Billy Napier: 'Very impressed' with injured running back Nay'Quan Wright

Florida running back Nay’Quan Wright is rehabbing from a broken ankle suffered at the end of the 2021 season but making a big impression on his new Gators coaches nonetheless. First-year head coach Billy Napier shared his first impressions of the junior running back on Wednesday.

“Very impressed with Nay’Quan as a person,” Napier said. “He has maturity, he has big-picture perspective. I think he’s intelligent, he’s tough. He’s been through some things – he’s resilient. He has some leadership qualities. We need the guy. We not only need the guy a running back, we’re missing the guy from that perspective – but we’re also missing his ability to affect the rest of the team. I would say in my short time Nay’Quan is one of the players I have the most respect for just because of his approach and overall attitude.”

In 2021, Wright posted 326 yards and one rushing touchdown on 76 carries for the Gators. The 2022 season will be a big bounce-back year for the former four-star prospect and he’s no stranger to coming back from an ankle injury. He broke his other ankle in high school. Wright is just beginning to run again and should be full-go by the fall.

“He’s from South Miami, a South Florida man. You think he don’t have an edge already? He wakes up with it,” running backs coach Jabbar Juluke added. “I asked him, I said, ‘How are you feeling?’ He said, ‘Coach, I did this before. It’s not the first time.’ And he’s gonna be fine.”

Napier shares how players have responded to new culture

Meeting with reporters after practice on Tuesday, Napier was asked about his players buying into his new staff and their overall approach. The former Louisiana coach said it’s been a great transition so far.

“To be honest with you, we have had zero resistance,” Napier said. “I think that’s probably the biggest compliment I could give the players because they’ve completely embraced every change. I think it goes back to – I think the people within the organization have done a good job of establishing trust, there’s been good communication and I think we’ve explained why we do what we do and how we do it. And, overall we’ve hired really good people and people that are experts at what they do.

“I think immediately when the player senses that they care for them and that they can help them, I think that’s the reason we haven’t had much resistance at all. So, it’s probably the best thing about where we’re at right now.”

On3’s Tyler Mansfield contributed to this report.