Swamp Things: A podcast about the Florida Gators

Florida quarterback DJ Lagway’s health remains a concern as the Gators’ Aug. 30 season opener looms. Lagway’s workload will be modified for a while because of a left calf injury as he also continues to progress from an offseason shoulder issue. UF’s fortunes likely hinge on the availability of the sophomore, who turned 20 a day after the Gators checked in at No. 15 in the preseason AP Top 25 featuring 10 SEC teams - six of the Florida opponents. During the latest Swamp Things, Edgar and Mark run through the Gators’ lengthy injury report, their tenuous quarterback situation and a taxing 2025 schedule.

Florida quarterback DJ Lagway is throwing in front of reporters for the first time since the Gasparilla Bowl, a positive step as he returns from shoulder, core and calf injuries. Lagway’s health could be the key to Billy Napier’s fourth season, though the embattled coach now has a roster better equipped to handle setbacks and able to support whoever lines up at QB. Napier hopes he doesn’t have to put his team’s depth to the test against a schedule featuring seven teams ranked in the coaches’ poll, five of them ahead of the No. 17 Gators. During the latest Swamp Things, Mark and Edgar have a thorough, at times passionate, discussion about the most promising Florida squad in some time.

Florida opens fall camp Wednesday as Billy Napier begins his fourth season in Gainesville. Napier has put together the Gators best roster in years, but all eyes will be on sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway as he returns from a shoulder injury. While Lagway’s health status remains a mystery, coach Todd Golden revealed transfer guard Boogie Fland is recovering from sports hernia surgery as the reigning national champions conclude summer workouts. Golden spoke to reporters at the unveiling of a portrait by UF linebacker James Bates, who has painted one for each of the school’s 20 national championship coaches. During the latest Swamp Things, Edgar and Mark put the finishing touches on basketball and offer a quick sketch of Napier’s 2025 Gators.

SEC media picked Florida to finish sixth a season after Billy Napier’s team was picked to finish 12th in the expanded 16-team conference. 2024 newcomer Texas is expected to win the league, ahead of Georgia. Each is on UF’s daunting 2025 schedule, but Napier is confident his team can go toe-to-toe with anyone. A big reason is sophomore QB DJ Lagway, who claimed a clean bill of health at Media Days but was left off the three All-SEC teams. During the latest Swamp Things, Mark and Edgar break it all down heading into the weekend.

All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr. was recognized one final time after he spearheaded the Gators’ national title, earning SEC Male Athlete of the Year honors. The Lake Wales native became the record 14th UF athlete to earn the distinction, including three in a row, and first SEC men’s basketball player since 2012. Clayton is onto his career’s next chapter, playing in the NBA summer league along with former backcourt mates Will Richard and Alijah Martin. Meanwhile, 7-9 19-year-old Olivier Rioux just wrapped up his summer with Canada’s U-19 as he aims for even a minor role with the reigning national champs. Football, though, is on everyone’s mind, with SEC Media Days set for next week, including a Day 3 appearance by Billy Napier, DJ Lagway and the Gators. During the latest Swamp Things, Edgar and Mark weigh the key storylines at SECMD, discuss Clayton’s latest honor and send well wishes to Red Panda.

Florida’s national title-winning guards Walter Clayton, Alijah Martin and Will Richard are headed to the NBA after the trio was among 60 players drafted. Selected No. 18, Clayton improved his value as much as just about anyone, while Martin’s stock also rose considerably — to pick No. 39 — during his one season with the Gators. Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon now push to become 2026 first-rounders themselves. Each first cashed in before the July 1 arrival of the House v. NCAA settlement aims to bring structure and transparency to student-athlete compensation after a four-year period when NIL legislation quickly became pay-for-play. During the latest Swamp Things, Mark and Edgar squeeze in a final podcast before turning the page on June.

Todd Golden’s Gators began summer workouts with several new faces, key veterans and one goal in mind: The ability of transfer point guards Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee to spearhead a rebuilt backcourt will be key to Florida’s aims to repeat. Meanwhile, UF athletic director Scott Stricklin soon will enter uncharted waters with the House v. NCAA settlement set to go into effect July 1. During the lastest Swamp Things, Mark and Edgar have plenty to unpack as summer is upon us.

Following a no-show on the field for Kevin O’Sullivan’s baseball team the longtime Gators coach had no place to hide. He was caught on film delivering a profanity-laced tirade at on-site officials. At least, UF’s softball team kept it classy despite disappointing results by Tim Walton’s squad. A week after men’s golf came up short and lacrosse flopped at the Final Four, it’s been a tough close to the spring for the Gators. During the latest Swamp Things, Edgar and Mark wrap up the sports calendar with only track and field remaining and summer workouts beginning in football and hoops.

The Gators received a major boost when Alex Condon withdrew from the NBA draft. Florida will open practice June 9 with a team poised to challenge for another national title. The football team’s hopes rest largely on the health of DJ Lagway. Billy Napier said this week he’s increasing his workload and should be 100% when the season opens. By then, college football should have some answers to some big questions surrounding the sport. During the latest Swamp Things, Mark and Edgar tackle a litany of topics three months from the start of the 2025 season.

Florida has shifted its early season scheduling philosophy in football to provide the Gators a soft opening and enhance their College Football Playoff hopes. Visits from LIU, FAU, South Florida, South Alabama, Campbell and Charleston Southern are a necessary evil, but a hard sell for Edgar while Mark is a bit more forgiving during the latest Swamp Things. Highly coveted transfer guard Boogie Fland’s visit, the national championship trip to the White House and a smorgasbord of spring sports also provide plenty to chew on.

Florida’s national championship earned coach Todd Golden a new contract with a hefty raise to put him among the nation’s highest-paid men's basketball coaches at age 39. UF included plenty of perks and some incentives to enhance the 6-year, $40.5 million package, but did little to make the deal ironclad if the NBA came calling. Meanwhile, Billy Napier’s assistant coaches got richer this offseason, highlighting the cost of doing business in SEC football — even for an 8-win team. During the latest Swamp Things, Mark and Edgar dig into the numbers and plenty else, including a recent Gators’ arrest and an early exit at the SEC softball tournament.

The NFL draft was a waiting game for the Gators, but seven Florida players eventually had their names called while several others heard from NFL teams once the three-day marathon concluded. DJ Lagway’s wait also is over as Florida’s star quarterback has resumed throwing after resting and rehabbing an ailing shoulder in recent months. Meanwhile, Todd Golden added another transfer, Orlando native AJ Brown, as he continues to put the pieces together to make another championship run. On the latest Swamp Things, Edgar and Mark do their best to juggle a lot of moving parts themselves during a busy end to April. Jeremy Crawshaw (16:52)

Fresh off a national championship, Todd Golden turned his attention to restocking his roster and completing his coaching staff. Yet, Golden did not expect Denzel Aberdeen to become part of the equation. Instead, the Orlando native and member of Golden’s first UF team three seasons ago entered the transfer portal for a bigger payday and, presumably, a better opportunity at SEC rival Kentucky. Aberdeen’s about-face is a sign of the times. During the latest Swamp Things, Mark and Edgar wonder what it says about the state of college sports, the sustainability of the current system and how Florida’s roster will ultimately shake out.

Florida’s spring football game also became one last chance to celebrate newly minted national champions in men’s basketball. On a picturesque day in Gainesville, a reported crowd of 56,563, the largest since Tim Tebow’s final spring game, came out to cheer Todd Golden’s Gators and see whether Billy Napier’s program is getting closer to competing for one. During the latest Swamp Things, Edgar and Mark have plenty to chat about, including some quick thoughts on a wild Masters Sunday during a memorable two-weekend stretch.

Todd Golden’s squad saved its best for last, staging yet another comeback - its fourth in six NCAA Tournament games - to capture the school’s third national title in men’s basketball. Along the way, Golden established himself as a rising star, while Walter Clayton became the darling of the Big Dance to win Most Outstanding Player honors and position himself as a potential first round NBA Draft pick. Three national titles and five Final Fours since 2000 also put the Gators in the conversation of the best basketball programs of the millennium. During the latest Swamp Things, Mark and Edgar break it all down, from the exhilarating run to what it all means for Golden, Clayton, AD Scott Stricklin and the Gators - oh yeah, and let’s not forget the spring football game.

Florida is heading to the Final Four for the first time since 2014 after a stunning comeback against Texas Tech in San Francisco. All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr. once again led the way with another scintillating performance during perhaps the greatest comeback in Gators sports history. During the latest Swamp Things, Edgar and Mark catch up about the UF’s remarkable run under Todd Golden, Clayton’s rise to stardom and what it will take for the Gators to bring home their first national title since 2007.

Florida traveled cross-country two days after ousting two-time defending national UConn in the NCAA Tournament to keep alive the Gators’ championship dream. Next up, a date with Maryland in the Sweet 16. The Terps are tough and talented, but the Gators are deeper and just might have the most confident player in the Big Dance - All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr. During the latest Swamp Things, Mark and Edgar discuss Todd Golden’s emotional return to the Bay Area and what it’ll take for the Gators to keep dancing into the Elite Eight.

Florida earned a top seed in the NCAA Tournament after their first SEC Tournament title since 2014, the last time the Gators reached the Final Four. Todd Golden’s team is poised for a deep run after rising to the top of a conference with a record 14 bids to the Big Dance. But upsets and Cinderella stories abound during what is arguably the most riveting event in sports. On the latest Swamp Things, Edgar and Mark have great expectations as the Gators begin pursuit of a national championship.

Florida aims to secure a top seed in the Big Dance at the conference tournament. History says it’s the best path to a national title. Todd Golden’s team is SEC’s No. 2 seed and riding a wave of momentum after one of the best regular seasons in school history. Billy Napier’s Gators, on the other hand, are amid spring practices without star quarterback DJ Lagway able to throw the ball. During the latest Swamp Things, Mark and Edgar discuss the prospects of Golden’s Gators and Lagway’s health, along with a jam-packed spring sports calendar.

lorida’s no-show at Georgia against former coach Mike White was the ultimate head-scratcher during a special season. Todd Golden’s Gators enter the final stretch of the regular season pushing to regain their mojo and momentum. With spring football a week away, Billy Napier continues to make staff moves on the offensive side of the ball. Will fresh ideas follow? Meanwhile, Mark and Edgar discuss a jam-packed spring sports calendar and pay homage to acting legend Gene Hackman, leading to a discussion of best all-time sports movies during the latest Swamp Things.