The Florida soccer program wants to indicate it’s trending in a constructive route, and the following 5 weeks present probabilities to do this. The Florida-Georgia recreation this weekend marks the primary inflection level for Billy Napier’s Gators, who’ve improved after being blown out by Miami and soundly crushed by Texas A&M.
How a lot the Gators have improved is the massive query and the reply in November will decide Napier’s destiny.
Florida has not been aggressive on this rivalry underneath Napier, shedding by greater than 20 factors every of the previous three years as Georgia has ascended to nationwide energy standing. Georgia coach Kirby Sensible is believed to position further emphasis on the border battle in Jacksonville, very like Steve Spurrier did within the Nineties. Georgia’s present dominance feels harking back to these days, with the Bulldogs successful six of the final seven, nevertheless it’s just the start of a frightening end-of-season slate for the Gators.
A constructive for Florida is that the schedule seems lighter than initially anticipated. Georgia, Texas, and LSU are ever-formidable, and Florida faces them in that order. Ole Miss, nevertheless, will not be the offensive buzzsaw it seemed to be early on towards FCS and Group of 5 groups, and Florida State sits at 1-7. Heading into the season, this was at all times thought of the defining stretch for Napier’s tenure, and now it has arrived.
5-star freshman quarterback DJ Lagway is the long run — whether or not in Gainesville or elsewhere stays to be seen as suitors will undoubtedly queue up when the switch portal opens in December — however for now, Lagway is QB1 in orange and blue. He brings plain explosiveness to the offense behind an satisfactory offensive line anchored by left deal with Austin Barber, who’s producing buzz as an NFL prospect. Florida’s dashing assault has additionally been sturdy, with contributions from freshman Jadan Baugh and veteran Montrell Johnson, who’s battling a knee harm and is questionable for the Georgia recreation. Lagway has had two video games with 5 completions of 40 yards or extra, a feat no Florida quarterback has achieved within the final 20 years. Nevertheless, his consistency within the brief and intermediate passing recreation can be essential for the Gators. Lagway will even have to shine with out playmaker Eugene Wilson III towards Georgia.
The Gators have improved on protection, permitting solely 13 offensive factors to UCF and Kentucky and 17 in regulation to Tennessee. Nevertheless, Florida’s particular groups inefficiencies proceed to rear their ugly head, costing the workforce factors previously two video games. In opposition to Kentucky, the Wildcats returned a kickoff for a landing, highlighting a recurring theme of particular groups errors underneath Napier. In opposition to Tennessee, the Gators incurred a 12-men-on-the-field penalty, forcing a 10-second runoff and negating a area aim earlier than halftime. Florida went on to lose that recreation in additional time.
Off the sphere, Florida has three verbal commits within the Top247 participant rankings for 2025 ranks No. 51 within the 247Sports Composite Staff Recruiting Rankings workforce rankings with the early signing interval (Dec. 4-6) approaching. The date has been moved up from latest years, and this system nonetheless lacks a everlasting common supervisor because the search continues to switch former chief of workers Mark Robinson, who departed simply earlier than fall camp.
Napier’s tenure has felt like a week-to-week proposition for a lot of the season. After a number of weeks of calm, the upcoming stretch offers a chance to generate momentum — both positively or negatively — concerning the future.
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