Back to business as usual
Gators’ recruit Graham calm after emotional reaction to LB coach’s exit after signing day
Gainesville Buchholz linebacker Myles Graham, the son of legendary Florida Gators running back Earnest Graham, signed to follow in his father’s footsteps on National Signing Day.
A day later, Florida linebackers coach Jay Bateman announced he was leaving UF to take the same position as well as co-defensive coordinator on Mike Elko’s staff at Texas A&M.
Father Graham was furious. The younger Graham was hurt. Both felt deceived.
“I wasn’t really mad. I was kind of sad about it, that he up and left that quickly, the day after I signed,” Myles Graham said Friday at the Under Armour All-American Game media day at the Orlando Marriott World Center. The game will be played today at Camping World Stadium (ESPN, 4).
“So it did hurt because I didn’t know about it and I felt like it stabbed me in the back, but it’s kind of a business as a whole, college football, so it’s not just the University of Florida that’s doing shaky business or anything. It’s just the way of the world and how it goes.”
His father was certainly mad after signing day and he took to social media to vent on X (formerly known as Twitter).
“My son was raised to understand the business as it exists but there has been new levels of disconnect with this program that I have NEVER ever experienced. No calls, no communication and the dryest experience imaginable. I’m just going to START there.”
Graham said the emotions have calmed since Dec. 21 and he learned something important.
“I learned a lesson at a young age. I learned it the hard way to not commit to a coach but commit to a program,” he said. “I’m glad my dad did what he did and I back him in whatever he does. I think it will end up helping the university in that way, helping us as a program to be more vocal and communicate better.”
Graham said the surprise move by Bateman was just as shocking to Gators coach Billy Napier.
“He explained the situation,” he said. “Billy Napier, being the head coach, he found out the same way that we did. He talked it out and he said I was in good hands and that the next linebackers coach is going to be a great coach, so he expressed that there’s nothing to worry about.”
Graham also said Napier discussed the linebackers-coach opening with him.
“He talked to me about who they may hire, who I want to see hired, who I thought the other guys in the room would want to see hired and we discussed a few names and everything,” he said.
Graham also said he has since talked with Bateman since the sudden departure.
“I wished him farewell and I wished him good luck on his journey and he did the same to me, so we’ll see each other in Week 3 of the season,” he said.
With the Gators struggling in each of Napier’s first two seasons, the recruiting pitch has been difficult for the UF coaching staff, but Graham said that did not enter into his recruiting judgment.
“I’ve believed in the vision ever since I committed … before [Napier] played his first game as coach,” he said. “Coach Napier is a brilliant guy and he’s a great coach … nothing’s going to happen overnight. We obviously want to win games, we obviously let our emotions get in the way of that, we all want to be the best team, but we all got to be patient.
“A lot of programs come around after the second year and hopefully we’re going to be one of those programs that have a winning season, eight, nine games … I really do believe we’re going to turn it around.”
This past season at Buchholz, Graham — a 4-star linebacker who is ranked No. 5 in the nation by 247 Sports composite rankings — had 82 tackles and nine tackles for loss. He also had three sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery. Graham also played running back and had 600 yards on 62 carries and scored 17 touchdowns.