Billy Napier has stated that he wants to build a fence around Gainesville and keep the most talented high school athletes in the Sunshine State for the Florida Gators. What are the top high schools that Napier should be targeting? I would argue that Urban Meyer was a master at recruiting the best high schools in the Sunshine State as well as the diamonds in the rough from out-of-state. His downfall was recruiting kids with an edge but not being able to manage those rough personalities. Will Muschamp was able to grab the best defensive athletes from the best Sunshine State schools but was not able to match that talent on the offensive side of the ball nor was he able to manage rough personalities. Jim McElwain was horrible at recruiting Sunshine State talent and at managing the behaviors of his athletes. Dan Mullen looked like he was able to manage athlete behavior until the middle of the 2020 season which coupled with his lack of overall recruiting prowess ultimately led to his demise.
As long as Napier repairs almost two decades of broken relationships with the most dominant high school football programs and is able to manage the behaviors of these kids in the NIL era, Napier will succeed.
As long as Napier repairs almost two decades of broken relationships with the most dominant high school football programs and is able to manage the behaviors of these kids in the NIL era, Napier will succeed.
- Miami Central (6A), 6 championships. Notable alumni: Bruce Armstrong, Antonio Brown, Dalvin Cook, Devonta Freeman, Willis McGahee
- St. Thomas Aquinas (7A), 8 championships. Notable alumni: *Cody Riggs, *Bryan Cox Jr, Nick Bosa, Asante Samuel Jr, *Marcus Roberson, *Major Wright
- Glades Central (4A), 6 championships. Notable alumni: *Ray McDonald, *Fred Taylor, *Reidel Anthony, *Deonte Thompson, *Louis Oliver, *Jimmy Spencer
- Carol City (4A). 4 championships. Notable alumni: *Godfry Myles.
- Booker T. Washington (Miami) (7A), 7 championships. Notable alumni: *Antonio Callaway, Quinton Dunbar
- Armwood (Seffner) (6A), 1 championship. Notable alumni: Byron Cowart, *Matt Jones, *Mike Pearson
- American Heritage (5A), 4 championships. Notable alumni: *TJ Slaton, Sony Michel, Patrick Surtain II, *Marco Wilson
- Northwestern (Miami) (6A), 3 championships. Notable alumni: Sam Davis, Amari Cooper, Teddy Bridgewater
- Trinity Christian (3A), 5 championships. Notable alumni: Andre Smith
- Trinity Catholic (3a), 2 championships. Notable alumni: *John Brantley
- Plant (Tampa) (8A), 4 championships, Notable alumni: *Lee McGriff
- Apopka (8A), 2 championships. Notable alumni: Warren Sapp, Sammie Smith
- Manatee (Bradenton) (7A). 5 championships. Notable alumni: Ace Sanders
- Dr. Philips (Orlando) (6A), 1 championship. Notable alumni: Ha-Ha Clinton Dix, *Marcel Harris
- Bolles (4A), 11 championships. Notable alumni: Mac Jones, David Treadwell.
- IMG Academy (independent). Notable alumni: *Kenyatta Walker, Grant Delpit, Kellen Mond, Bo Scarborough
- Raines (5A). 1 championship. Notable alumni: *Jabar Gaffney, *Derrick Gaffney, *Lito Sheppard, *Terry LeCount, *Anthone Lott, Shawn Jefferson
- Fort Walton Beach (6A). 2 championships. Notable alumni: *Danny Wuerffel, Glen Coffee, EG Green
- Jefferson (Tampa). 1 championship. Notable alumni: *Andre Caldwell, *Reche Caldwell, *Rick Casares
- Nease (7A). 1 championship. Notable alumni: *Tim Tebow.
- Lakewood (St. Petersburg) (4A). Notable alumni: *Dante Fowler, Shaquill Griffin, Shaquem Griffin, *Louis Murphy
- Buchholz (7A). 1 championship. Notable alumni: *Doug Johnson, *Billy Latsko
- Gainesville (6A). 1 championship. Notable alumni: Clinton Portis, *Chris Thompson, *Earl Okine
- Escambia (6A), 2 championships. Notable alumni: *Emmitt Smith, Trent Richardson, Reggie Johnson, @Escambia94
- Eastside (5A) (Gainesville). Notable alumni: (Anthony Richardson)
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