Emmitt Smith understands that the Florida football program has a long way to go before it returns to the heights it once enjoyed.

The former Gator legend, one of the greatest running backs — and players — in the history of the sport, feels that it’s far too early to throw in the towel on Billy Napier after a 6-7 season that saw the Gators drop 5 of their last 7. Further driving discontent are concerns over the status of highly-regarded QB recruit Jaden Rashada, who was believed to have requested a release from his NLI, a report denied by his father.

To Smith, though, patience is the name of the game regarding Napier.

“First and foremost, he has to bring in a top-notch recruiting class, and has to convince parents that the University of Florida is the right university for their kid,” Smith said on SiriusXM’s SEC Radio. “If he can do that, and then allow that translate on the football field in terms of execution, that means having a quality quarterback, a disciplined organization, young men that are willing to pour into the university and pour into the system and buy into the system that Billy’s bringing to the table that can translate to wins on the football field, and the competitive spirit on the football field, then we’ll see where things are.”

Smith noted that Napier will need to navigate recruiting battles with Florida State and Miami, along with UCF and FAU to perhaps a lesser extent, along with the continued success of Alabama and Georgia’s recruiting.

“We have to be patient with Billy and his staff, and give them some runway to actually go out and do what we expect him to do, and to grow he foundation of the organization the way it needs to be grown,” he said.