It kind of feels like the committee enjoys hogtying the Gators and then tickling their feet. Take a look at what Billy Napier had to deal with this season. They had to go up against 11 power conference teams, and in that list, Georgia, Texas, LSU, and Ole Miss came in. Wild. See, Billy Napier had his problems. Their QB scenario wasn’t “too good” and, in general, their WR room needs some changes. Then again, despite being a 5 loss team this year, Billy Napier somehow managed to make things work with whatever he had at his disposal, and the Gators ended the year with seven wins under their belt.

Maybe that’s why the committee has decided to put Napier on the pedestal again. Next season, the Gators are going to face off against Longhorns, Vols, Dawgs, LSU, and Ole Miss. Fresh off of a contract extension and still couldn’t catch a break. But fear not, Gators fan, because this time, you will have the perfect opportunity to chomp down on your opponents. “They’ve got to make a lot of strides and he’s gotta strike. He’s gotta strike in this portal while the iron’s hot, so to speak,” Dan Hicken pointed out on 1010XL: Gators. The good old transfer portal. With the disaster that unfolded this year with massive teams like Bama, Ole Miss, Hurricanes, and even South Carolina missing out on the playoff picture, many players have decided to transfer out.

Now, see, for Napier, he already has his QB situation figured out. The moment Graham Mertz was called off because of his ACL, DJ Lagway picked up the mantle just fine. This quarterback led the Gators to a 24-17 win over a team like Ole Miss. Mind you, the Rebels came off of a win against Georgia where Lane Kiffin managed to hold back the Dawgs to ONLY TEN POINTS.

What Napier needs is depth in the WR room. See, this season, Elijhah Badger and Chimere Dike were pretty much the crown jewel of the Gators’ rushing yards. The sad news is that their eligibility is up, and they are off to the NFL. This completely hollows out the entire WR strength.

That ain’t all. Their OT situation is a mess as well. Star players like Austin Barber are now eligible for the 2025 draft, so Napier has to pick out some new faces. Not all is bad, though, as Damieon George Jr. and Kamryn Waites are both coming back to play the role for the Gators, but more depth never hurt anybody. We do have some picks Napier could shoot for if he wants to build the perfect team around Lagway.

Best pick for Gators WR and OT depth

Focusing on WR first, Napier could eye Alabama’s loss. See, the Tide ended the year with a 9-3 run and 2 very disappointing games against Vandy and Oklahoma. With this, they lost their playoff spot and a chance for the SEC title conference. This has caused somewhat of an exodus from their roster. In a single day, 8 different players hit the transfer portal. From there, Napier could keep an eye out for Kendrick Law and Kobe Prentice. 

Both are massive players, and both saw their roles shrink a lot this season. We still don’t know what OC Nick Sheridan was even thinking, but it is what it is. For the OT role, Napier could go for Ethan Onianwa. Transferring out of Rice, Ethan was massive this season, allowing ONLY ONE SACK.

Another pick could be Hunter Zambrano from Illinois State. For the FBS level of play, this guy is perfect because of his size and length. When put on the left tackle, he could cover and provide a lot of protection. With all of this set, if Napier plays his cards right, Florida has a chance to have a massive run next year. With how Lagway has transformed the offense in just 3-4 games, we won’t be surprised if he manages to lead Gainesville to a natty.