GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Reports began to surface Monday that Gators head coach
Billy Napier, in the continuation of a busy offseason, is
set to hire former colleague Ron Roberts as a defensive assistant.
While no official announcement has been made, the hire makes sense considering Napier's connection with Roberts, who spent last season as Auburn's defensive coordinator. Roberts was Louisiana's defensive coordinator in Napier's first two seasons as a head coach in 2018 and '19. He left Louisiana for Baylor, where he spent three seasons as defensive coordinator prior to going to Auburn in December 2022.
Roberts received a glowing endorsement from Auburn linebacker
Eugene Asanta on social media when the news began to spread.
"Coach Ron Roberts took a LB who (was) deemed not good enough to play by a previous staff and helped him be one of the leading tacklers in the SEC," Asante wrote on Instagram. "For y'all to say he ain't a good coach is stupid and needs to be examined. Thank you for everything you did for me coach. You instilled confidence into me as a player and I will use everything you taught me daily. Good luck at Florida."
Asanta had one tackle in 2022 in limited playing time. He led the Tigers with 86 stops as the seventh-leading tackler in the Southeastern Conference in his season playing for Roberts.
He had a message for Gators linebacker Shemar James.
"You got a good one."
As the offseason news cycle continues to churn, a look at other developments of interest to Gators fans:
MAKING THE READ
—Former Gators quarterback Jack Miller III, whose claim to fame in Orange & Blue will be starting the loss to Oregon State in the 2022 Las Vegas Bowl, is no longer part of the program writes Graham Hall of 247Sports.
—The revamp of Florida's strength and conditioning staff continues writes Zach Abolverdi of On3.com.
—Good read on Gators freshman quarterback DJ Lagway from Edgar Thompson of the Orlando Sentinel.
—Gators athletic director
Scott Stricklin believes in head coach Billy Napier writes
Nick de la Torre of
On3.com.
—Florida is expected to hire
Mark Robinson, who has been at Texas A&M,
for an NFL-type front office role writes
Jacob Rudner of
247Sports.
—Former Gators tight end
Andrew Savaiieana is headed to Nevada writes
Chris Murray of
NevadaSportsNet.com.
—Former Gators linebacker
Scooby Williams has transferred to Texas A&M writes
Ryan Brauninger of
TexAgs.com.
—Former Gators defensive back
Jaydon Hill is also headed to College Station writes
Hayes Fawcett of
On3.com.
TOPICAL TWEETS
Departing Gators center
Kingsley Eguakun will play in the upcoming Senior Bowl ...
The newest Gators, including top prospect Lagway, moved in over the weekend ...
Congrats to Gators football operations assistant
Yusuf Shakir on his induction into the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame ...
Best of luck to former Gators starting offensive lineman
Richie Leonard IV, who announced he is in the transfer portal ...
