GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Coming off back-to-back losing seasons, Florida coach Billy Napier needed to make changes. Napier hired a “head coach of the defense,” an “expert in the special teams space” and a new strength and conditioning coordinator during the past two months. Napier and the Gators are counting on all the new faces making a huge difference this fall. Napier could give up play-calling duties for the first time in seven seasons as a head coach. His offense was inconsistent, his defense was historically woeful and his special teams units provided more head-scratching moments than game-changing momentum.

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Persons: Billy Napier, Napier, ”, ” Napier, He’s, signee Jaden Rashada, Rashada, There’s, “, Ron Roberts, Roberts, mentee Austin Armstrong, Joe Houston, Craig Fitzgerald, Mark Hocke, Russ Callaway, we’ve, Russ, Jameer Grimsley, Asa Turner, Grayson Howard, “ We’ve Organizations: Gators, Sun Belt Conference, NCAA, Arizona State, Auburn, New England Patriots, Houston, New York Giants, Alabama, AP Locations: GAINESVILLE, Fla, Florida, Gainesville, Louisiana, Lafayette, Miami, Washington, South Carolina