2024 has come and gone for Florida Football, and it is safe to say it was an eventful 12 months for the Gators. As we get ready to ring in the new year, let's take a walk down memory road at some of the noteworthy events that took place in 2024.
This list doesn't capture everything that happened, and the dates listed are when they were written here on Hail Florida Hail, so it is possible some events took place the day before, but these are things that stood out to us this year.
January
1/2 - Pup Howard hits the transfer portal from South Carolina
1/3 - Jason Marshall formally announces he is coming back for his senior season
1/5 - George Gumbs and Devon Manuel commit to Florida out of the portal
1/9 - Ron Roberts is brought onto the coaching staff
1/17 - Punter Bobby Engstler decommits from Florida just 40 days after committing
1/20 - Gators are placed under NCAA investigation over the Jaden Rashada case
1/29 - Joe Houston is brought onto the coaching staff to fix special teams
February
2/1 - Marcus Castro-Walker is quietly let go by Florida as part of the NCAA investigation
2/8 - Confusion exists over who will actually be in charge of the defense: Ron Roberts or Austin Armstrong
2/12 - Craig Fitzgerald leaves Florida for Boston College just a month after being hired as the new strength coach
2/15 - Co-offensive line coach Darnell Stapleton leaves Florida for the NFL
2/19 - Peyton Joseph commits to Florida
2/20 - Tyler Miles is hired to take over for strength and conditioning
2/25 - Russ Calloway is named "Co-offensive coordinator"
2/28 - Joe Hamilton leaves Florida for Texas A&M
March
3/2 - Trevor Etienne states, "I can stay RB2 on a losing team or go somewhere and possibly be RB1 and win a natty.”
3/20- Spring practice begins, and viral clips of Will Harris emphasizing tackling emerge
3/24 - Keon Young tries to commit to Florida, only to take his commitment post down
3/25 - Hylton Stubbs commits to Southern Cal
April
4/8 - After a spring scrimmage, Napier claims the tackling is better and the Gators are faster
4/14 - Florida has its spring game and Jadan Baugh shines
4/17 - Mannie Nunnery hits the transfer portal and did not mince words on social media
4/19 - Peyton Joseph decommits from Florida
4/25 - Jadan Rashada transfers to Georgia
4/26 - Ricky Pearsall gets drafted in the 1st round by San Francisco
May
5/15 - Cormani McClain commits to Florida
5/17 - Elijhah Badger commits to Florida
5/22 - Jadan Rashada sues Billy Napier
June
6/3 - Will Griffin commits to Florida
6/28 - Hylton Stubbs decommits from Southern Cal
July
7/3 - Tim Brando casts shade on Florida fans
7/5 - Hylton Stubbs commits to Miami
7/15 - SEC preseason poll picks zero players from Florida for preseason honors
7/17 - Billy Napier appears at SEC Media Days and claims they are going to focus on the process
7/19 - Florida is picked 12th in the SEC preseason poll
7/22 - Vernell Brown commits to Florida
7/22 - Joe Hamilton rejoins Florida's staff
7/30 - Florida confirms they will use a special teams mat in 2024
August
8/4 - Montrell Johnson has knee surgery
8/13 - Jamari Lyons is lost for the season after an injury in camp
8/17 - Ben Hanks commits to Florida
8/18 - Attorney John Morgan defends Dan Mullen
8/22 - Gator fans are told to wear white against Miami
8/31 - Florida loses to Miami 41-17
September
9/2 - Billy Napier comments about fans in a basement
9/7 - Nick Saban casts shade on Billy Napier
9/7 - Florida beats Samford 45-7
9/9 - Billy Napier basically confirms Graham Mertz will take over as the starter when healthy
9/14 - Florida loses to Texas A&M 33-20
9/16 - Billy Napier admits Ron Roberts is calling plays on defense
9/21 - Florida beats Mississippi State 45-28
9/30 - Florida is originally betting favorites against UCF, but wind up as underdogs
October
10/5 - Florida beats UCF 24-13
10/10 - Eugene Wilson is confirmed as healthy against Tennessee
10/12 - Florida loses to Tennessee 23-17 in OT
10/14 - Graham Mertz is confirmed out for the season
10/19 - Florida beats Kentucky 45-20
November
11/2 - Florida loses to Georgia 34-20
11/4 - DJ Lagway's injury isn't season ending
11/6 - Eugene Wilson has hip surgery and is done for the season
11/7 - Scott Stricklin announces Billy Napier will return for the 2025 season
11/9 - Florida loses to Texas 49-17
11/14 - Florida gains commitment of Tramell Jones
11/15 - DJ Lagway is given green light to play against LSU
11/16 - Florida beats LSU 27-16
11/20 - Former Florida coach Jim McElwain announces his retirement
11/23 - Florida beats Ole Miss 24-17
11/25 - Florida got votes in the AP Poll
11/26 - Ty Jackson commits to Florida
11/30 - Florida beats FSU 30-11 and plants a flag
December
12/3 - Hylton Stubbs commits to Florida
12/4 - Gators finish 11th on Early Signing Day
12/9 - Caleb Banks announces he is returning for 2025
12/11 - Jack Pyburn hits the transfer portal
12/13 - Austin Armstrong leaves for Houston
12/19 - J.Michael Sturdivant commits to Florida
12/20 - Florida beats Tulane 33-8
12/23 - Dallas Wilson commits to Florida