I think he makes progress. Felt better today than he felt yesterday. We’re hopeful that’ll be the case tomorrow.”

Hoping to play much better than their last game

“What happened this weekend is not acceptable. It’s not good enough, and we certainly know we’re capable of playing better. And look, we’re trying to control the things that we can control.

“You know, our communication, our alignment, our fundamentals and techniques, playing with the right leveraging coverage, our effort and pursuit, and then ultimately playing really good situation in football and making good decisions.

“So we didn’t do much well at all on Saturday. We got to do a lot better this weekend.”

If there’s been a drop off with LSU position players

“No, they’re still loaded. I mean, I think they’ve got, not only the players that are returning, but a couple transfers (from) Alabama, Mississippi State, not to mention (Kyren) Lacy and (Chris) Hilton.

“I mean, the tight end’s (Mason Taylor) one of the better tight ends in the country, but certainly the backs, the freshman back (Caden Durham) has elite track speed, so the combination of skill with the veteran quarterback (Garrett Nussmeier), although he hasn’t been a starter before, he’s played a lot of football, and he’s been around there for a while.”

Update on Montrell Johnson Jr.

“He’s (Johnson) been able to do more this week than he did last week. So, you know, I think he’s day-to-day and I think ultimately, that’s a position where you have a lower-body injury, you got to be 100 percent right to be as effective as you want to be.

“And certainly for him, this one’s personal to him, because he’s from Louisiana, so he’s motivated. He’s practiced. Is he 100%? We’ll see. But we’re going to do what we’ve done in the past. We’re not going to put him out here until he’s ready.”

On the team’s mindset last week vs. Texas

“I think we had a parachute, you know, we went to battle with a parachute on our back, and then as soon as things didn’t go our way, we pulled the parachute. And it was disappointing. And I think we’ve got to challenge the maturity of our team, the consistency of our team.

“We have to be mature enough as competitors and to embrace that and play better. So I think it’s more mindset than anything in my opinion.”

Up next for the Gators

The Gators host the Tigers in college football’s Week 12 on Saturday, Nov. 16. The SEC matchup will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast 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.

Todd Golden talks game, Title IX investigation after Gators’ third win

Here’s everything Todd Golden had to offer after his team’s rout of the Grambling State Tigers.

The Florida men’s basketball program is off to a 3-0 start after handily defeating the Grambling State Tigers, 86-62, inside the O’Connell Center on Monday night. While a dark cloud hovers over the Gators as head coach [autotag]Todd Golden[/autotag] is investigated for Title IX infractions, they certainly looked solid on the court.

The Orange and Blue dominated on the glass but struggled from the field as far as shooting percentage was concerned. Regardless, Florida trailed for just 30 seconds in their third game of the 2024-25 campaign and maintained a firm grip on the lead throughout the evening.

Following the game, Golden spoke to the press about his team’s performance as well as the issues swirling around the program away from the parquet.

Opening statement

“Obviously, I assume you guys have a lot of questions. I just want to start by saying, I kind of expressed my statement on Saturday, and obviously would love to be able to give you more, but that’s all I can give in this moment. And so any questions in regards to the ongoing inquiry, I’m just referring to my statement on Saturday, and I apologize that I can’t comment any more than that.”

On last several days of media coverage

“Challenging.”

On the reception he received

“I thought it was great. I thought they were as usual, and obviously, during the current circumstances, I appreciate it.”

On his message to female fans

“Obviously, in this situation, due process and to continue to support guys, and I just would hope that they would allow the process to take place and see where it ends up.”

How it feels to be coaching amid investigation

“It feels like normal, to be honest. This is my job. So it’s my position at the moment, and we will continue to do it.”

On winning rebounding battle

“It was awesome. I thought our guys did a great job of setting the tone that way. We talked a lot about it. The first couple of games we didn’t do a great job on the glass. And we wanted to put an emphasis on that tonight against a team that we think is pretty damn good, to be honest.

“They played really well last Friday, at Ole Miss. Gave them all they wanted, had a second-half lead of double digits and so for us to come in and kind of control the game the way we did, I thought said a lot. The emphasis we put on the glass was really good as well.”

On response from players, their focus

“Again, we continued to do what we do on a daily basis. We have a mature group, and we continue to attack it on a day-to-day basis like we always do. Our guys are focused. We’ve just poured more into our team, more into our staff and made sure that we were prepared for the night.

“I thought that our guys did a really good job of playing and executing from start to finish.”

On playing zone early

“We just did a lot of kind of, like, switching. Switching low to high, making it hard for them to get penetration. I thought we did a good job of kind of pushing out their initial catches, which made it harder for them to operate offensively.

“Defensively, we’re getting better. I thought we guarded the 3-point line the best we have all year, even including our scrimmages. We only gave up 12 attempts. Obviously they only made two. We did a really good job defending without fouling, as well.

“We, the last 10 minutes of the game, I thought they got the majority of their free throws. Over the course of the night, I thought those two areas were a lot better for us.”

On what gets him through this personally

“What’s personally getting me through this right now? Respecting the situation, my family, my team, my coaching staff. We’re just continuing to attack it like we normally would every day.”

On whether it’s tough to stay focused

“Yeah. Again, I know what’s going on. I know the situation. Again, our staff’s done a great job. Our guys have done a good job. We’ve spent a lot of time together over the last couple days and continue to what we have in front of us, which was this game tonight and what will be Florida State on Friday.”

On benefit of seeing more zone early in season

“Yeah, it’s important. It’s something that has bothered us in the past. I thought we were a little casual early on, trying to get past it and not being really aggressive or strong with the ball.

“In the second half, I thought we moved it a little bit better, cut through the zone, got some better looks and attacked inside, which in my estimation, got them out of it toward the midpoint of the second half.

“Yeah, it’s always good to see it. We saw it quite a bit in SEC play when were playing well and scoring efficiently. To be able to attack it early on in the year is definitely good.”

On Chinyelu’s performance

“It’s huge. We’re counting on him, and as you know, the way we play, we need all four of those front-court players to be effective and efficient. He’s been just kind of finding his way these first couple of games. He’s been really good all summer and all fall.

“Again, just new team, new situation for him. I thought it took him a little longer to get comfortable. But, again, to your point, tonight, 7 for 8 from the field. He definitely looked a lot more comfortable on the offensive end.”

On having 5 players with 10 or more points

“We talked about in the locker room. This team is super unselfish, and they play for each other. I think a great example of that was Will Richard’s play in transition when he got the steal run-out and had the opportunity to go dunk it and said he saw Rueben coming out the back of his vision, dropped it off to him for a big dunk, which was a really, really unselfish play and kind of speaks to our team.

“But to your point, our eight guys that played over 20 minutes, all scored in double figures. And when you have that type of ability to spread it out, it makes you a lot more effective.”

On bench production

“It’s huge. I thought we did a good job of getting out of this game without having too much wear and tear on our bodies, without having to play guys too many minutes, being able to spread it out that way. And we’ll be off tomorrow. So over the next three or so days we should be really fresh heading into Florida State.”

On his players handling distractions

“I wasn’t necessarily concerned. I think they know who I am and, you know, again, they’re mature. They’re all really good guys and all super focused. We had really good practices. We had a great shoot-around today and I thought they were all really locked in.

“I felt like we were going to play really well tonight. I thought Carlin Hartman did a great job. He had the scout tonight. He had Grambling in the scout last year as well and just did an incredible job of preparing us.

“This was, again, a team that we were really concerned about. They were up 10 at Ole Miss on Friday. This wasn’t a cakewalk by any means. This was a team that played in the NCAA Tournament last year. This is a team that has a lot of returners off that team and another starter that was on a Final Four roster last year.

“For us to have this kind of effort, controlling the game the way we did, I thought we played really well.”

On Florida’s frontcourt

“I think our guys do a really good job. Our frontcourt has really good feel so when they’re able to draw defenders and they feel a little but of a double team or a little help at the rim, they’re able to play off two and be balanced and drop it off to their fellow big or throw out to a perimeter guy for a shot.

“But, again, Rueben is kind of more of our bruiser, more of our physical one but Sam, Tommy and Condo all have really, really good feel and understanding and are really good playmakers for their teammates.”

On when Florida’s investigation might be resolved

“I cannot comment on that.”

Next up for Florida basketball

The Gators travel north to take on the Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee on Friday, Nov. 15. The rivalry matchup tips off at 6 p.m. ET and can be watched on the ACC Network.

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.

Florida football OL talks first start, versatility and the team’s culture

Gators OL Bryce Lovett talked about his ability to play any position on the offensive line during Monday’s press conference.

Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Bryce Lovett got his first career start for Florida football last week against the Texas Longhorns, and his versatility is what caught the Gators’ eye.

“It felt good to be able to step up when one of my brothers went down and going out there, and be able to play hard and play with my teammates,” Lovett said on Monday. “Just felt good overall. Doesn’t matter how the game went.”

Lovett is in his second season with the Gators and although he’s season game action this year, he hasn’t officially started. But with the injury to offensive guard Damieon George Jr., Lovett got his opportunity.

According to 247Sports, Lovett was listed as a top-50 offensive lineman in the Class of 2023 and chose Florida over programs like Arkansas and Kentucky.

The native from Rockledge emphasized the importance of how the team has felt like a close family.

“One of the main things I liked when I was a recruit was the family,” Lovett said. “It’s very family oriented, like it’s like one big family, and he’s (Billy Napier) just continuing to build that and to be closer and closer, and we work together. I mean, we work really hard.”

Lovett continued, “I think that kind of ties into the family and everybody being so close. It’s like, I don’t want to say it’s like something I’ve never seen before, but I’ve never been on a team where it’s been this tight.”

Lovett talked about his versatility on the offensive line. He mentioned that it creates more opportunities for playing time because of the ability to play at multiple positions.

“Well, yeah, I feel like it’s a lot more opportunity, because I have five different options to be honest with you,” Lovett said. “If that makes sense, I play guard, I play tackle, I can play center, and so, if anybody goes down, or if anybody needs a break, I’m willing to go in.”

Lovett went on saying, “If he (Napier) puts me in, I’m ready to go in. So I like staying on standby, not staying on standby, but always being prepared and ready to play any position.”

Lovett will be ready on Saturday against the LSU Tigers if his number is called again.

Up next for the Gators

The Gators host the Tigers in college football’s Week 12 on Saturday, Nov. 16. The SEC matchup will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast 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.

Takeaways from Billy Napier’s Monday presser ahead of LSU matchup

Billy Napier spoke with the media on Monday as the Gators prepare to host the LSU Tigers on Saturday.

This season has been a bumpy rollercoaster for Florida football and with just three games left in their regular season, the Gators are crawling towards that last game.

Coming off a blowout loss that they’d like to forget about against the Texas Longhorns last Saturday, Florida has a tough task this week as they host the LSU Tigers.

Like the Gators, LSU was blown out last week. The Tigers faced the Alabama Crimson Tide and from the get-go, LSU had no answer for Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe. So expect their defense to tighten up on Saturday against Florida.

There’s still uncertainty at the quarterback position for the Gators, but if DJ Lagway can’t be ready to play on Saturday, it’ll be a long afternoon for Florida.

Head coach Billy Napier spoke to the media on Monday and here are the takeaways from the press conference.

Napier talks about LSU

“I do think LSU, as usual, has a good football team. I think they’re talented. Obviously, they’ve had their ups and downs throughout the season. Coach (Brian) Kelly runs a good program and overhauled the defensive staff, and certainly a veteran quarterback, although a first-time starter has significant experience, has been in the program, been in the system with (Garrett) Nussmeier, really unique kick returner and punt returner, that can be a challenge. And overall, the personnel that you would expect from an LSU team.”

Napier on if this is the most amount of injuries he’s dealt with

“I think we’re just a little more aware of it, because we did an injury report Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 90 minutes before the game, you know. But look, your depth is always going to be challenged, and when you play initially, with our non-conference schedule, we have played a very competitive schedule, so I think we’re more equipped, probably that we have been playing with threes in some spots.

“So that’s ultimately what I would say. Typically, your twos are going to play every position throughout the year.”

The importance of securing players at QB

“Yeah, I know it’s a position we’re going to add players for sure. Process of doing that, and that can be a challenge when you have a really talented young player, right? So I think it’s important. I mean, it’s a big piece of the puzzle. We’ve been grinding away on it for a long time.”

On how essential recruiting is in November

“Yeah, I think what you’re describing, there is definitely a piece of the puzzle here, down the stretch. I think the combination of early signing period and the portal window paired with November football and how competitive and important these games are, that is one of the more challenging things about college football right now, and I think every coach has expressed that publicly.

“So we have extensive meaning. You know, our personnel department is working around the clock. We may have windows of time where we evaluate players every week, just this, just this week, you know. I’ll be up here Wednesday night. I’ll be up here early Friday morning. Those are my two blocks of time each week. So those guys are grinding around the clock.

“And then obviously the coaches as well. And then that gets fun to me. So yeah, two times a week we have blocks for evaluating players and what you’re describing, it becomes even more. You know, there’s just more, whatever you want to call it, rumors or anticipation. I think some of that starts to ramp up in November.”

Lagway’s progress so far

“Well, the good thing is, we worked him (Lagway) out this morning, and we felt good about what we saw, you know. Soft tissue’s a very subjective injury. But we do anticipate him practicing today.”

Napier expected vote of confidence from Scott Stricklin

“You know, in season, man, I’m grinding. I’m trying to get the most out of our players. You know, what I would say about it is, I think that it’s a reflection of our players, and we don’t get it done, we don’t show signs of improvement. And look, let me say this, I am absolutely not satisfied with how we played.

“Now, we’ve done some good things, but I mean, it’s nowhere close to what it’s got to be consistently for us to be a contender, and that’s ultimately what I’m spending my time on. But any belief or hope or confidence in what we can become is due to the players in the way they perform the last five or six weeks, so we need to continue to improve.”

Missed tackles, miscommunication vs Texas

“Yeah, all of those were a little bit of some communication errors, some missed assignments. And then I think just in general, on the perimeter, I think we didn’t tackle, well, we missed tackles inside back, or we missed tackles in the secondary. I thought we played with the wrong leverage communications. So yeah, just in general, just basic fundamentals, tackling, leveraging coverage, and obviously some of those guys are, they’re out there.”

Talks about Nussmeier

“First of all, his (Nussmeier) dad is an incredible football coach, one of the best coaches I’ve ever been around. And just a great human being, great family. I can remember when he was, you know, running around the Alabama facility. So, yeah, great high school player.

“I can remember evaluating him coming out. Just incredibly productive. Just a scrappy coach’s son that has a great feel for the game. So waiting his turn is respectable, in my opinion, and then now, obviously, he’s leading their team and has done a good job in that extent.”

Up next for the Gators

The Gators host the Tigers in college football’s Week 12 on Saturday, Nov. 16. The SEC matchup will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ABC.

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Florida baseball’s Kevin O’Sullivan reacts to final fall exhibitions vs. USF

Here’s what the Gators skipper had to offer after his team split a twin-bill with the USF Bulls in Gainesville on Sunday.

Florida baseball played its final two scrimmages of the fall on Sunday, hosting the South Florida Bulls inside Condron Family Ballpark for a pair of seven-inning exhibitions. While the Gators swept both games of an earlier twin-bill scrimmage at the Jacksonville Dolphins on Nov. 1, the home team earned a split this time.

The Orange and Blue managed a 5-0 win in the opener thanks to some strong pitching and solid offense — including a pair of back-to-back home runs that gave Florida an early 2-0 lead. Inclement weather delayed the game for 50 minutes in the fifth inning, but that did not slow the Gators down.

However, things caught up with [autotag]Kevin O’Sullivan[/autotag]’s squad in the second game, in which they were shut out with a 2-0 final score. And thus ends Florida’s preseason exhibition schedule.

Following the doubleheader, O’Sullivan spoke with the media and here is what he had to offer.

On Florida’s performance against USF

“We weren’t able to get Jackson (Barberi) out there because of a little rain relay, was like a 40-minute rain delay. But other than that, I think everybody pitched fairly well, and we got a little sloppy there in the third inning of the second game.

“Only error we made was the one behind the plate. We got a little sloppy behind the plate that one inning. But offensively, we got off to a quick start with the back-to-back home runs and made three really, really nice plays in the first game. Kyle Jones made a heck of a play in the left-center gap. Of course, Cade (Kurland) made a really nice play going to his left. And Bobby Boser made a real nice play at third. We turned a double play.

“In the second game, I think we were swinging at balls out of the hand. I thought our approaches were not very good in the second game. I mean, we’ve been swinging the bat well the entire fall, so, all in all, pitching and defense was good. It’s improved from last year. Certainly, on the mound, we’ve got a lot of options.

“Had a chance to move some different guys around defensively in the second game, which was nice to see. It was productive. Obviously, we would have wanted to swing the bats a little bit better in the second game, but that’s part of it.”

On Florida’s offense in 2nd scrimmage

“We just haven’t seen — two games is not enough to get in the flow of things. When you’re facing a new arm every inning, it does become a bit challenging. It’s no excuse but the fact of the matter is we had an opportunity to play two outside teams other than our own team during the fall.

“Sometimes these things happen in the early part of the year and it takes you a little while to get in your groove but, yeah, I just think we were swinging at balls out of the hand and our approaches weren’t very good early in the count. Probably hit too many balls in the air, too.”

On freshman RHP Aidan King

“Yeah, he’s had a really good fall for us and there’s a reason we gave him two innings today. Frankie Menendez wasn’t able to throw today because he’s been under the weather a little bit so that’s why he didn’t throw today.

“Somebody had to throw two innings and we felt like he had earned the opportunity to do that and he’s been really consistent. His mound presence is different than maybe most of the freshmen that we had in the last couple years. I was pleased with the way he threw.”

On Brody Donay taking reps at first base

“He’s been playing really good at first. The one that we haven’t been able to see very much is Brendan Lawson. He’s certainly going to be a factor in our lineup. He had a concussion so he’s been out for two or three weeks now but certainly looking forward to getting them back.”

On Florida’s freshmen pitchers

“I thought Josh Whitenour threw the ball really well. I think a couple of the other guys held it together. There were a couple walks here or there but for the most part they didn’t let the inning get away from them other than the one inning in the third, really.”

On sophomore RHP Liam Peterson

“There’s still some improvement. I think Liam has taken a step forward. You can see his stuff. His mound presence is different. Still working with Jake on his secondary stuff, landing the slider a little bit more. He threw a couple changeups today and there’s no doubting his arm strength. We still got some work to do but certainly the biggest thing is to get out of the fall healthy and see how things look in the spring.”

On Peterson’s mechanical changes

“I think everything’s better. He’s landing his breaking ball now. It’s a really, really tight spinner. I think it’s like 2,800 (rpm) spin rate and he’s got a slider and he’s always had good feel for the changeup. Now he’s pitching at 95-98 and he’s throwing a lot more strikes. He’s certainly on his way, for sure.”

On Peterson changing his fastball grip

“Yeah, it’s probably got a little more finish to it. He’s getting some more swings and misses up in the zone for sure.”

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