Florida Football Rolls Up Over 800 Yards of Offense in Spring Game
In a highly anticipated display of offensive prowess, the University of Florida football team put on a show for fans at The Swamp on Saturday, accumulating 831 yards of offense and 70 points in a spring game that saw the blue team edge the orange team 38-32.
The Florida Gators football team, under the guidance of coach Billy Napier, demonstrated a marked improvement from last year’s moribund spring game, which ended with a paltry 10-7 score. According to Yahoo Sports, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin took to social media to troll the Gators after that game, posting a burn sign in response to UF’s lack of offensive output.
However, with walk-on quarterback Aidan Warner and cast-off quarterback Harrison Bailey piloting the respective offenses, the Gators moved up and down the field with regularity, showcasing a more potent attack. Bailey, a former blue-chip quarterback at Tennessee who transferred to UF from Louisville, passed for 363 yards and 3 TDs in his battle with Warner for the backup quarterback job. Warner threw for 157 yards and 2 TDs, both in the first half.
One of the standout performers of the day was freshman receiver Dallas Wilson, who set a spring-game record with 10 catches for 195 yards and 2 TDs. At 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds, Wilson looks physically ready-made for the SEC. "He looks the part for sure," Bailey said, as quoted in the original article. "Just seen him in one-on-ones, he plays in a very veteran kind of style the way he runs routes, very crisp, very big, physical guy, a big (catch) radius."
The Gators’ running backs also made significant contributions, with Ja’Kobi Jackson scoring on TD runs of 90, 40, and 23 yards. Jackson had 198 yards on 10 carries and 3 TDs, while sophomore Jadan Baugh added 56 yards rushing and 48 yards receiving, making some nifty moves to spring free after hauling in a screen pass on a 48-yard catch and run. Baugh and Jackson combined to average 10.9 yards per carry behind UF’s experienced offensive line, which returns All-American center Jake Slaughter.
According to Yahoo Sports, Jackson said, "We did a great job passing and running the ball today, protecting the QB. Offensive line did a great job blocking up front and we had us a day today."
Can Florida Football Offense Take Next Step When DJ Lagway Returns?
The best news of the day for Florida fans came following the scrimmage, when Napier said he expects star quarterback DJ Lagway to start throwing again in time for OTA and to be fully ready by the start of fall camp in late July. Lagway went 6-1 as a starter for UF as a true freshman last season and brings a strong arm and a belief that the Gators can make more progress in 2025 after closing the 2024 season with an 8-5 record and four wins in a row.
Lagway appeared in the spring game for four snaps on Saturday, handing the ball off all four times. "He’s frustrated, obviously," Napier said, as reported by Yahoo Sports. "He wants to play, man. Nobody likes to play more than that guy." However, Napier noted that Lagway gained experience this spring by taking mental reps and will get a chance to gain chemistry with a new and promising group of receivers this summer.
In addition to Wilson’s big day, UCLA transfer J. Michael Sturdivant (1 catch, 29 yards), freshman Vernell Brown III (4 catches, 34 yards), and freshman Naeshaun Montgomery (3 catches, 70 yards) showed flashes of their potential. "To go the distance, you need explosive play-makers on offense, right? Especially in our system," Napier said, as quoted in the article. "So, you know, the backs were productive today. I thought the skill players were impressive. So, yeah, I’m hopeful that that’s an indication of where we’re at."
As the Gators look to build on their progress, fans will be eagerly anticipating the return of Lagway and the continued development of the team’s young players. With a strong offense and a renewed sense of optimism, the Gators may be poised for a successful 2025 season.
The article was originally reported by Kevin Brockway, The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. For more information, contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.
