GAINESVILLE — Florida Gators football coach Billy Napier and his brethren have been bracing for a roster reckoning spurred by the House v. NCAA antitrust settlement.
The landmark legislation went into effect Tuesday, but sweeping changes remained on the horizon, not yet at the doorstep.
With fall camp scheduled to start at month’s end, Napier’s roster stands at 117 players — a dozen above the proposed future limit of 105.
“When we got the job, there were certain parameters around how you build your roster. We proceeded that way,” Napier said at the SEC Spring Meetings on May 28 in Destin. “I really like the group that we have. We’ve been fortunate to keep that group intact for the most part. … But if we’ve learned anything, it’s very fluid.
“So, play by the rules this year.”
Like their coaching brethren, Florida coach Billy Napier, left, and Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin wonder how the House v. NCAA Settlement will impact their teams. (Photos by John Raoux and Randy J. Williams/The Associated Press)
Senior District Judge Claudia Wilken did not approve the settlement until June 6. A sticking point was including a provision to allow current walk-ons to receive a grandfather clause.
The reprieve is welcomed by coaches grappling with roster management in an era of the transfer portal, NIL and the College Football Playoff. While the delay buys time, it doesn’t allay long-term concerns about the impact of smaller rosters on player safety and practice efficiency.
Napier recalled a study indicating NFL franchises had an average of 119 players pass through their rosters, even though teams are limited 53 active players and up to 16 on a practice squad. A free-agent market provides a continual source of available players to replace those who are injured or underperforming.
“The biggest…
Source link : https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/07/01/florida-gators-football-sec-billy-napier-ncaa-settlement-lane-kiffin-dabo-swinney-mike-elko/
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Publish date : 2025-07-02 00:14:00
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