Florida
Florida Gators TE Coach Russ Callaway Reveals Role in Offense
Entering year three of the Billy Napier-era of the Florida Gators football program, there’s been plenty of change both within the roster and the coaching staff.
However, one change didn’t come from the outside. It came from an inward promotion.
After one season as the Gators’ tight ends coach, Russ Callaway took on more responsibility within the offensive scheme after being promoted to co-offensive coordinator in February. One of those expected responsibilities is having more input in the play-calling and design, which was inconsistent at times last season.
Despite rumors swirling and calls from fans for Callaway to take full control of the Gators’ play-calling, he said it’s a team-effort across the board.
“I think really it’s overall a team effort,” he said on Tuesday. “When I got here a few years ago, I worked with Coach Napier in the past, Coach (Rob) Sale in the past, and I believe, and we believe it’s about getting your players in the best situation possible.
“So I don’t think I would necessarily put my own spin on it. It’s really a team effort. It starts at the top with Coach Napier and Coach Sale and myself and all the other coaches we have on staff.”
That’s not to say, though, that Callaway can’t have a major impact on the offense despite not having the final say on plays. His greatest success came during his time with FCS Samford, where he spent four of his five years on staff as the offensive coordinator.
Known for an air-raid attack, Callaway led the Bulldogs to tremendous success in the passing game. In 2018, Samford led the FCS in passing (392.7 yards per game) and sixth in red zone offense (90.2%).
The Bulldogs were also top-15 nationally in the FCS in team passing efficiency (155.24), scoring (35.1 points per game) and total offense (446.2 yards per game). He wants to continue that success with Florida.
“Obviously you want to generate as many explosives as possible. Really that starts with really good players, to be honest with you,” he said. “We do have a very solid core coming back. We feel really good about the guys in the room — quarterback room, receiver room, running back room. It goes back, again, week to week, what are we seeing that they’re doing defensively, and how can we get the guys in the right spot to make them the most — the best chance to succeed?”
A lot of the play-calling and scheme decisions will come on a week-to-week basis, Callaway said. However, the plan to get the ball into playmaker’s hands, namely sophomore wide receiver Eugene Wilson III, remains the same.
“We do a really good job, and we’ve done it in the spring, of tracking real time how many times Tre’s touched it, how many times the running backs have touched it, the other receivers, so forth, and so on,” he said. “I think it’s one of those things it’s kind of the flow of the game. If we’re rolling and Tre’s touched it five times in the first half, okay, we’re doing really good spreading the ball around. Or if it’s not going great, then maybe we’ve got to maneuver a couple of things here or there.”
Callaway’s promotion isn’t the only play-calling-related change heading into the 2024 season. Nation-wide, programs can now use communication through quarterbacks’ helmets, similar to the style NFL teams use.
Callaway, although in favor of the change, is realistic with the struggles that could come with using the equipment.
“We’re kind of still working through the kinks of it with camp because this is the first time that we’ve done it. I do think there will be some benefit with different ways that people get in the play calls,” he said. “However, there are certain backup plans you have to have in place if something were to go wrong with the headset on GameDay. Sometimes it will go out for a drive, maybe get you cut off. You’ve got to have different ways to get the play in.”
Despite the vast changes throughout the program, Callaway sees a difference in the culture of this year’s Gator squad. This was evident during the voluntary workouts in the offseason while the coaches were hosting recruiting weekends.
Not expecting any players to be on the field to be working out while visits were taking place, Callaway explained he saw many players from many different position groups participating in workouts.
“I looked at a couple of our coaches, and I said this is the difference in the team this year,” he said. “They want it. They got that Gator in them, and that’s kind of what we’ve been preaching. To have that mentality and what we’re looking for, the work ethic on and off the field, I really think this group has it.”
The 2024 Florida Gators will put that into practice throughout fall camp, which continues with a practice partially open to the media on Wednesday, in preparation for its season-opening matchup against Miami on Aug. 31.
Florida
Florida Gators Put Nation on Notice with Ole Miss Win
It’s been a good couple weeks for the Florida Gators.
First, they take down No. 22 LSU, 27-16, with a bend but don’t break approach. Then, they follow that up by upsetting No. 9 Ole Miss, 24-17. With that latter win, heads really began to turn. It was one thing to put up fights against Tennessee and Georgia, but now, they’re beginning to take down these formidable opponents.
The analysts are starting to talk them up. ESPN’s College Gameday analyst Kirk Herbstreit is ready to hand head coach Billy Napier the award for coach of the year. He made sure to include that he thinks quarterback DJ Lagway is going to be something special.
“Can a guy with a team that will finish 7-5 win the coach of the year award? He should!!” Herbstreit said in a tweet. “Billy Napier and [the Florida Gators, after being 4-5 and losing two straight, have beaten LSU and Ole Miss. So impressive to see this fight from the Gators and their fans after having a tough year. And, oh yeah, DJ Lagway is the REAL DEAL!”
Big Cat from Barstool Sports jumped on X (formerly Twitter) and said, “The Florida Gators may need a playoff berth.”
Now, that can be written off as two guys getting excited, but key writers are noticing too. Florida received votes in the latest AP Poll.
Brian Brian Fonesca of the NJ.com/Star-Ledger and Ian Kress of WLNS-TV (a CBS affiliate in Lansing, Michigan) ranked them No. 25. David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press ranked them No. 24. It’s only four points, but they’re the only five-loss team to receive votes.
Unofficially, they’re ranked No. 33 in the country. If they had beaten Tennessee or Georgia to have that slightly better 7-4 record, could very well be in the top 25 right now. It’s hard to vote for a 6-5 team, that’s totally fair, but the willingness to do so by a handful of writers is a good starting point. If they win out, including a quality bowl win, to finish 8-5, finishing ranked is realistic.
Those who are signing on now are seeing what could be on the horizon in 2025. This is how they are playing now. This team might have won eight or nine games had this been yearlong. Wait until they play the portal some more this summer to bring in more talent, Napier gets that offensive coordinator and Lagway comes in with nearly a year of play under his belt.
The Florida Gators have put the country on notice. They gave Napier the time to rebuild after Dan Mullen’s collapse, and that time is beginning to pay off.
Florida
Florida shows it can finish with another second-half closeout and a makeshift dunk contest
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida players eager to celebrate their latest victory, the one that made them bowl eligible for the first time in two years, found a suitable prop on the sideline.
Ole Miss left behind its basketball hoop, which the Rebels use to salute big plays during games.
The Gators set it up, grabbed some footballs and held their own dunk contest near the end zone. It provided an apt stage — perfect for showcasing finishing moves — after they closed out another ranked opponent.
Florida (6-5, 4-4 Southeastern Conference) dominated the second half for the second consecutive week and got to party in the Swamp following a 24-17 victory over then-ninth-ranked Mississippi on Saturday.
Not only did the Gators knock the Rebels (8-3, 4-3) out of the College Football Playoff picture, they won their fourth consecutive home game and raised expectations for coach Billy Napier’s fourth season in Gainesville.
And the manner in which they accomplished it mattered. Napier has been preaching about “finishing,” something that had mostly eluded the Gators in the past two years.
Florida lost four games in 2023 after leading in the second half, including three — against Arkansas, Missouri and Florida State — in the fourth quarter.
And no one following the program has forgotten how close the Gators were to upsetting Tennessee and Georgia earlier this season, losing 23-17 to the Volunteers in overtime and fading against the Bulldogs after being tied at 20 with five minutes to play.
Napier hoped all those gut punches would ultimately lead to something better, and they finally did — with late-game knockouts against LSU and Mississippi.
“Eventually you get sick of that,” receiver Chimere Dike said. “To be able to get these last two wins is huge for our team and our program. I’m proud of the resilience the guys showed, the way that we performed.”
Florida held Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin’s high-scoring offense to three points in the second half. The Rebels turned the ball over twice — interceptions by Bryce Thornton on the final two drives — punted twice and got stuffed on another fourth-down run.
“I thought we were better on both sides up front, and short-yardage defense is a big component,” Napier said. “Those are identity plays. I think we had guys step up and make plays.”
Added defensive tackle Cam Jackson said: “Everybody just pinned their ears back. That was great.”
It was reminiscent of the previous week against then-No. 21 LSU. Florida held the Tigers to six points in the second half and forced a fumble, a punt and a turnover on downs in a 27-16 victory.
“We just all came together and wanted to change how Florida was looked at,” Thornton said. “That’s the biggest thing with us, just trying to show everybody that we can do it.”
The Gators ended the afternoon showing off their basketball moves.
Cornerback Trikweze Bridges, receiver Marcus Burke, defensive end Justus Boone, tight end Tony Livingston and linebacker Shemar James delivered monster dunks. Aidan Mizell passed a football between his leg in midair before his slam, and fellow receiver Elijhah Badger bounced it off the backboard before rousing teammates and fans with his finish.
“Belief is the most powerful thing in the world,” Napier said. “At some point there, midseason, we figured (that) out and we started to believe. Look, we can play with any team in the country.”
Florida
South Florida 11 p.m. Weather Forecast 11/23/2024
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