Know Your Foe: Florida Gators
2024 record: 0-1 - (L vs Miami, 41-17)
Head Coach: Billy Napier (3rd year)
Previous title: HC at Louisiana (2018-2021)
Last meeting: Florida W, 70-52 (2021)
TV: SECN+ / ESPN+
Kickoff: 7:00pmET/6:00pm CT
Fun Fact: Florida head coach Billy Napier played QB at Furman University from 1999-2002
Samford is back on the road this week after falling to West Georgia 38-29 in Carrollton, GA last week. West Georgia beat Samford in their first ever FCS contest and it just gets easier for Samford…right? Well of course not as Samford will head to the Swamp to take on the Florida Gators in their annual game against a Power Four foe.
Florida is coming off of a loss as well losing to in-state rival Miami at home. The Gator faithful already want head coach Billy Napier gone as Florida has one of the toughest FBS schedules in the entire country ahead of them. Napier said in his weekly press conference that he and his team are not listening to the outside noise, especially what “some guy in his basement is saying in rural central Florida on social media.”
Only one problem, houses in central Florida do not have basements.
Samford comes at a perfect time as a get-right game for Florida. Florida is paying Samford $525,000 to come down to Gainesville. No matter what is happening for Florida, it’s still an SEC opponent with SEC athletes.
There is a Samford connection with the Florida staff. Current Florida co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Russ Callaway, was on Samford’s staff for five seasons finishing as Samford’s offensive coordinator.
Napier did have some nice things to say about the Samford program and Chris Hatcher in his weekly press conference.
For the Florida offense, there is already a new wrinkle in week two of the season. Incumbent and week one starter Graham Mertz is officially in concussion protocol after suffering the injury against Miami. Napier announced on Wednesday that former five star, freshman DJ Lagway will get the start. The six-foot, 3-inch QB was the top quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class.
Lagway finished 3-6 with 31 passing yards and an interception when replacing Mertz against Miami. Florida does have plenty of other playmakers on offense.
Florida RB Montrell Johnson is back for his senior season. Johnson ran for 106 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown against Miami. He transferred over from Louisiana when Billy Napier took the Florida job.
WR Eugene Wilson III was the team’s leading receiver last week with 50 receiving yards. Wilson had 538 yards and six touchdowns last year. Former Arizona State transfer WR Elijhah Badger led the Sun Devils in receiving yards with 713.
It will be very interesting to see Lagway get his first career start and see if he could be the savior for this program.
On defense, Florida had considerable trouble containing Miami QB Cameron Ward. Ward threw for 385 yards and three touchdowns. Miami finished with 529 yards of total offense and averaged 7.7 yards per play.
Florida did replace three defensive coaches from 2023. 2023’s leading tackler, S Jordan Castell is back for Florida. South Carolina transfer sophomore LB Grayson Howard led Florida in tackles with nine total against Miami.
Florida also will be without three starters in the secondary due to injuries.
Across the defensive line sits nose tackle Desmond Watson who is listed at six-feet, five inches and 449 pounds.
Samford has a tall task ahead of them keeping the Florida defense on their heels in moving the ball down the field.
Florida did have trouble stopping the run last season as they ranked 79th in the country in 2023. The Gator defense gave up 144 rushing yards to Miami in week one. Samford will have to rely on Quincy Crittendon’s legs in a spot where the Gator defense is the weakest.
The Gators may finish near the bottom half of the SEC given their schedule but they are still an SEC team with SEC speed and SEC size. Samford will undoubtedly have their hands full with this football team. For those that are interested, Samford is 8-3 against the spread in their last 11 FBS games.
Samford will get their chance against Florida under the lights in one of the best atmospheres in all of college football. Last time it was a whole lot of fun for Samford in 2021, we can only wonder what this matchup has in store.
