It was nauseatingly well documented how repulsive and imbalanced Florida was on special teams under Billy Napier. Whether too many or not enough men lined up on the field, players wearing the same jerseys, or procedural fouls, the Gators under Napier never failed to have a mess up on special teams. Time and time again, the third phase of the sport of football was the Achilles heel, not the backbone of the program. According to former players and pundits close to the program, there was a lackadaisical approach to special teams, with players refusing to sub in after third-downs and scoring plays. Some players cited that the ST unit would be confused about who’s responsible for signals and lineups because of so many staff members on the sideline, making it impossible to get guys coordinated on time.
Here is a link to an article citing Napier’s terrible history on special teams a few days after Florida’s loss to Arkansas in 2023:
When Billy Napier was asked about what happened with the illegal substitution penalty, he gave the typical “coach speak”: it was ultimately his responsibility, and they have to get better. This wasn’t a first-time issue with the players getting properly lined up; it was just spotlighted big time because it was the downfall that led to defeat. If the ball hadn’t been pushed back, the kick would have been right down the middle instead of hooking wide right. Many times before the Arkansas loss, Florida had alignment issues throughout the season, and Florida continued to have alignment issues afterwards, even in Napier’s “best” season.
One of the many things players from the Meyer era still recite is how important special teams were to their coach. So much so that he would make sure that special team players (kick/punt coverage gunners, specialists, and returners) ate first in catering. Not Tim Tebow. Not Percy Harvin. Not Joe Haden. Special teams unit. Another special-teams emphasis: “Block a kick, you’ll win 90% of the time.” If you follow former UF alum and content creator Ali Peek Wilbur, you’ve had to hear her recite that over a thousand times. Well, that’s because her husband, Eric Wilbur, former UF national punter, was on those UF teams. He heard that message and statistic over and over, which translated to her. How many times did we see blocked punts or kicks from Florida under Meyer? It seemed like every other game.
Think about how the 2006 season concludes if Florida doesn’t block the game-winning field goal vs South Carolina. How different the CFP would’ve been in 2015 if Michigan didn’t blunder a punt vs Michigan State? Would Alabama have been in the 2009 BCS title game if Tennessee had made the game-winning field goal? Special teams are a part of football, and one play can just have the same impact as two offensive drives or two takeaways on defense. That was a notion that the Billy Napier staff inexcusably failed to comprehend.
In February, new special teams coordinator Jonathan Galante expressed his desire to run a well-oiled machine six days of the week, citing that game day operations aren’t just for Saturdays. The preparation, communication, translation, and most importantly, execution, are prioritized over the previous five days from Monday through Friday. It’s the same mindset that assisted Galante in being nominated for the Broyles Award for the nation’s top assistant coach. Over the last two seasons, Florida has a long list of specialists get quality accolades and NFL draft picks. Chimere Dike, being the first player selected in the fourth round in 2025, Jeremy Crawshaw in the sixth round of the same draft, Trey Smack selected in the sixth round in April, and Tommy Doman in the seventh round. Long snapper Rocco Underwood was first-team All-SEC. So, for a special teams unit that was much maligned for the course of four years, they were substantial players who helped clean up some of the issues. Talent was not the issue; coaching was. The importance of special teams, or lack thereof, was the issue. Refusal to see and find the lapses in judgment for practice and film study was the issue.
Jon Sumrall, unlike his predecessor, has exhibited both the diligence and humility to hire veteran coordinators in all three phases of the game so he can monitor and assess the execution during practice. Galante referenced how Sumrall makes his presence known even in special teams meetings. “He’s involved in everything; he’s passionate about special teams. You want your head coach to be involved instead of just having him prioritize offense and defense.”
That level of involvement matters because special teams cannot be treated as a collection of leftover snaps for backup players. It requires the same organizational structure, film preparation, accountability, and repetition as the offense and defense. Every player must know where he is supposed to be, when he is supposed to enter the game, who is communicating the call, and what adjustment must be made when the opponent changes its formation. One moment of hesitation can lead to an uncovered returner, a blocked kick, an illegal substitution, or another catastrophic penalty. Florida experienced nearly every variation of that dysfunction under Napier.
Galante’s arrival represents more than a change in title. It reflects a philosophical correction. Florida finally appears to have a head coach who understands that special teams are not simply a transition period between offensive and defensive possessions. They are opportunities to alter field position, manufacture momentum, create scoring chances, and directly decide games. The Gators do not necessarily need to block a kick every Saturday, but they cannot continue surrendering hidden yardage, wasting return opportunities, or sabotaging themselves through preventable procedural errors.
The encouraging part is that Florida already possesses evidence that high-level special teams talent can be developed within the program. The recent accolades and NFL selections prove that the roster was never devoid of capable specialists. What it lacked was a unified operation that allowed those players to consistently succeed. Under Galante, responsibilities should be clearly defined, substitutions rehearsed, signals simplified, and situational awareness emphasized throughout the week.
For Sumrall, rebuilding Florida will involve more than improving recruiting rankings or modernizing the offense. It will require restoring discipline to every corner of the program. The quickest indication that the culture has changed may not come from a touchdown drive or a fourth-down stop. It may come when 11 players calmly take the field, execute their assignment, and make the type of special-teams play that Florida once expected rather than feared.
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