The Florida Gators are off to one of their worst starts under head coach Billy Napier. In Week 1, they were dominated by the Miami Hurricanes, and in Week 3, they suffered another defeat to the Texas A&M Aggies. Napier’s current record at Florida stands at 12-16. Even Florida football legends like Emmitt Smith are weighing in on Napier’s future. Smith, who played for the Gators from 1987 to 1989 and ranks second in the program’s all-time rushing yards with 3,928, recently shared his thoughts on the “Up and Adams” show with Kay Adams. He expressed doubt that Napier would remain head coach beyond 2024. Kay Adams pointed out that Napier seemed confident about securing a fourth season in Gainesville, but Smith disagreed.
“We haven’t shown that we can compete at the level we need to,” Smith said. “It’s going to be a tough season to watch. If the coach is right and he gets a fourth year, good for him, but I don’t see it happening.”
Head coach Billy Napier has announced that Graham Mertz will start at quarterback for the Florida Gators in Week 4 against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. However, DJ Lagway, a former five-star recruit from the 2024 class according to On3 Industry Rankings, will also see action in both halves of the game. The Gators will face the Bulldogs on September 21, with kickoff scheduled for noon ET on ESPN.
