Clay County Gators welcome UF football coach Billy Napier for a long overdue visit

The Clay Gator Club was hosting a University of Florida football coach for the first time since before the turn of the century and they weren’t letting Billy Napier leave the Thrasher-Horne Center empty-handed for speaking to the club members and getting a case of writer’s cramp signing autographs.

The gift was an American flag made of wood by Middleburg artist Brad Satcher, who specializes in the craft and has had examples of his work hanging in the White House and the Florida State House.

It combined the colors of UF and the University of Louisiana, the two schools Napier has coached. Satcher said it takes him about eight days to complete a flag of the size they gave to Napier, which was 38 inches by 20 inches.

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“I like that right there,” Napier said, with an ear-to-ear grin after club president-elect Brandon Ayers, Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook and Satcher presented him the handsome, wood-stained flag.

Ayers then pointed out another feature: in the middle of the flag was the logo for Murray County High School in Chatsworth, Ga., where Napier and his brothers Kurt and Matt played football for their late father Bill. All three brothers followed their father into coaching, and Kurt Napier became the coach at Murray County last year.

“We know that means a lot to you,” Ayers told Napier.

“I love it,” said Napier, who gave Satcher a bear hug.

Napier then spoke to an audience of more than 250 for 45 minutes on a historical day for the Clay Gators: it was the first time a Florida football coach had made Orange Park a stop on the traditional spring tour of booster clubs since Steve Spurrier in 1999.

It’s impossible for a Florida coach to hit every booster club, every spring, but 24 years might have made it a bit overdue for the Clay Gators, who never got a visit from Ron Zook, Urban Meyer, Jim McElwain or Dan Mullen.

Before addressing the club, Napier offered some updates on spring practice, which will culminate on April 13 at 7:30 p.m. with the Orange and Blue Spring game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Of course, the issue of quarterback is going to come up with any Florida football coach. Wisconsin transfer and redshirt junior Graham Mertz has a leg up on returning sophomore Jack Miller in replacing Anthony Richardson, bolstered by 32 games of college experience in the Big Ten.

Napier said both players have made a strong case in spring workouts.

“These guys have proven themselves … they’re putting together their body of work each day,” he said. “I think you’re looking for a guy that wins over the staff but also, more importantly, wins over the team. I think spring practice is a small sample size. We've been through phase one and two, we’re right in the middle with three and we’ll have an opportunity to observe these guys during the summer OTAs training camp.”

The Gators have eight First Coast players on the current roster and Napier expects contributions from almost all of them, starting with the offensive line where junior center Kingsley Eguakun (Sandalwood) and sophomore left tackle Austin Barber (Trinity Christian) are returning starters, with freshman Roderick Kearney (Orange Park) on the depth chart behind Eguakun.

Sophomore Jack Pyburn (Bolles) has been flashing at edge rusher behind junior Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr., and freshman Sharif Denson (Bartram Trail) is on the second team at strong safety.

Napier said he will continue to count on the First Coast as an important recruiting pipeline.

“History is the best indicator of the future,” he said. “This area, in particular, has always been good for the Gators … players that contributed in a major way, going back to all parts of history in this program.”

Napier heaped some high praise on Kearney, who is attempting the rare move of tackle to center.

“One of my favorite plays and people in this class,” he said. “Rod is passionate about the game and his work ethic is second to none. He’s off to a good start, learning a new system and learning how to play a new position. He’s a lot of fun to be around … got a lot of personality, a guy that’s going to be a future leader.”

Napier also talked about the ongoing process of establishing his vision and direction of the program. When he was hired in December of 2021, former Jaguar defensive back Michael Jacquet III, who played for Napier at Louisiana warned future UF players that they would have a high standard to meet.

“He demands excellence, all day, every day,” Jacquet said. “He is not going to lower it for anybody. The standard is what it is and if you can’t abide by it, he will find someone else who will.”

Napier praised his current players and staff for accepting that challenge.

"To know the intangibles of your team, the culture of your organization, the energy in your building is something that you’re working on every day,” he said. “I think we did a good job of finding those things early, knowing that it would be a challenge. I’m a firm believer that as you inherit new people, as new players arrive, as new staff members arrive, they typically do what they are observing. We’ve definitely made progress.”

Napier said his returning players are giving the incoming freshmen and transfer a lot to observe about his expectations.

“What I’m thankful for is a core group of veteran players that we have returning that really has kind of set the tone,” he said. “ … done a terrific job of really taking ownership.”

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Florida football coach Billy Napier makes overdue trip to Clay County