Billy Napier’s Florida Offense is complimented by DJ Lagway: “He Recognizes His Roles”
Despite numerous social media reports suggesting UF will employ a new offensive play-caller in the first few days of the team’s offseason, Lagway, the quarterback and top recruit in Florida’s 2024 class, expects Gators head coach Billy Napier to continue in his role.
“Coach Napier will call the plays, as far as I’m aware,” Lagway informed reporters on Friday during the Under Armour All-America Game media day.
After Florida fired defensive assistants Sean Spencer and Corey Raymond and reassigned director of strength and conditioning Mark Hocke earlier in December, Napier who also coaches quarterbacks for the University of Florida suggested that offensive operational changes might be taken into consideration during the Early Signing Period.
In order to boost a team that finished the previous season at No. 9 in the Southeastern Conference in terms of scoring (28.4 points per game), Napier wasn’t sure at the time whether changes to the offensive coaching staff would be required, such as adding an independent play-caller.
“We’ll have to find out. As we previously indicated, we’re currently in the midst of it,” Napier stated on December 20 in reference to his assessment of Florida’s offensive personnel. “We’re going to go through — it’s one box at a time here, right?”
Rob Sale, the offensive line coach at the University of Florida, is officially the offensive coordinator for Florida. His contract with the institution expires on January 31, 2024. Thus, too, are the contracts of co-offensive line coach Darnell Stapleton and running backs coach Jabbar Juluke, who were both hired as part of Napier’s first-ever Gators coaching staff.
Lagway thinks his development is in good hands, regardless of whether Napier keeps these assistants and the Gators’ current offensive strategy.
He’s been brought to Florida by Napier and Co. since March 2022, and for the last two seasons at UF, he’s had a front row seat to watch both Graham Mertz’s effective play and Anthony Richardson’s first-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.
He seems to be able to alter things. About Napier’s versatility as a playcaller, Lagway said, “It’s not like it was when Anthony Richardson and Graham Mertz played.” He is familiar with his athletes.Therefore, I believe that he may adjust it to the quarterback’s advantages and drawbacks, unlike when he fits a glove.”
Richardson’s explosive agility was a key component of Napier’s three-headed rushing assault in 2022, as he combined with Trevor Etienne and Montrell Johnson Jr. to amass over 2,200 yards with 25 touchdowns on the ground. Taking use of Richardson’s strong arm, Napier set up a vertical passing scheme that was sixth-highest among the 82 qualifying FBS passers that season with an average target depth of 11.5 yards, according to Pro Football Focus.
After transferring from Wisconsin in the offseason, where he started three seasons, Mertz had a breakout year under Napier. With a 72.9% completion percentage, 2,903 yards, and 20 touchdowns in 2023, he threw just three interceptions and set single-season records.
“[Napier is] adjusting for the players instead of letting the player adjust to his system,” said Lagway. “That’s what I like about it.”
The Willis (Texas) High class of 2024 student will be the first unanimous five-star quarterback to enroll at Florida since Jeff Driskel in 2011, thus all eyes will be on the offense Napier designs for Lagway in his eventual orange and blue debut.