The Florida Gators finally decided to pull the plug on Billy Napier, saving the program from going further off track. The former Sun Belt head coach ended his stint at Florida with a 22-23 record, the worst winning percentage for a Florida coach since 1950. Athletic director Scott Stricklin acknowledged Napier for his four-year service and promoted wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales to interim head coach. The first biggest challenge? To prevent players from entering the transfer portal.

On October 19, former NFL superstar and Florida legend Brandon Spikes hopped onto X to give props to Billy Gonzales for developing tier-1 wideouts and sternly warn players who are planning to hit the portal: “Much love to @CoachBillyG, a true Gator who has coached at @GatorsFB for years, even during my time, and worked with legends like Percy Harvin, OBJ, KToney, and Ricky Pearsall. So listen up, Gator players, STAY THE COURSE! Don’t get played by portal predators.”

These days, powerhouse programs wait like vultures to grab the best players whenever a head coach is fired in a Power Five conference. Likewise, the “Portal predators” refers to people or schools trying to lure Florida players to transfer after a coaching change. They often make tempting promises to convince players to leave. However, Spikes advised players to stay loyal to the Gators and not fall for these manipulative tactics. Luckily, the Florida Gators got some breathing room for now.

Under the old rules, a coaching change opened up a 30-day window for players to jump into the transfer portal if they wanted out. That meant a mass exodus was always a possibility, with players potentially looking for greener pastures or a fresh start somewhere else. It was a real scramble for programs to keep their rosters together.

However, the NCAA has thrown a wrench into that party. Notably, the new rule doesn’t mean teams like UCLA, Oklahoma State, and Virginia Tech will be exempt from the old rule. Now, the immediate 30-day transfer window is a thing of the past. Players can’t dive straight into the portal if a coach gets fired. Instead, they’ve got to cool their jets and wait until a new head coach is officially announced. Once that happens, the players get a five-day grace period to hear out the new staff; they have a limited 15-day window to enter the portal.

This change aims to give the incoming coach a fighting chance to keep the current roster intact and prevent a total roster meltdown right after a coaching change. As the interim head coach, this new rule means Billy Gonzales won’t have to deal with players hitting the portal immediately.

He must keep the team focused and play hard throughout the season, along with the other assistants. They have a bye week to get together before facing a tough Georgia squad. The Gators must keep their heads out of the water until the new head coach arrives.

Billy Gonzales – The OG wideout developer

Remarkably, Billy Gonzales has been a receiver guru for years, especially during his multiple stints in Florida, and most importantly, he has the receipt to prove it. He’s been a key player in some of Florida’s biggest years, snagging a couple of national championship rings. The man is a wizard in taking raw talent and molding it into starting NFL-ready wideouts. The coach knows about pass-catchers, from the burners to the big bodies.

You want proof? Look no further than the long list of stud receivers Gonzales has sent to the next level. We’re talking guys like Percy Harvin and Ricky Pearsall. And he’s not just a Florida guy, either. He coached Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry during their time at LSU, and even Dak Prescott at Mississippi State.

Scott Stricklin had all the faith in Billy Gonzales, “Coach Gonzales has been a valued member of our program for many years, including being a part of multiple championship teams. He is a Gator through and through. His deep understanding of our culture, our student-athletes, and what it means to represent the University of Florida makes him well-suited to lead our team.”

Until the Gators find themselves a long-time replacement, Billy Gonzales looks the Gator-man now.