Gators Football’s Napier Amped By Team’s Depth

The annual Orange and Blue Football Spring Game has officially come and gone. In addition to a celebration of the 2025 NCAA National Champion Gators Basketball team, a high scoring 38-32 Blue squad victory made those in attendance happy. While there was much intrigue for the fans, head coach Billy Napier saw a different source of excitement: the roster depth for next season.

Offensive Battle Brings Surprises

While the main focus prior to the game’s start was the QB2 battle, the key headline after 60 minutes of football was the future offense’s versatility and options to produce points. Both teams had offensive spotlights, with each featuring different stories and expectations heading into the game.

For the Orange, all the talk was about a prolific effort from five-star recruit Dallas Wilson’s debut donning the Gators uniform. The No. 2 wide receiver in the Class of 2025 exploded with 10 receptions for 195 yards and two touchdowns and was far and away Harrison Bailey’s favorite target. By nearly eclipsing the double century mark, the Tampa native tied the record for most receiving yards in Florida Spring Game history, set by Trevon Grimes in 2019.

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The Tampa native’s biggest supporter was Billy Napier, who raved about his play.

“He made some plays and not all those were routine. I thought some of those were really impressive” Napier said. “He’s a big, physical player…I’ve been impressed with his football intelligence, how he’s been able to retain information…you don’t produce like that today unless you’re been really working hard.”

Another bright spot was on the other sideline in Ja’Kobi Jackson, who had an outstanding day in his own right. Jackson went nuclear for 198 yards and three touchdowns on simply 10 carries. The redshirt senior running back turned heads last year with solid performances against Georgia and Florida State and it looks like those outings were only the beginning. Fueled by a chance to nab some carries from rising star Jadan Baugh, Jackson was one of the best (if not the best) to touch the field on Saturday.

Billy Napier also commented on the future of the RBs room and the two-headed monster of Baugh and Jackson.

“I thought that Ja’Kobi and Jadan both played fast. I thought they were decisive. They were productive last year and I think they’re even better a year into it.”

With 831 total yards between the two teams and 67 points scored, the future is shining bright for the Gators offensive unit.

Young Stars Show Defensive Prowess

On the other side of the ball, there was much to like from Billy Napier’s viewpoint, especially on the Blue side. Although a rough second half from the Blue defense closed the gap, they started the game by only giving up seven points heading into halftime. Some of the best moments of the dominant first half came from one of the young guns on Florida’s roster.

Freshman safety Drake Stubbs was stellar in the first half, picking off Harrison Bailey and saving extra yards through a shoestring tackle on running back Duke Clark. Stubbs’ speed and instincts were that of a veteran and were crucial for the aforementioned highlights alongside eight tackles by the game’s end.

Drake Stubbs with the pick.

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Napier was a massive proponent of the young standout’s blend of physicality and agility:

“I thought Stubbs was really active. He’s got a knack for finding the ball. He continues to evolve in terms of knowing the system, but in general, physical player, not scared of contact, seeks it out…he’s not scared to put his face in there. He will continue to grow and evolve.”

The overall depth from the Blue defense was a surprising sight as well, considering that the Orange team had a significant advantage via a bevy of veterans. The fourth year head coach was especially delighted with the play of the incoming class, admiring how they stepped up amidst injuries.

“The Blue defense I thought you can see the depth difference. So we’re without a few there and I think that those are difference-makers…The good thing is those young players, like we mentioned before, [Drake] Stubbs, Lagonza [Hayward], Ty Jackson, Jeremiah McCloud, Stephon Shivers, Jayden Woods. There’s a bunch of freshman that have been in that two-deep and we’ve seen those guys grow and benefit from the injuries.”

Next Step for Florida Football

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The coup de grace of the Spring camp for football has passed and the next big event on the calendar is the start of June Organized Team Activities, ramping up to the start of the season. Many questions remain unanswered, including the full injury status of DJ Lagway, who will earn the backup QB spot, and how much playing time the incoming freshmen will get. What is certain is that there’s a multitude of talent that will touch the field in the years to come.