Florida Football: Nay’Quan Wright became the odd man out with Gators

As the transfer portal continues to heat up, it is almost safe to assume that anyone who wasn’t getting prominent playing time with Florida football is a candidate to enter the portal. This isn’t an indictment on Billy Napier, this is a reality of the modern college football world.

Friday’s news of Nay’Quan Wright entering the portal will hurt Florida’s depth at running back but does remind us that Napier is willing to play the best player in the end.

Florida Football: Not big enough for the three of us

When the Florida Gators took the field against Utah in the season opener, Wright was expected to be a featured back for Napier. He had 76 carries during the 2021 season, and the rest of the Gators’ running back room was unknown at the time.

Wright had 10 carries in that game for 39 yards, with a long run of 14 yards. Florida won and everyone was happy. But upon review, transfer Montrell Johnson stole the show and freshman Trevor Etienne looked more explosive than Wright with the limited carries he had.

Five games into the season, it was clear that Johnson and Etienne were the better backs and while Napier tried to have a three-back rotation, Wright was lagging behind and Napier couldn’t justify keeping him in the rotation.

Over the final six games of the season, Wright only received carries in the South Carolina game, and with Johnson and Etienne slatted to come back next season it was clear that Wright’s role with Florida football next season would be as a spectator.

Wright can certainly be a serviceable third-down back in the right system, but he was no longer the right fit in Gainesville. Such is life with the transfer portal that players are going to seek out opportunities to play even if they have no ill will towards the school they are currently with.

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