Ask any Florida fan at the time about how Shemar James was still a Gator after the post-2023 season portal windows closed, and you’d probably hear the sound of major relief. After he went down to injury in the pregame before the Georgia game, it appeared that UF had no good linebackers left on the roster.
Fast forward a year, and James is foregoing his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL Draft after being Florida’s second-leading tackler. Gator fans are now wishing him well but not panicking.
That difference sums up how Billy Napier has turned around the inside linebacker room in Gainesville.