Florida Football: Billy Napier is bold in his pursuit of Alton McCaskill

When Billy Napier arrived in Gainesville and took over Florida football, his phrase “Scared money don’t make money” was meant to signal that bold choices would need to be made to get the Gators back to the promise land. His approach to the Spring transfer portal window, while somewhat hampered by factors beyond his control, hasn’t screamed, “Scared money don’t make money.”

But the presence of a former AAC Rookie of the Year on a campus visit to join a position group that doesn’t really need help is a bold choice and a reminder to all the players on Florida that if you want to be the best, then you better be the best.

Florida Football: “Scared money don’t make money”

Alton McCaskill was the 2021 AAC Rookie of the Year for the University of Houston. The running back logged 189 carries for 961 yards and 16 touchdowns. He tore his ACL prior to 2022 and missed the whole season but was back with the squad during Spring practice.

However, he announced on April 25 that he was entering the transfer portal, and the next day he had an offer from the Florida Gators.

McCaskill is good. Like really good. During that 2021 campaign, there didn’t seem to be a team that could drag him down. He’s a patient and physical runner that would fit perfectly with Napier’s running scheme.

There’s not room in this town…

But there is just one question if McCaskill does come to Gainesville, what does that mean for Trevor Etienne and Montrell Johnson? For that matter, what does that mean for Cam Carroll and Treyaun Webb?

Etienne and Johnson were the least of concerns for Gator fans heading into 2023 and are a top 15 unit in the country. Carroll looked good in the Spring game, and Webb is a highly touted recruit heading into his freshman campaign.

Well, if we go back to 2022, Napier insisted on a three-running back rotation for the front half of the season until it was obvious that Nay’Quan Wright was the odd man out. It should be noted that Napier was one of the only coaches in the nation last season that was using a three-back rotation, but if we have learned anything from Alabama or Georgia, it’s that you can never stockpile too much talent.

Yes, someone’s feelings may get hurt in the running back room, but as Randy Savage once said, “The cream will rise to the top, ooh yeah.”