Around the SEC: Florida's Billy Napier Admits 'Mistakes' Were Made In Debut Season

Florida head coach Billy Napier admitted that his first season with the Gators didn't go as well as he hoped it would.

During SEC Media Days this week, Billy Napier was asked about how he thought his first season with Florida went. He admitted it last season wasn't exactly pretty.

The Gators finished the 2022 season 6-7, ending it with a brutal 3-30 loss to Oregon State in the Las Vegas Bowl. Napier admitted during his press conference at SEC Media Days that mistakes were made in his first season at the helm of head coach, but that was something he expected nonetheless.

“We made mistakes but, heck, we knew were going to going in,” said Napier regarding his first season as the Gators head coach.

The Billy Napier era for Florida began on September 3 of last year, when the Gators beat a then No. 7 ranked Utah, 29-26, in Gainesville. However, that win would end up being their only ranked win of the season.

The Gators, who were ranked as high as No. 12 after their win against Utah, would go on a downward spiral the rest of the way, losing six of their next twelve games during the regular season.

Entering the new season, Napier will have to name a new starting quarterback after last year's starter, Anthony Richardson, was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Luckily for him, the Gators landed transfer quarterback Graham Mertz from Wisconsin and he will be bringing his experience with him to a Florida team that will see seven starters from last season returning.

Florida opens its season on the road against Utah on Aug. 31, with Napier having the chance to beat Utah in back-to-back seasons.