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Sources: Florida could spend $10 million saved from Billy Napier buyout on NIL investments
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Billy Napier will continue as Florida’s coach in 2025, according to athletic director Scott Stricklin, who put to rest 2 months of speculation about the embattled head coach’s future with the Gators.
A message from Scott Stricklin pic.twitter.com/NpLD6ktrHj
— Florida Gators (@FloridaGators) November 7, 2024
In a letter Thursday, Stricklin pointed to Florida’s recent improved play and competitiveness and emphasized the need for a “disciplined, stable approach” to rebuilding the Florida program as Napier approaches the end of Year 3. Napier’s record is just 15-18, but Stricklin asked Florida’s fans to “continue standing behind Billy and his dedicated team while we work together to build a championship program.”
Multiple sources close to the program told SDS that part of the logic in retaining Napier for 2025, as opposed to paying his $26.5-million buyout, half of which would have been due up front, was to use money raised for the buyout in the NIL space this offseason.
Those sources said Florida intends to spend between $10 million to $13 million this offseason on NIL investments in players.
“Florida is drastically improved on the line of scrimmage, which is eye-opening,” a source close to the program told SDS. “With one of the best young players in the country in DJ Lagway and a defense making strides, we feel more NIL investment in players, especially in the portal, could make the Gators a great team in 2025. If we can do that without a coaching change, it creates even more room for NIL investment.”
Another source agreed, telling SDS that “Florida’s commitment to excellence in football is unwavering, and a disciplined, long-term approach is critical to sustained success.”
Florida was late to the NIL investment game, in part due to the missteps taken by the program’s first NIL groups, the Gator Collective and Gator Guard. While the University of Florida, Gator Guard, and the Gator Collective are not named defendants, promises alleged to have been made within the Gator Collective and Gator Guard’s NIL umbrella to current Georgia quarterback and former Florida commit Jaden Rashada are the subject of ongoing litigation in federal court. The Gator Collective disbanded in 2023 and a new NIL collective, Florida Victorious, has taken its place.
Florida Victorious has been successful, inking more NIL deals for student-athletes than any collective in the country during the past 12 months.
Nonetheless, the Rashada litigation and Florida’s ongoing struggles on the field have created a perception — one rooted in some justice — that Florida is still playing catch-up on the NIL front in football.
Thursday’s decision to retain Napier was a major step in addressing that concern.
Neil Blackmon covers Florida football and the SEC for SaturdayDownSouth.com. An attorney, he is also a member of the Football and Basketball Writers Associations of America. He also coaches basketball.
