Definitely. I hope he has some big wins down the stretch and turns the recruiting class around. He did build himself quite the hole though.
If they year hand not started the way it did the fire BN talk would be far less of an issue at this point. Side note. I thought last year about this time we had like a top 5 class until it blew up weeks before ESD. I may be a bit off on the timeline but it wasn’t 50th last year in late October.
Recruiting has changed with NIL. The top 10-15 classes are pretty much sewn up before the season even starts. If Napier finishes 6-6 and is retained, it will be difficult to get back in the top 20 and that will mostly have to come through the transfer portal, something that fans complained about vociferously when Mullen was coach. Even if he just squeaks by and is retained what are the recruits going to see? A guy that is on the razors edge of being fired. Maybe final year eligibility guys would be willing to play for him for a windfall. If he falls flat on his face next year out of the gate vs UM, we’ll be lucky to have a 50th rated recruiting class for 2026.
The beautiful thing is that with the transfer portal, you can easily turn the talent level around. We still need to recruit HS athletes, but in today’s game someone else can pay for it. Like Pup at Carolina…let the other teams pay for development.
You make good points. I would hope that Billy is no longer on that razors edge if he can pull off 3 credible wins in the back half of the season. Beating Ga alone would be huge but that’s a long shot. Beating LSU, Ole Miss, and ref$u to finish with 7 wins — do you think that would create enough stability in his job to salvage a solid recruiting class? Would you still want him gone?
Beating LSU, Ole Miss, and FSU to end the season should be enough to solidify Napier for next season and lure back some former commits or kids who had cooled on us. But with nearly all the top players signing in December these days, it seems very unlikely that any on the field turnaround will have enough time to sway enough recruits to have a class anywhere near where we expect it should be. Add the uncertainty from earlier concerning big donors and their faith in the direction of the program, and it's hard to guess what's going to happen. But I wouldn't be optimistic about the HS class this season based on your scenario. Beat UGA and Texas and that's the sort of statement--and maybe early enough to make a difference--recruits can't help but pay attention to. But lose to both and we're only 3 weeks from early signing day and that's not much time to change the narrative yet again.
Considering where our HS class is right now, I don't know how you recover with ~ 6 weeks out from signing day. Except (hopefully) for a gem or 2, it will probably be a donut year for HS recruits. Unfortunately our LOS recruiting has not been very good and that trend continues this year. I think it is possible to move into the top 20 when the portal season is done, but not into the top 10 where UF consistently needs to be and where it has not been. To be fair, however, if UF gets to 7 wins against this schedule then he should earn another year, but that means continued progress in 2025 against virtually the same schedule.
I’m afraid your right and recruiting is done with check books. We haven’t committed to our coach or class and that’s completely understandable. They gotta shit or get off the pot though because I’d guess flips cost even more. It’s not a good situation.
Unfortunately its pretty much out of UF's hands now. Even if they made the announcement today that Billy was coming back to coach next year, the fragility of his job status is already out in the web-o-sphere. Only time (and lots of winning can undo it now). Unfortunately, even if all positive things happen, this class is going to (already has) take some torpedos. Sadly the situation Napier finds himself in was so predictable and is one reason that I publicly worried on this forum about Billy's apparent lack of urgency.
At some point they either commit or fire ol boy. Then tge boosters can financially support whichever decision that is. Its bad now but its also in limbo.
I think its best just to stay silent vs. the dreaded "public display of support." Stricklin should have never agreed to that interview on the SEC Nation stage the morning of the UM game.
Silent is good but the boosters are probably in disarray as they cant move forward until it all unfolds. Its kinda a mess either way.
That’s what I figured when I saw it. This is a real bummer. Our secondary was finally coming together a bit.
