Billy Napier previews fall camp, expectations for Anthony Richardson

Billy Napier is trying to instill his culture at Florida, and opening fall camp is the latest example of that effort.

Napier explained that his first Florida offseason has been about “building connections” within the team. Players had to learn names and hometowns of teammates to grow loyalty. Now, coaches are shuffling the deck: “Their roommate for training camp will be someone they don’t really know.”

Napier even referred to the Gators building propinquity, and added, “College football used to be about amatuerinquity, but with NIL it’s more like propinquity.”

Napier spoke with reporters on Tuesday, and said the Gators have a lot of roles to be determined, and that fall camp is going to be highly competitive. How about his expectations for quarterback Anthony Richardson?

“Part of a job of a player like Anthony, really any player, not to let noise affect your process,” Napier said. “His focus is on the work and that is where it should be.”

Gators HC on the mic. @coach_bnapier took only an handful of questions, but had a lot to say. “We want to develop a though minded team.” Napier said “We have to build mental toughness in training camp. This is the first time for us in Florida. We really have high expectations.” pic.twitter.com/V7Q2MvTzrj

— Brad McClenny (@bbehindacamera) August 2, 2022

H/T G. Allan Taylor and Kevin Brockway

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.