Since being introduced as the Florida head football coach on December 5, 2021, Billy Napier has managed to turnover roughly 54% of the Gators’ roster.
This rapidly changing figure will continue to rise in the coming weeks as more players enter into the transfer portal, declare for the NFL Draft, or simply graduate. In fact, more players have already opted out of the bowl game since I began my research last week! This exercise isn’t about exactitudes though (please forgive the pre-opt out screenshots including Shorter and Ventrell Miller on the roster), it is to demonstrate just how much roster churn Billy Napier has created in only a little over one year on the job.
In the transfer portal era, a process which used to take several years can be completed within a matter of a season or two. Napier inherited a program on the downswing and did his best to steady the ship through a roller-coaster season. Some of the Gators’ top performers were brought in by Napier last offseason and a solid 2023 recruiting class is about to receive backup from a potentially elite 2024 recruiting class, which is off to a fast start after the commitment of QB DJ Lagway.
Though the program will remain under construction for at least another couple of years, help is certainly on the way.
There are some position groups from 2021 which have experienced either 100% or close to 100% turnover just one year into the Napier era at Florida.
I’ve also included the 2021 transfer players’ production at their next stop. Based on the data, it seems that most players do not necessarily flourish with their new team and those considering entering into portal may want to think twice before leaving.
2021 Offense
The entire quarterback room has turned over since Napier took over last December.
Emory Jones and Carlos Del Rio-Wilson transferred out of the program before the season. Jalen Kitna was dismissed from the team after a recent arrest.
Anthony Richardson flashed at moments, but struggled with consistency as the only starter at QB in Napier’s first year. His measurables and high-points were enough to allow the Gainesville native to declare for the 2023 NFL Draft and opt out of the Las Vegas Bowl meaning a new starting QB will lead the Gators into Utah to open the 2023 season.
Much like the quarterback room, all running backs who have significantly contributed on the field from the 2021 roster have since departed. Only Joseph remains.
Bowman transferred to UCF where he had little impact.
Wright and Lingard were expected to play a role this season, but Lingard barely saw the field and Wright’s role slowly evaporated as true freshman Travis Etienne and Louisiana transfer Montrell Johnson separated themselves from the pack.
Copeland transferred and Wells graduated after last season.
Whittemore was an unsurprising entrant into the portal after this season, but Daejon Reynolds, a player who would likely have a substantial role if he were to stick around, plans to transfer as well.
Add Justin Shorter to the list of departures – he has since declared for the NFL Draft and will skip with bowl game.
Xzavier Henderson took a step forward this season hauling in 38 receptions for 410 yards and 2 TD before dealing with injuries late.
Fraziers, Weston, Pouncey, and Burke have had little impact.
The Gators would have benefited from Gamble staying put. Tight End was a mixture of misfits and youth this past season.
Other than a few nice highlights, Zipperer was not a major factor.
Wilcox suffered a season-ending injury in the spring and Odom showed up late in the season after Zipperer was injured.
The offensive line was a strength for the 2022 Gators.
Rob Sale and Darnell Stapleton did a great job in developing the group into one of the better run blocking units in the SEC.
This was one of the few groups which experienced a relatively stable transition from the Mullen to Napier regimes.
2021 Defense
Carter, Newkirk, Valentino, and Truesdell were on their way out after 2021 regardless of who was coaching the Gators.
Goods transferred before last season.
Lee saw his snaps decrease throughout the season in favor of true freshman Chris McClellan.
Zanders and McDowell were each moved to tight end. Zanders managed to carve out a role while McDowell never did and has since announced his intent to transfer.
Thomas was – allegedly – kicked off the team and brought back on over the summer. Both he and Humphries had little impact.
Dexter is headed to the pros, but will play in the bowl game.
Umanmielan, Watson, Boone, and Sapp played expanded roles this season and should be counted on next season.
Two of the more successful transfer portal case studies come from the 2021 linebacker group. Diabate helped Utah win a Pac=12 title and Hopper was productive for Mizzou.
Black and Borders have found their way to the portal.
Burney and Miller are graduating – Miller has since opted out of the bowl meaning Derek Wingo and Scooby Williams will be the only remaining linebackers from Mullen’s final team.
Moon graduated and went to the the NFL after last season. Meeks was a grad transfer from Akron playing out one final year at Florida.
Cox was dismissed after the Georgia game and has since declared for the NFL Draft.
Reese and Summerall have entered their names into the transfer portal.
Keeter was part of the group of misfits moved to tight end.
Powell-Ryland Jr. was the only significant contributor this season who is set to return next year.
Another position group with little to no depth in Napier’s first season.
Marshall has been a steady presence.
Hill returned from injury with mixed results. Helm has hit the portal.
Pouncey, Perkins, and Young were not major contributors this season.
Dean is set to play in his final game against Oregon State meaning only Johnson and Torrence are scheduled to return next season.
McDaniel and Graham left the team before the 2022 season.
McMillon, Collier, Wilcoxson have entered the portal after contributing little this season.
2021 Specialists
Punter Jeremy Crawshaw has been a steady force since assuming the punting duties last season.
Last season’s kicking woes were not resolved in Napier’s first season. Whether it’s Smack or an answer from the portal, Mihalek needs to be challenged this offseason.
Ortiz has committed to Nebraska after missing most of the 2022 season at Florida. Underwood should be back next season.
What does this mean for the 2023 Gators?
Expect a continued mix of youth and transfers to fill in while Napier works to build something resembling the machine in Tuscaloosa.
Heading into the offseason, Florida faces uncertainty across several different position groups and it’s not realistic to expect the depth equation to be resolved over night meaning the 2023 Gators will be extremely vulnerable to one or two key injuries.
There will be some element of a revolving door with players entering into the transfer portal, but the best programs in college football do not build through the transfer portal.
- Georgia has only taken on 8 transfers in the last three cycles (and two were QBs who couldn’t win the starting job – average 2.7 per cycle).
- Ohio State has only taken on 6 transfers in the last three cycles (average 2 per cycle).
- Alabama has taken on 13 transfers in the last three cycles (average 4.3 per cycle).
So, less focus on what Napier is bringing in through the portal and more focus on what’s coming in from the high school ranks will be key. Can a critical piece be picked up through the transfer portal? Absolutely, but it’s more of an exception than the rule. There are many more JT Daniels/Arik Gilbert type stories than anything resembling the Joe Burrow fairy tale at LSU.
After a frustrating season on the field, the degree to which the roster has turned over in such a short amount of time may go down as the biggest accomplishment in year one of the Billy Napier era.
CGator
Every transfer tells us more about the failure of Mullen as a recruiter. The roster hole Napier found himself in now seems deeper than anyone realized at the time. So far he seems to be doing a good job of rebuilding the talent level. The downside is that barring several spectacular transfer successes, and/or Miller (the assumed starter) having a special season, next year the Gators will be a very young team working more on development than challenging Georgia in the East.
Tiffany
The flip side to this article is that it could be a sign that Napier isn’t developing talent. For example, I figured Shorter would take a leap this year, and he seemed to go downhill. Is it that the poorly productive guys are transferring out, or is the long list of poor productivity is a sign of poor player development? I honestly do not know, and only time will tell, but that was the first thing that jumped out to me was all of the highly sought after recruits who flopped.