LEAP OF FAITH: 2025 FLORIDA GATORS SEASON PREVIEW
Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway looks to lead the team to great heights in 2025. Photo courtesy of Alex Shepherd.
Written by Ian Gibson
In the middle of November this past season, the Florida Gators football team was firmly pointing south. Back-to-back losses from Georgia and Texas. Star QB Lagway injured. And ranked matchups against LSU and Ole Miss in the Swamp loomed mightily before finishing off with equally as miserable FSU. Everything was looking hopeless for an already exhausted fan base to finish off a losing season and begin hoping for a new coach. But then somehow… Florida won… all their remaining games. Including a commanding Gasparilla Bowl victory against Tulane. Now, with optimism in full swing and solid additions in recruiting, Florida and Billy Napier are finally looking to prove themselves and fulfill the hype of a potential dark horse candidate for the College Football Playoff. With that being said the optimism should be much more cautious as another buzz saw schedule awaits. And the Jekyll and Hyde performance of last season is still not in the rearview mirror. It will be a jump for the Gators. Either forward or off a cliff.
The emergence of DJ Lagway into the starting QB position was really a god send for the Gators last year. While far from perfect, Lagway made the big plays when it mattered. His deep accuracy is not only some of the best in the SEC, but the whole country. His elusiveness as well is something that can’t be coached. Lagway was able to avoid sure-fire sacks by pure strength and awareness. He showed he can make something out of nothing on certain plays, which will be critical to keep Florida from stalling on promising drives. Lagway did however fall into the freshman trap of forcing passes that resulted in interceptions. In order for him to make the next big jump, his decision making and finding the check down options will need to be a focus for him.
It should come as no surprise that entering this season, the running back room remains solid for Florida. Napier has had a way of putting together incredible backfields in his first three seasons in Gainesville, largely due to running back coach, Jabbar Juluke. Freshman breakout star Jaden Baugh really turned it on at the end of the year. He will now be looked at as the bell cow back after Montrell Johnson’s graduation. Baugh is a bruising running back who ran for 673 yards and 9 touchdowns last season, five of which came during the Kentucky game. Complementing him will be Ja’Kobi Jackson. The former JUCO transfer had 7 touchdowns last year and will be in solid rotation. His elusive and nimble frame will be utilized to weave through blocks to complement the passing attack. Finally for running backs is Treyaun Webb. Webb had a good freshman year but his sophomore campaign was derailed by injuries. Now healthy he will be fighting for more snaps. A true speedster if he remains healthy, he will make up a deadly running back trio for the Gators. KD Daniels will fill in when called upon.
Wide receiving corp depth will be tested this year. Eugene ‘Tre’ Wilson, when healthy, was a deadly receiving threat for the offense. However, he only played 4 games last season. If he is back to 100 percent, Wilson should pick up where he left off with his separation game against defenders and hauling in passes. He saw limited time with DJ, so hopefully their connection starts to blossom in 2025. Helping Tre will be J. Michael Sturdivant, an under the radar transfer from UCLA. Averaging 14 yards a reception he is an absolute specimen of a tall wide receiver. His 6 foot 3 inch frame will bully corners and safeties off the block and with his height he will be able to snag the hard to catch passes. He will be looking to putting up higher output than his time at UCLA and has every chance to become a breakout star. Outside of Wilson and Sturdivant, the rest of the depth chart will need to step up. There are still promising options such as Aiden Mizell, who already caught two touchdown passes last season, and Tank Hawkins, will look to take advantage of more playing time. Promising prospects such as Vernell Brown (Gator legacy), Naeshaun Montgomery, TJ Abrams, and the real jewel of the Gators last recruiting cycle, Dallas Wilson, who will be looking to help round out the receiving room. The biggest test will be how well these receivers can rise to the moment and take advantage of the extra snaps given to them.
Expect another solid year from the tight end room, including Hayden Hansen, Tony Livingstone and potentially Amir Jackson, who saw limited action due to a redshirt season. Napier utilizes two tight end sets quite often and you will likely see all three getting plenty of game time.
Offensive line is by far the best it’s been under Napier coming into this season. Every starter returns including pre-season all SEC Jake Slaughter who will anchor the veteran line with Austin Barber and Damieon George. With the experience and consistency, they will be the engine that gets the offense up and running.
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Defense was once again hit or miss last season. Florida finished 15th in total team defense in the SEC. They have not had a top five defense in the SEC since 2019. Playing devil’s advocate though, the defensive stats are skewed due to the terrible losses to Miami, Texas A&M, and Texas. But therein lies the problem. Far too many games where the defense was outgained and most importantly, outscored. Towards the November revival, the defense began to settle down, with a bend don’t break mentality.
A lot of that was due to the increase in takeaways from the secondary. Safety Bryce Thornton led the way collecting three interceptions. Also returning are stand outs Jordan Castell and Devin Moore, that highlight the secondary. The more takeaways the better. At the very least, coverage will need to be more lock down in a similar way to how it was deployed in the Ole Miss game, likely their best performance in years. Cormani McClain is set for big 2025 after gaining several pounds of muscle this past offseason. Dijon Johnson returns hoping to build on his output from last season. Stud nickelback Aaron Gates has recovered from his ACL injury and looks to pick up where he left off. Incoming freshmen Drake Stubbs and Lagonza Hayward, will push for playing time.
The real strength on defense will be the defensive line. Tyreak Sapp was an absolute menace last season. Recording seven sacks and 13 tackles for loss. He will continue to be a disruptor against the opposing o-line. Right behind him is George Gumbs Jr. While more well known for planting the UF flag against Florida State, Gumbs collected 5 sacks and 35 total tackles. Jamari Lyons returning after missing all of last year and Caleb Banks will solidify a dangerous defensive line. Jayden Woods is pushing for playing time in fall camp.
The linebacking corp will be looking to take another step this season. Losing Shemar James will hurt. But Grayson Howard and Gainesville native Myles Graham will be looking to take advantage of starting reps. Both combined for 67 tackles last season. Jaden Robinson will be filling in the 3rd slot. Aaron Chiles will see plenty of playing time as well. If the defense wants to improve, protecting the middle of the field will be critical.
Make no mistake, this is the best Florida team Billy Napier has had. It’s now time for him to prove it. Play calling now will be under an even bigger microscope. With all of this talent Napier has no excuse to put them in the best position to win. The one sticking point, however, is again a brutal schedule. There are very few sure fire wins to be seen. The real telling point of this year will be how they do against teams of similar talent. It’s crazy to say but losing four games could be viewed as a success considering the teams they will have to compete with. How, and more importantly, to who those potential losses come from, will be telling in what the temperature gauge is like in Gainesville. Napier proved everybody wrong at the end of last year. Now he must do it again and show that Florida is going north not south.
Ian’s Record Prediction: 7-5
Chris’ Record Prediction: 9-3
