GAINESVILLE — Appears March Insanity can possess two connotations: The Gator basketball staff’s looming pursuit of a nationwide title, and the orange-and-blue demographic’s collective angst over DJ Lagway’s throwing shoulder.
A couple of-fourth of Florida’s 15 permissible spring practices are within the books, and so far, Lagway nonetheless hasn’t been noticed throwing a ahead go. Whereas coach Billy Napier has tried to attenuate fan unrest over his sophomore quarterback’s shoulder with an optimistic tone, he has remained imprecise concerning the harm’s specifics and acknowledged on the outset of spring drills that second opinions have been sought.
Which implies hypothesis is more likely to proceed percolating as spring segues to summer time.
Listed below are some questions we nonetheless harbor — about Lagway and others — together with some observations we’ve made after 4 full practices.
4 observations
The rookie receivers already look the half.
OK, they’re solely 4 practices into their faculty careers, however in a small pattern measurement, the Gators’ nationally heralded crop of highschool signees — led by Dallas Wilson, Vernell Brown III and Naeshaun Montgomery — has proven the fleetness and physiques important for SEC-level soccer.
“I really feel just like the quickest one proper is (Brown),” junior security Jordan Castell stated following Thursday’s observe. “The dude’s bought like, a complete completely different twitch.”
Wilson, meantime, checked into spring observe at 6-foot-3, 209 kilos. “I believe there’s a humility there. There’s a selflessness there (with the group),” Napier stated.
“I believe they will deal with the workload. They present up, they’re blue-collar, they’re sturdy. … I believed they attacked the conditioning portion in Part 2; I used to be impressed with that. After which right here we go, we begin instructing soccer. There’s little question they’ve bought ability, however they’re younger. I believe there’s nonetheless some issues to study. However there’s undoubtedly a vibrant future there for that complete group.”
Tre Wilson now’s glossy and durable.
Wilson, coming off knee and hip surgical procedures final fall, stated his weight has elevated from 170 to 191 kilos, and it reveals. The third-year receiver, noticeably thicker within the higher torso and neck throughout his preliminary spring media look Thursday night, stated he “most undoubtedly” expects to be extra explosive following his procedures.
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“So even in warmups and every little thing, I’m feeling lighter, I’m feeling much more bouncy,” stated Wilson, whose breakout 2023 season included 61 catches and a team-high six landing receptions. “So the power employees is doing their factor.”
The offensive line shapes up as Napier’s greatest.
![All-American center Jake Slaughter is among four returning starters on Florida's offensive line in 2025.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 620 413"/%3E "All-American center Jake Slaughter is among four returning starters on Florida's offensive line in 2025.")
Maybe not coincidentally, this unit’s progress — from maligned to acclaimed — has paralleled that of their once-beleaguered head coach. After permitting 3.2 sacks a recreation in 2023, Florida advanced into the fifth-most improved unit within the nation in sack price in 2024 and improved its Professional Soccer Focus pass-blocking grade 14.2 factors, based on si.com.
4 starters — with 89 mixed faculty begins — return, with proper sort out Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson the one departure. Third-year sophomore Bryce Lovett, who began at proper sort out within the Gasparilla Bowl, is the projected substitute. Competitors for second-team spots is fierce.
“That is by far the deepest offensive line room that we’ve had since we’ve been right here,” Florida offensive line coach Rob Sale stated Tuesday. “We bought guys that may play.”
The secondary’s again finish is banged up.
The Gators entered spring drills with three sidelined defensive backs who mixed for 18 begins final season: Sharif Denson (foot), Aaron Gates (knee) and Bryce Thornton (ankle). Denson is anticipated to finally take part this spring on a restricted foundation; Gates isn’t.
“You’re going to see these rookies (at security) get a chance,” Napier stated. “And I believe Josiah (Davis), Greg (Smith), Lagonza (Hayward), Drake (Stubbs), I believe these 4 particularly … there’s an enormous alternative for them to take a ton of reps.”
4 questions
How involved ought to followers be over Lagway’s well being?
Arduous to say. Lagway’s arm appeared high quality three months in the past within the Gasparilla Bowl, and Napier has indicated the sophomore hasn’t required surgical procedure. However in his spring-opening tackle to reporters 9 days in the past, Napier stated his employees has “consulted with fairly a number of specialists right here from a UF Well being and from a nationwide perspective, as we do with a whole lot of our gamers by way of second opinions.”
Second opinions? Yikes. Meantime, Lagway has suited up for all 4 spring practices so far, although solely to take psychological reps and to name in performs throughout some staff intervals. Keep tuned.
Talking of quarterbacks, will Napier comb the portal for one more one?
It’s doubtless after final season, when a season-ending ACL harm to opening-day starter Graham Mertz, and Lagway’s hamstring harm halfway via the Georgia contest, left Napier and not using a confirmed faculty quarterback for a recreation and a half.
Yale switch Aidan Warner, who stepped in admirably (if not successfully) when Lagway went down, stays on the roster. Napier additionally introduced in graduate pupil Harrison Bailey, who performed sparingly at three earlier Division I faculties (Louisville, UNLV, Tennessee). 4-star freshman Tramell Jones, an early signee, is also in camp.
“I believe we all the time come out of spring with somewhat bit higher really feel for our staff,” Napier stated.
“I believe we’ll consider our staff, we’ll see the place we’re at. I’ve actually been happy with the three guys which can be taking reps proper now. Assume we’ve bought two good younger gamers, after which we’ve bought a man who’s performed a whole lot of ball, after which clearly DJ being again. We’ll know much more as soon as we get accomplished with spring observe.”
Who steps in at nostril guard?
The Gators misplaced 57 mixed tackles and almost 800 mixed kilos with the departures of Cam Jackson and Armwood Excessive alumnus Desmond Watson. Search for 355-pound sophomore Michai Boireau (15 tackles in 2024) to step in, with 399-pound freshman Stephon Shivers in camp as an early enrollee, although restricted proper now.
Any locals to displaying out?
Except for Tre Wilson (Gaither Excessive) and Dallas Wilson (Tampa Bay Tech), junior tight finish Tony Livingston (King) warrants watching after totaling 5 catches and two touchdowns in UF’s last two video games of 2024. Livingston checked on this spring at 6-foot-4 ¾, 260 kilos.
“Early on in his profession, he was getting in there after which he’d get harm and he’d come out,” tight ends coach Russ Callaway stated. “He by no means was constantly on the market. After which…proper about Recreation Six (in 2024), the accidents type of stopped, and Tony simply began taking off. And to be trustworthy with you, he’s solely gotten higher as nicely.”
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