Please Read: Welcome to the new-look Inside the Gators
- Florida Football Preseason Superlatives
- Notebook: Depth chart released
- Former Florida Football Player Roundtable I
- Post-Fall Camp Ranking of Florida position-by-position
With Florida’s 2026 season opener against Florida Atlantic just days away, Inside the Gators has turned to former Gators football players to get their take on the upcoming season and the state of Florida football.
We will publish the results as they are returned.
Today we have responses from tight end Jonathan Odom (2020-23), center Wyley Ritch (1994-97), and tight end Clifford Taylor IV (2019-20).
What is your take on what went wrong during the Billy Napier Era?
Odom: I think the issue started from the top down. I think coaches felt like they weren’t able to do their job freely, which then leaked into the players’ ability to do their jobs, all starting from the top. It built a lack of trust between players and coaches/coach because it seemed like the head coach didn’t have trust in his own coaches.
Ritch: I think he inherited a good team that had a really toxic locker room, from what I understand. He had to build it from the bottom up. I met the guy a couple of times and shook his hand. We went to his little talks and everything as a former Gator; seemed like a great guy. I really liked the guy. I think he just inherited a bad situation. NIL was starting up; from what I could see from outside looking in is he tried to keep his finger on everything. I guess you could call it micromanaging. As far as the NIL and the playcalling, that really hurt him. He was trying to run everything as a CEO. He was trying to run every little aspect instead of letting the people around him take care of it.
Taylor: There were just too many moments where it felt like we were our own worst enemy — whether it was play calling, game management, special teams, penalties, whatever it may be. And eventually those little things become big things not only within games in the SEC but apparently against USF too…We had lots of talent, but unfortunately we learned after the fact that he was stubborn in regards to the offense.
To this point, what is your opinion of Jon Sumrall?
Odom: I’ve been to two scrimmages this off-season. I like the intensity and the way he handles himself and runs practice. I can’t say for sure how I feel one way or another just because I haven’t met him personally, but my initial senses say that he seems like a good fit.
Ritch: I went to that closed practice they had. He gave a little talk to all the former Gators. Before that, there was another scrimmage; I went over there with Zac Zedalis. Seems like a positive guy. I think he’s inherited the program in a better space than Billy Napier did. Hopefully he’s not a micromanager and lets his coaches coach. He played in the SEC; he was a Kentucky player, and he knows what is expected in this conference. It’s a defensive conference. It’s offensive wise too, but I mean if you can’t shut someone down and they get on a roll, it’s over. It’s hard to catch up.
Taylor: He’s saying all the right things, definitely fired up to be here. I don’t want to get too excited until the games are played, but hearing him speak to us before the final scrimmage, I was like, ‘okay, he really WANTS to be here,’ and that’s refreshing. Meeting him and chopping it up a little bit was great too.
What are your thoughts on where Florida currently stands at your former position heading into the 2026 season?
Odom: I think for a little while now, after my freshman year when we had KP [Kyle Pitts], the TE position has been a sleeper position at Florida. But honestly, I think the TE room is one of the most steady. And it kind of seems like that now, maybe not a huge superstar, but guys who are gonna get the job done at a high level.
Ritch: The center they got there now, Harrison Moore transferred in from Georgia Tech. I believe he played two seasons for Georgia Tech. I think the experience is going to help him; I hope so. He’s 6-foot-4, 293 [pounds], a good-sized center; time will tell. He’s coming here to Florida, this is the SEC. I think the ACC is catching up, I mean Miami was great last year, they had a great defense. He’s got to see that kind of caliber of speed and size as well. I think he’s going to work out. I think it’s going to be a solid space for Florida, as long as he’s healthy. If Jason [Zandamela] must come in and back him up, how does he take it when he gets in there?
Taylor: Very glad Amir [Jackson] came back; heard and saw some good things from Heze [Kent] in the scrimmage, and Luke [Harpring] blocks pretty well from what I saw, but the offense as a whole was booming!
Is there a player on the team who you believe is flying under the radar but will shine this year? Is there a player you believe needs to step up?
Odom: I think Kahleil Jackson, if healthy, can be a huge producer. He has some of the best hands in route running abilities that I’ve seen when he’s fully healthy. I think for us to have a successful year. It’s not a single person that has to step up. It’s more of a position group, and I think it’s gonna be up to our offensive line. I think we are up for the tas,k though.
Ritch: Not really flying under the radar, but Dallas Wilson. Last year he got hurt, and we didn’t get to see much of him after the Texas game. The hometown guy Justin Williams, he was a really great player at Buchholz. Duke Clark, when I saw him in the scrimmage, he’s a big kid. Jadan Baugh and him have similar statures. Kind of reminds me of Errict Rhett and Fred Taylor. Those three guys, I’d say, are standing out.
All the seniors. Kamran James. I think Florida, in order to be successful, has to shut down the run. All the seniors on defense we got several. Bryce Thornton. Jaden Robinson. Those seniors have to step up and give our offense some time. I really think that if he [Kamran James] can get the team to come together and be a leader. That will be instrumental for Florida.
Taylor: Micah [Mays Jr.]. Calling it now, Micah’s gonna have a surprisingly explosive year. The depth we have at the wide receiver position, it should give DBs nightmares.
Florida faces five opponents – #3 Georgia, #5 Texas, #9 Ole Miss, #10 Oklahoma, and #25 Missouri – who are ranked inside the top 25 of the AP Preseason Poll. Which game do you believe they are most likely to win?
Odom: I would like to think we could win all of them, but I think the easiest game out of them all will be Missouri. I think we match up well against them and think we could dominate that game.
Ritch: Ole Miss. They play LSU right before they play us. They are mad at Lane Kiffin for leaving; they are going to be flying high. If LSU upsets them, it’s going to be hard for them to come into The Swamp and rebound against the Gators.
Taylor: I think the initial answer is Missouri, even though they’re always a trap game, and I think we’ll get Ole Miss. Oklahoma’s defense looks dangerous this year.
What is your prediction for Florida’s final 12-game regular-season record?
Odom: 8-4.
Ritch: 8-4, but if they beat Ole Miss in Gainesville, it could change. That would be huge.
Taylor: 8-4. The floor is 7 wins, ceiling I think is 10, but of course I would love 12-0.
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