Billy Napier shares update on Shemar James injury, outlines competitive depth
By Keith Farner
Published:
Florida is 3 days into fall camp, and Billy Napier spoke to the media on Thursday following the Gators’ first practice in pads on Wednesday.
Napier said leadership has developed and the personality of this team is in a good place.
“Really like this team, and respect their approach to accountability,” Napier said. “We talk about telling each other the truth, and being consistent in that. Living the truth, telling the truth, and being able to take the truth. Ultimately, this group’s in a good place.”
Napier shared several injury updates. Among them, linebacker Shemar James suffered a lower body injury, was banged up a little bit on Wednesday, Napier said, and is day-to-day. Napier said it presents an opportunity. James played in all 13 games last season, and started 4 of them.
“That group is very competitive, it’s one of the more competitive positions on our team and we’re really excited about that group,” he said. “The growth we’ve seen, the maturity we’ve seen, to take a guy like Scooby (Williams), who’s made tremendous progress. Certainly getting (Derek) Wingo back from the injury, then you throw Teradja Mitchell, Mannie Nunnery in the mix and Jaden (Robinson) is obviously a freshman, all those guys have been here going all the way back to January. It’s a very competitive room, and this is going to allow those guys to get more reps and take full advantage of the situation.”
Also, OL Lyndell Hudson Jr. was in a car accident and is in concussion protocol. Napier also said he expects to get a couple of the players who suffered “soft tissue” injuries back, including Tre Wilson and Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
