Give Billy Napier some points for creativity.
Florida’s football coach brought in Olivier Rioux, a 7-foot-9 redshirt freshman basketball player for the Gators, to work out with the hope that he could help block field goals and extra points.
“I like the idea,” Gators basketball coach Todd Golden said at a booster event Thursday, per the Associated Press.”I give them credit for trying it.”
Unfortunately, the tryout didn’t go as hoped.
Rioux has just an 11-inch vertical, so despite his massive wingspan, he couldn’t get up high enough to block any kicks.
“They were a little disappointed,” Golden said.
Rioux is expected to be in the rotation this year for the Gators, though his minutes could be limited given that Florida returns its entire national-title winning frontcourt.
He could also be used to guard inbounds passes, where his height and wingspan is likely to create a major problem.
There is a recent history of college athletes playing both football and basketball.
Keon Coleman, currently a receiver for the Bills, committed to Michigan State to play both football and basketball — and did play a handful of basketball games for the school before transferring to Florida State for his junior year.
The Bills ultimately selected him in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
That, however, was in a much different, less-specialized role than Florida was aiming for with Rioux.
Rioux, a Canada native, did not appear in any games for the Gators last season, with Florida’s website stating he took a redshirt season to work on his “strength, conditioning and agility.”
He made headlines after the national title triumph over Houston by cutting down the nets without a ladder.