Report: Billy Napier and Gator coaches shut down recruiting for the weekend

It looks like Billy Napier and his staff will be taking a break from football this weekend.

According to a screenshot from a message board post by Gators Online recruiting analyst Blake Alderman, the Gators coaching staff will not be out visiting recruits this weekend. It's customary for a coaching staff to catch up with commits and top targets during the week at their high school and catch a game in their recruiting area on Friday night (or Saturday if necessary).

Part of the message reads: "This week I was told that Florida didn't have any coaches out on the recruiting trail in previous days, and aren't expected to be out tonight or on Sat/Sun."

Obviously, there is a LOT that can be read into this one, but I don't think the staff has stopped recruiting in expectation of being released. Why not? Because coaches are always recruiting and if they believe they are going to get fired, part of their appeal to get hired by another staff will be the recruits they have built relationships with. 

So maybe this is just as simple as Napier telling his staff to take the weekend to reset and prepare for a serious upcoming week of preparation for Texas. 

New defensive line target comes into focus

The Gators are still in the market for one, possibly two more defensive linemen to complete that part of the 2026 recruiting class. Florida already has pretty solid commitments from 4-star players Kendall Guervil and JaReylan McCoy, and now they are in pursuit of 3-star prospect Isaiah Broughton.

Brougton, from Houston, is committed to UNLV, but will be in Gainesville next week and is planning on taking an official visit for the Mississippi State game on October 18th.

It's safe to say that Broughton is a late riser in this recruiting cycle. He has been committed to UNLV since July, but over the past month, Broughton has received offers from Florida, Miami and Auburn. Broughton has also been pursued by the hometown Houston Cougars.