Billy Napier is gone. The Florida Gators finally pulled the trigger on their head coach after a turbulent tenure that promised much but delivered little. That’s not to say there isn’t talent on the roster, but will it all be retained by the next coaching staff? A coach firing triggers an extra opportunity to enter the portal, but which players could look for a new place to call home?
5 Gators Who Could Enter the Transfer Portal if Billy Napier Is Fired
After flirting with being fired for most of the 2024 season, Napier somehow saved his skin by embarking on a winning run down the stretch of the season. While that saved him in the short term, it ultimately set him up for failure in the 2025 campaign, elevating expectations that he simply wasn’t able to achieve.
As such, he was fired following a Week 8 win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs that simply wasn’t enough. He leaves Gainesville with a 22-23 record and a bowl win. Some of the players who helped him accomplish the positive element of that will no doubt depart, led by the quarterback who was meant to elevate Gator football alongside its newly fired head coach.
1) DJ Lagway, QB
Lagway was one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2024 recruiting class and committed to the Gators largely because of Napier and his staff. Along with Napier, Lagway has struggled this season, completing just 65.3% of his passes for 1,513 yards and nine touchdowns (with nine interceptions) through seven games.
With Napier fired, Lagway might seek a fresh start, and there’s a real possibility the former top prospect could enter the transfer portal. It would be a surprising move, but one that could certainly happen, especially since Lagway is from Texas and has no strong ties to the state of Florida.
2) Vernell Brown III, WR
Brown III was Napier’s top-ranked recruit in Florida’s 2025 class and has played significant time in his freshman season, recording 32 catches for 463 yards through seven games in his debut year. At just 18 years old, Brown III has already shown he can compete at a high level in the SEC, and there’s a chance he could look for a new home following his head coach’s firing.
3) Jadan Baugh, RB
Baugh joined Florida alongside Lagway in the Gators’ 2024 recruiting class. While he was only a three-star recruit out of high school, he has made an impact in his first two seasons for Florida.
Baugh is recognized as one of the most talented backs in the SEC and would be a highly coveted prospect if he entered the transfer portal. As a Georgia native, he might look for an opportunity closer to home, especially with the Georgia Bulldogs’ strong tradition of producing elite backs.
4) Drake Stubbs, Safety
Drake Stubbs joined the Gators in 2025 as a four-star recruit and was ranked No. 4 safety prospect in the country according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. He has made three appearances for Florida this year (without registering any statistics), but with his talent, he could be interested in exploring other programs if Napier were canned.
5) Jayden Woods, EDGE
Jayden Woods is another member of the Gators’ 2025 class. He was a four-star recruit and ranked No. 10 EDGE prospect in the country by 247Sports. Like the other players on this list, Wiggins is a young, talented player who hasn’t been at Florida long and could consider transferring after the departure of a coach who was instrumental in his recruitment.
