GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Billy Napier needs some help. The Florida football coach is 11-14 in two seasons in Gainesville, including 0-2 against middling Kentucky and 1-7 against rivals Florida State, Georgia, LSU and Tennessee.
No coach in school history has endured three consecutive losing seasons, so it’s seemingly make-or-break time for Napier following 6-7 and 5-7 campaigns.
“Every good movie, every good story, has challenges,” Napier said. “We’re right in the middle of this one. … I’m a firm believer that sometimes you need to go through struggle, and we’ve done that. I’m hopeful that it will be rewarding when we do accomplish some things of significance.”
After losing five in a row to end 2023, Napier revamped every aspect of his program. He hired a new defensive coordinator, a new special teams coach and a new strength and conditioning director. He also added a co-offensive coordinator and even changed the team nutritionist.
Equally important, Napier reshaped his roster. He signed 12 players from the transfer portal, including six potential starters who could help the Gators return to their winning ways.
Florida opens the season Aug. 31 against Miami in the Swamp, a chance to surprise outsiders and take a step toward re-establishing itself as one of the top teams in the Southeastern Conference.
Here’s a look at the newcomers who should make a difference:
Elijhah Badger, WR, Arizona State
The 6-foot-1 senior caught 135 passes for 1,579 yards and 10 touchdowns the past two years with the Sun Devils. The Gators are hoping he can perform as well as the previous receiver they landed from Arizona State, current San Francisco 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall.
“He’s been making plays since he stepped on campus,” fellow Florida receiver Kahleil Jackson said.
Chimere Dike, WR, Wisconsin
Dike has good speed and even better hands. He caught 97 passes for 1,478 yards and nine scores in four years with the Badgers. His best season came with current Florida quarterback Graham Mertz in 2022 — 47 receptions for 689 yards and six TDs — and the Gators are counting on their chemistry carrying over.
“We kind of grew up together in college football,” Dike said. “I’m thankful that I get to play with him at least one more year.”
DJ Douglas, DB, Tulane
A hard-hitting and versatile safety who started his college career at Alabama in 2019, Douglas should be one of the first guys off the bench in 2024. The sixth-year senior had 54 tackles and three interceptions in 2023 while helping the Green Wave reach 11 wins and the Military Bowl.
“We just need to have DJ on the field,” fellow safety Jordan Castell said. “DJ’s gonna fly around and hit something.”
Grayson “Pup” Howard, LB, South Carolina
Napier tried to sign the Jacksonville native in 2022, but Howard chose the Gamecocks instead. When Howard decided to transfer after one season in Columbia, his relationship with Napier led him to Gainesville. The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder is expected to start alongside standout Shemar James.
“Grayson is a workhorse,” defensive end Justus Boone said. “He’s coming in every day, every day a thousand miles per hour. A great lifter. A great competitor. He’s got that juice.”
Joey Slackman, DT, Penn
The 2023 Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year picked Florida over Michigan and others, and he might be Napier’s most important offseason acquisition. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound lineman could help the Gators shore up a run defense that ranked 81st nationally last year. He’s already become a locker room favorite thanks to painting his face for workouts, constantly sniffing smelling salts and often cannonballing into the cold tub.
“He’s different,” Castell said. “He’s a dog.”
Asa Turner, SS, Washington
A five-year starter at Washington, the 6-foot-3 safety needs to find a way to stay healthy to make an impact at Florida. Turner missed 13 games over the past three seasons, including eight in 2023. He returned to the lineup for the Huskies’ three postseason games and had five tackles and a fumble recovery against Texas in the Sugar Bowl.
“I feel like we’re not going to shock anyone but people outside this building,” Turner said. “We got a lot of talent. It might not be in newspapers or anything like that, but we know what we have is going to be great this year.”
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