Florida lost a key component to its offense, but gained a running backs coach as changes are underway for new Gators head coach Billy Napier.
Wide receiver Jacob Copeland, one day after he caught two passes for 35 yards in the Gators’ 29-17 loss to Central Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl, announced he will transfer to Maryland. In 40 games with the Gators, Copeland had 86 receptions for 1,366 yards and nine touchdowns.
Copeland tied for the team lead in receptions this season with 41 and had a team-leading 642 yards with four TDs. He entered his name in the portal before the bowl game and then posted on social media Friday that he was Maryland-bound.
Florida, meantime, announced the addition of William Peagler from Michigan State. Peagler was the running backs coach with the Spartans for the past two seasons, and MSU confirmed he would coach with the Spartans through the Peach Bowl on Thursday.
At Florida, he will coach the tight ends under Napier. Peagler had previously worked with Napier at Louisiana as director of player personnel and quality control before he moved to Colorado in a similar administrative capacity under Tucker in 2019. He then moved with Tucker to Michigan State as an on-field assistant coach.
Florida hired Napier from Louisiana last month, one week after former head coach Dan Mullen was fired. Napier became Florida’s fourth head coach in eight seasons.
