GAINESVILLE — Florida football’s new offensive coordinator Russ Callaway aims to put his stamp Billy Napier’s attack in the form of a KISS — keep it simple, stupid.
Cutting-edge X’s and O’s and exotic schemes do not mask a basic truth.
“Make sure your best players touch the ball as many times as possible,” he said. “It’s really that simple.”
The Gators’ offense steadily improved in 2023. UF finished with an average of 27 points during Power 5 games after managing 18 points a game during the team’s first three P5 contests, including lopsided losses at Utah and Kentucky.
Veteran quarterback Graham Mertz’s return provides continuity as Florida pushes to replace first-round draft pick Ricky Pearsall at receiver and explosive Georgia transfer Trevor Etienne with Montrell Johnson Jr. as a change-of-pace tailback.
To further elevate the offense, Napier promoted Callaway in February from tight ends coach to co-OC with longtime Napier lieutenant Rob Sale.
“He’s got some fire,” Mertz said in April. “The biggest thing with him is his passion for the game. He’s very vocal, he’s a great leader.
“He wants us to be aggressive and score a ton of points.”
Callaway, 35, showed his wares early on, during four seasons as Samford University’s offensive coordinator (2017-19). Running the Air Raid scheme, the Bulldogs led the FCS in passing (392.7 yards per game) and averaged 38.5 points in ’18.
While Callaway will put his spin on the Gators’ attack, playcalling duties will remain Napier’s responsibility and game planning will be collaborative. Unfounded speculation UF’s head coach might hand off the play sheet to better oversee the entire operation instead created an opportunity for Callaway, the son of longtime coach Neil Callaway.
Russ Callaway and his colleagues now look to provides chances for Florida’s playmakers.
“We’ve done a much, much better job as an offensive staff, starting with coach Napier,” he said. “‘OK, here’s the people that we trust. Here are the people we want to make sure are touching it X amount of times in a game.’
“We’re going to design plays according to do that.”
Sophomore receiver Eugene “Tre” Wilson III tops the list of get-it-to Gators.
The rising star from Tampa arrived last June, rather than enrolling early, but caught up quickly to finish second to Pearsall with 61 catches and tie for second overall on the team in TDs (6).
Wilson led the Gators with 8 catches for 128 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown from Mertz during the spring game.
Johnson, veteran transfer receivers Chimere Dike (Wisconsin) and Elijhah Badger (Arizona State) and promising sophomore pass-catchers Aidan Mizell, Andy Jean and Arlis Boardingham are among a pack competing for touches.
“It’s to be determined, but I’m excited about what I see,” Napier said. “We have other weapons, and some of those roles are going to be earned in this training camp.”
At 11-14 in two seasons at UF, Napier maintains the Gators are still on schedule.
Yet, his attack also did not make the Year 2 leap similar to his second team at Louisiana. The 2019 Ragin’ Cajuns averaging 6 more points to 37.9, and four more plays of longer than 10 yards to finish seventh nationally. The 2023 Gators scored one fewer point and managed just four more total plays longer than 10 yards.
Callaway hopes to provide the offensive push UF needs in 2024. He has a long history with iconic playmakers and playcallers.
When his father served as offensive coach at Auburn from 1981-92, Bo Jackson won the ’85 Heisman and would return to cheer the Tigers.
“My dad used to meet us at the hedges and get us — me and my brother and my sister — and we’d go to the locker room and we’d sing the fight song,” Callaway said. “I remember seeing Bo Jackson singing the song. He had me on his shoulders.
“That’s kind of what started my love for the game.”
After dad switched allegiances to Alabama in 1998, Callaway became a ball boy. During a ’99 visit to the Swamp, Steve Spurrier spotted him before the Crimson Tide’s 40-39 upset behind Shaun Alexander.
“I was a little kid,” Callaway said. “Coach Spurrier, he’d yell, ‘Hey, you’re putting too much air in those balls.’ I was just in awe that coach Spurrier was talking to me. Been at every SEC stadium twice, and this was the one spot I was like, ‘That would be really cool one day if I could be a Gator.’
“And here I am.”
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
Orlando Sentinel
