Florida head coach Billy Napier met with the media after Tuesday’s spring scrimmage.
Billy Napier
Video courtesy GatorVision
Billy Napier began his press conference by talking about how the basketball team has a unique team chemistry that jumps off the screen when you watch them play. He is taking his sons to the Final Four in San Antonio on Saturday.
Napier said that they got a lot of good work in during Tuesday’s scrimmage, and they stayed healthy. He thought they started slow. knocking the cobwebs off, but in the second, third, and fourth quarters, they had good effort and were physical.
He thought that when the pocket was clean, the quarterbacks were effective. Napier singled out Aidan Warner, in particular, for doing a lot of good things. He thinks that UF has some legit pass rushers on defense. There were some tipped balls. If sacks were allowed (quarterbacks are in non-contact practice jerseys).
DJ Lagway played quite a few plays in the scrimmage, but did not throw the ball. Napier said that in general, Lagway is doing great. He played every play from behind the offense, standing back with Napier. They have been giving him some leadership assignments, allowing him to call plays.
He believes the backs, receivers, and tight ends made plays during the scrimmage. Hayden Hansen had a couple of aggressive plays. Said that Aidan Mizell‘s ability to run after the catch showed up (as we posted on our scrimmage report, he scored a touchdown off of a broken tackle). He said in general, there were a lot of good things with the offense on Tuesday.
One of the things that has impressed him about Ja’Kobi Jackson is that he has developed as a leader. He has earned everything he has been given. Went from the bottom of the depth chart to working his way into the rotation. Napier called him one of the better leaders on the team.
Napier said the linebacker group is impressive. Said that they were physical on Tuesday and made some plays. Talked about Jaden Robinson, moving from safety to linebacker. Makes all the players around him better. Aaron Chiles had some physical plays. Ty Jackson continues to flash.
When Grayson Howard gets back from injury, Napier considers his linebacker room one of the best in the country.
All the injuries at safety have forced Jordan Castell to play with a lot of different players, and that’s making him better.
When asked about the three new defensive assistants and how they are fitting in, he said that in general, the team didn’t start well during the scrimmage, but they settled into it. There’s a ton of experience in the system on the defensive staff.
He thinks the UF offensive line protected well for the most part. He called Jayden Woods a factor. He is very pleased with the progress Caden Jones and Fletcher Westphal have made. He said that they are coming into their own a little bit. Bryce Lovett is doing a great job.
The team lacked a little energy in the beginning, but it ramped up. There are a lot of things to clean up, but he thought the effort and attitude for 2/3 of the scrimmage were very good.
Tommy Doman‘s first punt of the day was a bomb. Napier said that he believes he will be very effective for Florida.
Cormani McClain is doing better here in year two. He also singled out Aaron Chiles and Fletcher Westphal as second-year players who have improved.
KD Daniels is getting better at pass protection and catching the ball. He has had some great days out there.
Napier called Saturday’s practice extremely competitive. The coaches challenged the team to raise their level, and they did. It came down to the last play with their scoring system they use.
He said that the offensive line is deeper as they’ve ever been and they are the best line they’ve had since they’ve been here.
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