Billy Napier confirmed that defensive lineman Jamari Lyons sustained a broken ankle during Saturday’s scrimmage and will be out for the 2024 season. Lyons, a former four-star recruit from Vierra High, played 198 snaps last season in a rotational role and was expected to contribute similarly this year.
Although the Gators have players who can step up, replacing Lyons’ versatility will be challenging for Florida in 2024.
During his press conference, Napier emphasized Lyons’ flexibility to play both inside and on the end. “There will be some adjustments, but the key is that Jamari (Lyons) could play both nose and end. We’ll need to shuffle things around a bit,” he said.
Last season, Lyons lined up in the A gap 76 times and in the B gap 110 times, according to Pro Football Focus. He excelled at run defense but was less effective as a pass rusher. His ability to handle multiple roles added significant value to the team.
Napier suggested that Michai Boireau and Kelby Collins would be the primary replacements for Lyons. Boireau, a true freshman, has had a tumultuous recruitment but is a sizable option at 6’5″ and 351 pounds, likely to fill Lyons’ inside role.
Collins, who played 274 snaps last season with 15 hurries and three sacks as a true freshman, could take over the outside snaps vacated by Lyons.
Napier also mentioned the possibility of moving Tyreak Sapp back inside. Sapp played EDGE last year after Justus Boone’s injury but had been an inside player in 2022. Despite solid performances on the outside, Sapp’s pass rush win rate was below average. With limited depth on the outside, Napier might consider shifting Sapp back inside if he believes players like Collins, Kamram James, or five-star freshman LJ McCray can provide adequate outside pressure.
Overall, while Lyons was expected to play around 15 to 20 snaps per game, Napier has several options to fill those gaps.
