Billy Gonzales takes over Gators play-calling

**Gainesville, FL** – The Florida Gators are making a significant change to their offensive coaching staff, with wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales set to take over offensive play-calling duties, effective immediately. Head coach Billy Napier announced the shift, delegating the responsibilities ahead of the Gators’ crucial road game against No. 18 LSU this Saturday, November 11, in Baton Rouge.

The decision comes on the heels of a disappointing 39-36 overtime loss to Arkansas at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium last Saturday, November 4, which dropped the Gators’ record to 5-4 for the season. Napier, who has served as the primary offensive play-caller since arriving in Gainesville, will now relinquish those specific duties to focus more broadly on his role as head coach.

For Gonzales, this marks his first opportunity to be a primary play-caller at the collegiate level. His promotion is a notable step in his long and decorated coaching career. He has a deep history with Coach Napier, having been on his staff for seven of the last eight seasons, including their successful tenure at Louisiana.

Gonzales is also intimately familiar with the Florida program and the SEC. He previously coached wide receivers at Florida under Urban Meyer from 2005 to 2009, during which time the Gators secured national championships in 2006 and 2008, developing stars like Percy Harvin. Interestingly, he also coached at LSU from 2012 to 2016 under Les Miles, working with talents such as Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry, making his return to Tiger Stadium as a play-caller a full-circle moment.

The Gators’ offense has shown flashes of potential this season but has struggled with consistency, particularly in critical moments and red zone efficiency. The Arkansas game highlighted these issues, with Florida failing to convert several opportunities and committing costly turnovers. The team currently ranks in the middle of the SEC in most offensive categories, a performance that has put pressure on Napier in his second season.

“This is about finding the best way to move forward and put our team in the best position to succeed,” Napier stated in a recent press conference, acknowledging the need for a different approach. “Billy Gonzales has a tremendous understanding of our offensive system, a great rapport with our players, and a proven track record of developing offensive talent. I have full confidence in his ability to lead our play-calling efforts.”

Gonzales will inherit an offense featuring quarterback Graham Mertz, who has shown improvement throughout the season, and a talented, albeit sometimes inconsistent, receiving corps. The challenge will be immediate and significant, as Florida faces an LSU squad known for its explosive offense, led by quarterback Jayden Daniels, and playing in one of the most hostile environments in college football.

The Gators enter the crucial final stretch of their season needing one more win to achieve bowl eligibility. The decision to hand play-calling duties to Gonzales signals a proactive step by Napier to inject new energy and perspective into the team’s offensive strategy as they aim to finish the season strong. Kickoff for the Florida-LSU game is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.