Count Florida football coach Billy Napier as someone pleased that walk-ons from the 2024 season won’t count against roster limits set during the House vs NCAA Settlement.
Judge Claudia Wilken insisted for current walk-ons to be grandfathered into rosters rather than forcing coaches to make cuts to reach roster limits for their respective sports.
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As a result, instead of being forced to pare down to 105 players, Napier revealed the Florida Gators will operate with a roster of “about 120 players” when fall camp opens next week.
“It’s a huge win for football in my opinion,” Napier said. “We’ll be right around 120 this year. Big win. A lot of people who started their journey at the University of Florida, it kind of keeps that vision alive so they can finish.”
Napier expressed concern before the settlement about the ability to operate scout teams with a roster of 105 players, noting the potential for injury attrition during the five-month grind of practices and games from late July through early January.
Eventually, as walk-ons cycle out of UF’s program over the course of the next three seasons, Florida will need to adhere to a 105-player limit. The SEC has maintained a scholarship limit of 85 for the 105 spots, though schools in other leagues have been given the option to offer up to 105 scholarships for football.
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“That doesn’t mean there’s still going to be some evolution in terms of how you put your team together, where do we go as a league, do we stick with 85 scholarships or do we go to 105 like the other leagues,” Napier said. “There’s a ton of debate around that. So, I think there’s still a lot to be determined there in terms of where we’re headed.”
How walk ons contributed to Florida football in 2024
Coaches throughout the SEC have a soft spot for walk-on players, who can sometimes develop into hidden gems. Former Florida football standout receiver and current SEC Network football analyst Chris Doering began his carrer at UF as a walk-on before earning All-SEC honors and going on to a 10-year NFL career.
Last season, Cormani McClain joined Florida as a preferred walk-on after transferring from Colorado. A former five-star recruit from Lakeland, McClain showed flashes of potential during a developmental season, returning an interception for a TD against Kentucky while finishing the year with five tackles and a pass breakup.
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Other notable contributions from UF walk-ons last season included running back Anthony Rubio (six carries, 32 yards, 1 TD) and wide receiver Taylor Spierto (one catch, 20 yards).
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Why Florida football coach is happy to retain walk-ons for 2025 season
