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Billy Napier highlights key recruiting strategy that has vaulted the Gators core roster with one element making it easier

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Tyler Forness | Last updated Oct 8, 2025 6:42 PM ET

The Florida Gators have the most players on their roster from their home state. It's to be expected for most programs, especially one from the Sunshine State.

Head coach Billy Napier has continued that with the majority of his players being from Florida, which is one of the best recruiting hotbeds in the country. Where Napier has really shown growth is in recruiting the state of Texas

Billy Napier highlights recruiting Texas

The Gators have done a really good job of recruiting Texas under Napier. They got the number one quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class in quarterback DJ Lagway and have nine players from the Lone Star State on the roster.

It can be a challenge to lure them to Florida, but it's much easier now than it ever has been.

"I think that in general, kids are more apt to travel," said Napier. "I think the days of regional recruiting are getting minimized due to the ease of travel, the familiarity with travel, and then certainly all the compensation that comes with the game now. College football has become a very national recruiting stage. Kids are going all the way across the country. So I think in general, people are more comfortable with the resources now with NIL and revenue share to make the trips to see their family, all those things have been lifted that used to be a burden, so the regional staying at home was much more financially conducive."

The changes in the landscape of college football have done a wonder for the world of recruiting and balancing out the playing field. Right now, the Gators have their top two commitments from the state of Texas in four-star wide receiver Davian Groce and four-star edge rusher KJ Ford.

The nation’s No. 1 RB in the 2026 class Davian Groce cruises through traffic and gallops in for a long score. Lone Star leads McKinney North 28-0 with 2:23 left in the first quarter pic.twitter.com/gzuJWRbx1y
— Mike Roach (@MikeRoach247) September 13, 2024

It's not just about the financial aspect; the ease of information has been a huge factor in these recruitments.

"I think the information era has led to a much longer process. So kids are traveling, they're they're going all over the country and seeing different places, so they build more connections with people," said Napier. "And I think that's why you see the diversity on each roster, so we deal with the same things. In the state of Florida, people come here. Everybody recruits Texas, everybody recruits. Florida. California is no different. Georgia is no different. Some of these states where there's a huge population of players, those four states I mentioned, have the most. I think everybody recruits those states pretty heavily."

Expanding your recruiting base is important, as it helps you find the best players in pursuit of a national championship. Napier has done a good job of that, but it needs to result in wins, which have yet to come.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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