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It's obvious Billy Napier has to win this season for the Florida Gators and there is one thing that can elevate him to success

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Tyler Forness | Last updated Jul 30, 2025 5:04 PM ET

When it comes to the coaches on the biggest hot seat going into the 2025 season, Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier is the number one coach. On3 Sports' Ari Wasserman proved that once again by listing him at the top of his coaches on the hot seat entering the season.

Reports floated around the Internet on Monday that Florida quarterback DJ Lagway, one of the most promising young players in the country, was in a walking boot. Considering Lagway is perhaps the most important individual player to a coach in the country, that’s bad news for head coach Billy Napier. Napier was almost fired in the middle of last season, but the Gators turned it around in the back half of the year because of Lagway’s play. Now Florida has a chance to be much better, but Napier has to win this year — whether Lagway stays healthy or not. Napier is 19-19 through three seasons in Gainesville. Lagway, who has been injured often during his time at Florida, may hold Napier’s future in his hands.

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It's not a surprise whatsoever. Napier was inches away from getting fired, but DJ Lagway's incredible progress over the last few weeks of the season, which was often referred to as the hardest stretch in college football not just that season, but in the history of the game.

Lagway didn't just play well and show immense growth, the entire team thrived during that 3-2 stretch, including winning the final four games with the Gasparilla Bowl against Tulane, where the entire team dominated.

That is the interesting element of this entire discussion surrounding the Gators and Napier. He has put a major focus of his rebuilding efforts on the high school recruiting process. Those classes are now going to be on full display as a massive percentage of the players who will be on the field.

If this is going to work for the Gators this year, it's going to be on the backs of Napier's recruiting efforts, and that success will end up determining the future of the program.

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

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