Florida football: Five players Billy Napier says have stood out in spring practice
By Will Thomas
![Florida Gators outside linebacker Princely Umanmielen (33) grabs a dummy bag during the University of Florida Football 2023 Football Spring Practice Saturday morning, March 25, 2023 at Sanders Football Practice Field at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. [Doug Engle/Ocala Star Banner]2023Gai Ufsrpingpractice325](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F42f43adc13d44304f985831fd610a2801de48db2230059d837782e34f8e90a02.jpg "Florida Gators outside linebacker Princely Umanmielen (33) grabs a dummy bag during the University of Florida Football 2023 Football Spring Practice Saturday morning, March 25, 2023 at Sanders Football Practice Field at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. [Doug Engle/Ocala Star Banner]2023Gai Ufsrpingpractice325")
Florida football: Shemar James
The final guy that Napier brought up is sophomore linebacker, Shemar James. Shemar is from Mobile, Alabama, and was a top-five linebacker in the class of 2021.
This is what Napier had to say about him: “Shemar James, you know obviously he has some momentum, that experience was beneficial for him.”
I’m assuming “that experience” was all of the snaps that James got during his freshman season, including forcing a turnover on the opening drive of the Gators’ game in Tallahassee.
Service sucks here, bear with me on uploading (I say this after UF’s turnover on downs).
— Zach Goodall (@zach_goodall) November 26, 2022
Shemar James’s forced fumble on FSU’s first drive. UF’s going to need a lot of takeaways tonight and the freshman got things rolling. pic.twitter.com/ITeImIUNJU
During his freshman season, James saw the field in every game the Gators had. He ended the year with 47 tackles and two sacks, to go along with the forced fumble against FSU and a fumble recovery against USF.
If Florida fans are looking for a guy that will make a jump this season, you may need to look no further than Shemar. To make that impact at a position like a linebacker as a freshman is rare, and he’ll be a key part of Austin Armstrong’s defense.
One of the best qualities that Shemar has is his speed, and it doesn’t come with lesser size. His ability to move and keep up with skill players is something that not a lot of linebackers have, and he showed how important that ability is during that play against the Noles.
If Shemar is able to make a big jump from his freshman to sophomore season, by the time he’s an upperclassman we may be looking at him as a top linebacker in not just the SEC, but in the country.
Keep up with Florida football at Hail Florida Hail.