The opportunity was right in front of Florida to ignite its football fanbase, who has eagerly waited over four years for a glimpse of success.
By the time the game clock struck zeros in the Gators’ matchup against Miami, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium was nearly empty and head coach Billy Napier’s team was already headed back to the drawing board.
Regardless of whether Florida lost by 100 points and looked subpar against the Hurricanes, or showed signs of promise in a one-point loss, the Gators would still be (0-1) with one of the hardest schedules in the nation at the end of the day.
Napier knows the need for UF to improve is evident, but how the Gators go through their preparation and the improvements they make along the way will play a large role in the product they put on the field moving forward.
“I do think that we have better football in us,” Napier said. “I think our players feel that way. We’ve got a lot of football ahead of us and I think ultimately we’ll prove over time that we can play better than that… We’ll have our opportunity to do that next week.”
It’s hard to pinpoint just one thing that went wrong for Florida in its season opener. From a pair of roughing the passer penalties that led to Miami touchdowns, to a 1-for-9 third down conversion rating, the mistakes were plentiful.
However, there may just be a few things that could steer Florida away from its fourth consecutive losing season while reassuring Gator fans that Napier could be the right guy for the job.
Freshman quarterback DJ Lagway shows rapid progression
Lagway received high praise from both teammates and coaches after replacing redshirt senior quarterback Graham Mertz, who left the game in the third quarter with a concussion. Nevertheless, it wasn’t a flawless effort from Lagway, who finished the game just 3-for-6 with an interception.
The nerves of a five-star recruit who just had the keys of the program handed to him would undoubtedly be amplified no matter the situation, let alone in a massive in-state rivalry game that comes with a rich history.
Lagway’s raw talent is no secret in Gainesville, and it won’t be long until he has another opportunity to put it on display. The true freshman will likely make his first start as a Gator next week while Mertz remains in concussion protocol.
If the former Gatorade National Football Player of The Year can break onto the scene and show a similar skill set that slated him as the No. 1 quarterback recruit in his class, Florida could be looking at its next star quarterback. Moreover, one that could turn the narrative of the program around faster than anyone could have expected.
“He’s a guy that does things the right way,” senior wide receiver Chimere Dike said. “He works super hard [and] obviously super talented as well so I wasn’t surprised to see him moving on this path of success.”
Improvement within the trenches
Controlling the line of scrimmage has been a staple for success throughout the history of the SEC. To be a quality program in one of college football’s elite conferences, it’s crucial to have the big bodies up front to both create time and space offensively, and generate pressure defensively.
Florida heavily struggled in these two areas against Miami, and if the execution in the trenches doesn’t improve, it will be incredibly difficult for Florida to execute its gameplan at a high level for the remainder of 2024.
The Gators’ offensive line allowed three sacks Saturday and was unable to create many holes in the running game outside of senior running back Montrell Johnson’s 71-yard touchdown run.
If UF’s offensive line can’t give Lagway the ample time needed to make plays with his arms and legs, it will be merely impossible for the Gators to show any signs of momentum, both offensively and in the win-loss column.
Florida struggled to put any pressure on Miami senior quarterback Cam Ward, accumulating just one sack in the game. Some of the defense’s most costly mistakes came at the hands of its most reliable players.
Redshirt junior Justus Boone was primed to be a difference maker this season, but had far from his best game against the Hurricanes. If Florida’s defensive front is going to reach the level needed to be a difference maker this season, it will be pivotal for Boone to step up in a huge way and come through with the breakout campaign many were expecting.
Senior cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. lives up to five-star status
The buzz around Marshall Jr.’s potential as a defensive back at UF has been a continuous talking point throughout his collegiate career.
After admitting this offseason that there were points last season where he lost his confidence, Marshall Jr. entered 2024 with a fresh state of mind and seemed prime to finally live up to the high praise he was given coming out of high school.
Struggles within Florida’s secondary have recurred throughout Napier’s tenure at UF. If the Gators go another season allowing upwards of 30 points per game, it will be merely impossible to put a winning product on the field.
But if Marshall Jr. can bloom into the lockdown cornerback he was projected to be when signing with UF, he could be a game changer at a position that Florida’s has lacked consistency in for several years.
Florida will have a chance to bounce back from its 41-17 loss against Miami, as the Gators are set to take on Samford at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Saturday at 7 p.m.
Contact Max Tucker at mtucker@alligator.org. Follow him on X @Max_Tuckr1.
Max Tucker is a junior transfer student at UF. After obtaining his A.A. in Journalism from Santa Fe College in 2023, he chose further his education at Florida's College of Journalism and Communications. Max is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Journalism with a specialization in sports and media. He enjoys golfing and going to the beach with his friends in his free time.
