Florida Football: Billy Napier not sold on safety depth for Gators

Billy Napier took to the microphone yesterday to give another update on the state of Florida football. During his 20-minute press conference, he touched on the usual array of topics, including the QBs, offensive line status, and more.

While Napier had a mostly positive tone when discussing the various position groups, there was one position group in particular that Napier was less than confident about.

Florida Football: Safety net

Napier was asked about the safety group and how the group was coming along, considering both starters from last year are gone, and Kamari Wilson is the only guy with any real experience in the position.

Napier was very honest about the inexperience of the group:

"“That’s one of the areas on our team where young players are going to have to play. The Jordan Castell project, the Bryce Thornton project……that room is a room where we are doing a lot of work.”"

This response shouldn’t surprise anyone who has taken a peek at Florida’s roster. Napier is correct; it is a young group where someone young must play.

However, his quote later on in the answer raised an eyebrow or two.

"“Overall, that is a room where we could add a player. That is a room where we need to continue to develop depth, it that makes sense.”"

Translation, don’t be shocked if Florida football hits the transfer portal when it reopens to find an extra safety.

The real question from that we would like to know is if Napier felt this group would be fine heading into Spring and is realizing that it isn’t fine. Why else would he just now state they will look for another player to add instead of grabbing that player back in January during the first Transfer Portal window?

This is not to say that the sky is falling. This is simply confirming that rebuilding some of the previously neglected position groups is going to take time.

Napier’s full answer starts at the 14:15 mark of his press conference.