The SEC is already bracing for a wild 2025, but if you ask anyone close to the Florida Gators’ inner circle, there’s one name that should have every offensive coordinator losing sleep. And it didn’t come from the Gators’ head coach; it came from a family member. Billy Napier’s brother, Kurt Napier, just turned up the heat with a bold declaration about one Florida star that could change the SEC power dynamic.

The star in question is Tyreak Sapp. Tyreak has been steadily building his resume in Gainesville, but heading into his final season, he’s no longer flying under the radar. The senior edge rusher posted a dominant 2024 campaign, and his film and numbers finally caught national attention. Standing at 6’3” and weighing 260 pounds, Sapp is the very definition of a disruptor. His combination of speed, power, and instincts makes him a nightmare for opponents. And now, he’s officially been named the top returning edge rusher in the SEC by Pro Football Focus.

PFF College tweeted the list of highest-graded edge rushers returning to the conference this season, placing Sapp at the top with a stellar 90.4 grade, above Tennessee’s Joshua Joseph (89.8) and Auburn’s Keldric Faulk (83.8). Kurt Napier didn’t let the moment pass without a little fanfare, quoting the post with: “Tyreak Sapp is graded as the top edge rusher in the SEC 🐊🔥”. It was a subtle flex, sure, but also a not-so-quiet warning to the other 15 SEC programs. When the head coach’s own family is hyping a player like that, you know there’s real belief behind it.

And there’s plenty to back it up. Sapp racked up 13 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles last season. His 90.4 PFF grade wasn’t just tops in the SEC, it ranked ninth nationally among all edge rushers. Even with NFL buzz swirling, Sapp chose to return for one more season in Gainesville, saying it was about “unfinished business” and a chance to lead the Gators back to relevance. That kind of decision and that kind of production makes him the heartbeat of Florida’s defense heading into 2025.

With a chip on his shoulder, elite-level tape, and now the endorsement of the head coach’s own brother, Tyreak Sapp is no longer a hidden gem. He’s the Gators’ weapon in plain sight, and if the rest of the SEC isn’t paying attention yet, Kurt Napier just gave them a huge number to start.

Florida’s all-SEC roster backs the hype around Tyreak Sapp

If Tyreak Sapp’s 90.4 PFF grade didn’t already scream “SEC problem,” Florida’s preseason accolades just turned the volume up. Athlon Sports dropped its preseason All-America and All-SEC teams, and the Gators came out stacked with ten players making the All-SEC list and three earning national nods. With Sapp locking in a spot on the third-team All-American defense and anchoring what could be one of the SEC’s nastiest front sevens, Florida’s firepower is suddenly looking legit on both sides of the ball.

It’s not just Sapp carrying the banner either. Star center Jake Slaughter earned First-Team All-American honors, proving that Florida’s offense isn’t planning to take a backseat. Eugene Wilson II picked up a Fourth-Team nod as well, and rising names like Jadan Baugh, Austin Barber, and Caleb Banks made the All-SEC second team. These are the signs of a roster that’s quietly morphing into a contender. And then there’s DJ Lagway. The freshman phenom may only be fourth-team All-SEC right now, but with his talent and swagger, he could be the piece that shifts Florida from promising to dangerous.

Tie it all together, and Kurt Napier’s tweet about Sapp being the SEC’s top edge rusher suddenly sounds less like a hype post and more like a weather alert. With Sapp leading the defense, a loaded O-line, and Lagway waiting to explode, Florida has the muscle and the momentum. And if it all clicks, the rest of the SEC might be in for the kind of season they’ll be trying to forget by December.