Gators Will Be ‘Dependent on Young Players’ in 2023

With an exodus of contributors from last year and an influx of new faces, Florida will rely heavily on young players at multiple positions.

Photo: Ja'Keem Jackson; Credit: Zach Goodall 

When Billy Napier first took the reins of the Florida football program, it was clear to him that his roster would go through major attrition, thus creating opportunities for younger players to see the field early and often.

Since kickoff of his first season, Florida saw 28 total players enter the transfer portal including 12 with starting experience. Additionally, the Gators will have to replace a plethora of veterans who made the move to the NFL. 

As a result, the Gators will rely heavily on young talent in 2023.

“I do think that we're just young, and I think that two-deep is made up of rookies or portal players,” Napier said in an Aug. 19 press conference. “But I think we've got a very capable group. I think there's some height, length, speed that's maybe there that wasn't there before."

That length and speed are especially evident at wide receiver.

To fill the void left by the departures of Justin Shorter to the NFL and transfers of Trent Whittemore, Xzavier Henderson and Daejon Reynolds, Napier will look to a trio of true freshmen and a rising second-year receiver.

Namely, freshmen Eugene Wilson III, Aidan Mizell and Andy Jean will look to be in the rotation early and often as each brings tremendous speed and can extend the passing attack vertically – something that has been lacking in the room the last two years.

“I think the young receivers, in particular, are adding a dimension to our team. I think we've seen some players emerge and improve,” Napier said. “I've been very pleased with that and I think we're making progress in that area."

Specifically, Napier has noted that Jean clocked running 22.5 miles per hour, while Mizell, the son of former UF track stars Ebony Robinson and Wil Mizell, ran a personal best of 10.65 seconds in the 100-meter dash in high school.

Meanwhile, Wilson spent the first portion of fall camp in a black non-contact jersey but was able to shed it as camp progressed. That being said, Napier noted that Wilson, who was recently named to On3’s Preseason True Freshman All-American Team, turned a corner once he was healthy.

“I think Trey, in particular, really cut it loose,” Napier said at an Aug. 7 press conference. “He's kind of had some soft tissue issues to start camp so I think his presence was known out there last night. I think he'll make our team better.”

All three have also been in the mix to become the team’s punt and kick returner.

Sophomore Caleb Douglas is also expected to be heavily involved in the passing game this year after an up-and-down freshman season. In eight appearances, including two starts, Douglas caught 10 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns and is expected to be one of the two starters on the outside. 

He will have to improve on his struggles with consistently catching the football, but his spring emergence seems to show that the problem has been addressed.

Other young faces on offense that will play major roles are true freshman Knijeah Harris at guard, where he earned first-team reps throughout spring and parts of fall camp; Arlis Boardingham at tight end and Treyaun Webb at running back, with the latter appearing to be the team's third back following Cam Carroll’s season-ending injury.

On the other side of the ball, Florida had just as much attrition from the previous year, especially at defensive back.

Trey Dean III’s and Rashad Torrence II’s departures left the Gators without experienced starters at safety, and a multitude of outgoing transfers at corner and safety eliminated depth behind Jason Marshall Jr., Devin Moore and Jalen Kimber. As a result, a group of early enrollees will look to fill that depth.

“We’re living in the era of college football where a rookie’s gotta play. A free agent’s gotta play. Whether it’s portal or a high school player,” Napier explained. “You’ve gotta coach your systems in a way where a first-year player can contribute and make a major difference in your team. I think getting them in here in January is the first step in that.” 

At safety, sophomores Kamari Wilson and Miguel Mitchell are expected to start with Michigan transfer RJ Moten providing veteran experience. With them, early enrollee Jordan Castell has impressed coaches and is expected to be an early contributor at safety.

At corner, Ja’Keem Jackson, who joined Wilson on the On3 Preseason Freshman All-American Team, has solidified himself as an early contender to be in the rotation. Meanwhile, summer enrollee Dijon Johnson and early enrollee Aaron Gates, who spent all of the spring recovering from a knee injury, spent fall camp catching up to their teammates.

“DD (Johnson) would be the one guy who’s doing additional work, extra walks, extra meets. That’s the benefit of training camp, no time restrictions,” Napier said. “A guy like him, he’s able to do the extra.”

Johnson already made a name for himself after he reportedly returned two interceptions back for touchdowns in his first practice and is poised to see the field early and often.

Up front, depth issues have previously plagued the Gators’ defensive line, but with transfer additions and another group of early enrollees, that appears to be a thing of the past. This is especially the case on the outside.

“I think we're probably a deeper group,” Napier said. “We're taller, we're longer. Across the board, on the inside and on the edge, we have more capable players. It's very competitive.”

On the edge, the Gators took hits following Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr.’s transfer after the spring game and Justus Boone’s season-ending ACL injury during the first fall scrimmage. 

As a result, another trio of true freshmen and another second-year player have opportunities to make immediate impacts, even if that means they go through some growing pains.

“I would like to know if there's a better group of young edge players in the country,” Napier said. “You think about Kelby [Collins], Kamran [James], TJ [Searcy], Jack's [Pyburn] a young player. I think that room there, we're just gonna have to live with growing pains if that makes sense.”

On the inside, redshirt freshman transfer Caleb Banks, standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 323 pounds, provides much-needed length alongside Desmond Watson and fellow transfer Cam’Ron Jackson. Sophomore Chris McClellan, who played in every game last year, and early enrollee Will Norman round out the rotation on the inside.

“So the transfers help inside and I think the young players on the edge will make a difference,” Napier said. “We’re going to be dependent on young players this year. But I think we got good ones.” 

Although the experience on the depth chart is lacking, the young, unproven talent will be crucial for Florida to have any success in 2023 and beyond. The young Gators will have their first test when the Gators face Utah at 8 p.m. EST on Aug. 31.

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