Billy Napier's recruiting hot streak continues by securing crucial player for 2025 season
Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier has been on a recruiting heater over the last few weeks. He secured the 11th-best recruiting class per 247 Sports after being ranked outside the top 50 not too long ago. They signed 23 recruits, including one five-star in wide receiver Vernell Brown III. Not only is high school […]
Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier has been on a recruiting heater over the last few weeks.
He secured the 11th-best recruiting class per 247 Sports after being ranked outside the top 50 not too long ago. They signed 23 recruits, including one five-star in wide receiver Vernell Brown III.
Not only is high school recruiting important, but recruiting your own players is more important now than it ever has been. The advent of the transfer portal has been massive for both teams and players, with the latter having more power than ever before.
With that being said, Napier scored himself a massive victory in terms of recruiting with the announcement that defensive lineman Caleb Banks would be returning to school.
The Louisville Cardinals transfer, Banks has been a force on the Gators' defensive line and took a big step forward in a deep room this past season. Banks registered 21 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and 1 pass defended on the season. He was pressuring the quarterback
What makes this really impressive for Napier is that Banks could end up being a top draft pick with The Athletic's Dane Brugler reporting that some scouts thought he would go in round two.
There are many reasons why a player would choose to stay. One potential reason for Banks: a chance to improve his draft stock into being a first round pick in 2026, a class that will likely not have as strong of a defensive line class.
The Gators are looking better and better going into 2025, especially since anything feels possible with DJ Lagway at quarterback.
