Florida head coach Billy Napier was thrown a life raft by athletic director Scott Stricklin on Thursday when he ended speculation about a coaching change by publicly committing to Napier’s return next season.
“UF’s commitment to excellence and a championship-caliber program is unwavering,” Stricklin said in his statement. “In these times of change across college athletics, we are dedicated to a disciplined, stable approach that is focused on long-term sustained success for Gator athletes, recruits and fans.
“I am confident that Billy will meet the challenges and opportunities ahead. We will work alongside him to support any changes needed to elevate Gator football. As college athletics evolves, UF is committed to embracing innovation and strategy, ensuring the Gators thrive in today’s competitive landscape.”
Napier has the Gators at 4-4 entering this week but there’s tough sledding ahead in the SEC with games against No. 5 Texas, No. 14 LSU, No. 16 Ole Miss and the annual rivalry game with Florida State remaining. Napier is 15-18 as Florida head coach and was hired before the start of the 2022 season to replace Dan Mullen.
There are complications for Florida parting with Napier now because the university is operating without a president, and the head coach has a buyout of $20 million.
Florida faces the Longhorns in Austin on Saturday, and the Gators are getting walk-on Aidan Warner ready to make the start because of injuries to Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway.
Lagway left last week’s loss to Georgia and was replaced by Warner, a transfer from Yale. The freshman completed 7 of 22 passes with an interception and was sacked twice.
“I think he’s gotten a little better each day,” Napier said of Warner’s progress. “I think he’s gotten a little more comfortable. He’s obviously taking a few more reps than he normally does.”
The Gators are giving Lagway, who is returning to his home state of Texas, every opportunity to bounce back from a hamstring injury. After being carted off the field against Georgia, Lagway watched the second half from the sideline propped up by crutches.
Asked for an update Wednesday, Napier said Lagway’s situation is “obviously touch and go. Look, the guy’s giving it his best shot.”
But he practiced in what Napier classified as a “limited” capacity on Wednesday and Napier maintained his statement earlier in the week that the leg injury is “less significant” than the team feared.
Mertz is out for the season with a left knee injury. He shared the reps with Lagway before a ligament tear in a loss to Tennessee last month ended his college career.
Saturday would be the fourth college football appearance for Warner. He did not play as a freshman at Yale and is considered a redshirt freshman after compiling 24 career touchdowns at Winter Park (Fla.) high school.
A five-star recruit who starred at Willis, Texas, Lagway had 58 TD passes as a senior and left high school with 129 total touchdowns (100 TD passes). He was the 2023 National Gatorade Player of the Year, 2023 Bobby Dodd National Back (High School Heisman) of the Year, 2023 MaxPreps Player of the Year, 2023 Elite 11 National High School Quarterback of the Year, 2023 National Quarterback Club High School Quarterback of the Year.
Lagway completed 2 of 6 passes for 47 yards and a TD last week and four rushing attempts for 18 yards before he left the game. He is 56 of 92 for 1,071 yards passing with six touchdowns and five interceptions this season. Lagway rushed for 114 yards on 37 carries.
Sophomore wide receiver Eugene Wilson III is also out for the season, Napier said. Wilson, the son of former Illinois safety and 2023 Patriots second-round pick, had hip surgery on Tuesday and faces a four-month recovery. Wilson had 19 receptions for 266 yards and a touchdown this season.