Florida to debut helmet stickers as part of alternate uniforms

Billy Napier | Arkansas week

The University of Florida’s football team, the Gators, is set to unveil a new black helmet for their upcoming game against the Arkansas Razorbacks. These helmets will feature various stickers that represent recognition and rewards for the players. The quantity of stickers on each helmet will vary based on their individual performance throughout the season.

Head coach Billy Napier initiated this tradition during his time at Louisiana, where similar stickers adorned the team’s helmets on a weekly basis.

The Florida vs. Arkansas game is scheduled for Noon ET and will be broadcasted live on ESPN2. The Gators are favored to win by three points on their home field in Gainesville.

Florida LB Shemar James ruled out for remainder of season after knee surgery

Unfortunately for the Gators, linebacker Shemar James will be sidelined for the rest of the season due to a knee injury. The news was confirmed by Billy Napier during a press conference, revealing that James underwent surgery for a dislocated kneecap.

James has been a valuable asset to the Florida defense this year, leading the team in tackles with 54, in addition to 5.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Despite his injury, he still managed to play in the game against Georgia and contributed with five tackles and 0.5 tackle for loss.

During the pregame warmups against Georgia, James slipped on the field, leading to concerns about the field conditions. The city of Jacksonville released a statement addressing these concerns, emphasizing that the field had been properly resodded and passed safety tests prior to the game.

Reporting contributed by Nick Schultz from On3.