Billy Napier’s $51.8M Florida Future Clarified as DJ Lagway Injury Update Triggers Blunt Exposé

Billy Napier wrapped up last season with a pretty average overall record. He managed to pull off a strong finish with a late-season boost, but let’s be real—an 8-5 record isn’t exactly lighting the world on fire for the program. We did see that exciting four-game winning streak and the solid win over Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl. And who could forget DJ Lagway’s crazy 456 passing yards and three touchdowns against Samford? But honestly, that just felt like a little Band-Aid for their rough start to the season. Still, despite how it all sounds, it seems like Napier’s approval rating among Gators fans is starting to shift a bit.

The University of Florida allowed Napier plenty of time, giving him 3 seasons to refocus and rebuild his resume. However, as the team headed for its third consecutive season with a losing record, a Gators coaching search wasn’t a shock. Florida took a 41-17 punch in their gut from the rival No.19-ranked Miami Hurricanes at The Swamp in their Week 1 season opener back in September 2024. It was quite hard to believe that it was the same Billy Napier who won 29 of his final 32 games with the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns.

“Billy Napier’s job approval rating at Florida amongst Florida fans right now is a fluid number, 53.5%. Again, scientific, of course, eight months ago, I think this would have been under 10%. Because eight months ago, we were in the middle of the season,” Josh Pate talks about a major difference in Billy Napier’s fate now and then. Most notably, his removal wasn’t just an idea they floated; rather, it was quite a decision.

“Eight months ago, they were three and three. Eight months ago, not only had Billy Napier already lost his job, but if you listen to pretty much everyone, they were already searching for his replacement.” Florida fans aren’t very popular about showing patience, especially when it hits a rock bottom. 2024 was already a make-or-break year for Napier after two back-to-back average seasons in Gainesville.

“The most popular topic amongst Florida fans was not “How do you think we’re going to do against Kentucky?” It was, “Are we going to hire a guy before the bowl game?'” Pate laid bare the mid-season reality.

They were heavily considering prodigies like Urban Meyer, who successfully led the program from 2005 to 2010, to take the chair. Lane Kiffin and Glenn Schumann were also on the list to replace Billy Napier. While all of them still looked like a pipe dream, the irked Florida fans were ready to give them a shot. But then what got in their way?

“If we make it, what’s the buyout we have to pay Napier? Can we afford it?” Pate brought the messiah back into the conversation, the hefty $27.1 million (85% of the remaining compensation on his $51.8 million) that still didn’t seem to seal the seat. “It was already an afterthought, and so certainly if you would have suggested we’re going to keep him, that would have been torch and pitchfork time. His job approval was under 10%.” 

Going from 10 percent to 53 percent is quite the jump! A lot of it has to do with DJ Lagway, who really shined last season and is looking strong for the next one. He’s definitely a big hope for the team, but at the same time, he could also be a bit of a wildcard for Billy Napier’s 2025 plans.

DJ Lagway’s health keeps the Gators hang in balance

DJ Lagway has really been the team’s MVP. He threw for 1,915 yards, notched 12 touchdowns, and had a completion rate of 59.9%—pretty solid for a freshman! When Graham Mertz got hurt in that Tennessee game, it actually worked out in the team’s favor because Lagway got to show what he could do. He proved he’s ready to take charge as the starting QB. But as spring rolled around, things took a turn for Lagway, and he started to lose hope after dealing with an acute shoulder and lower body injury that kept him off the field.

“His fate is hitched to DJ Lagway as it stands right now. But I will tell you with the way they ended the season last year, and knowing Lagway’s coming back this year,” Pate dropped out a previous intel on Lagway’s return, “and just the other day I flat out asked him, “Is he healthy?” He says, “Yeah, he’s ready to go. He’ll be ready to go for the season.”

However, Billy Napier seems predetermined in his stance of not bringing a half-ready Lagway to the field, as his fragility can be an issue that the Gators find hard to cope with. He is still not 100 percent. But hopefully, the heartbeat of the Gators will be back by the regular season. It will be interesting to see whether he will be able to lead the Gators to a full-fledged redemption or not.