Gators’ Golden goose gets paid handsomely (Ep. 279)

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. Basketball: Clayton honor (:00) Oli’s plan (9:24) Non-conference schedule (12:29) AD Scott Stricklin future (18:03) Tennis: Ben Shelton (24:42) SEC Media Days (28:10) Coaches in the hot seat (33:40) Players or employees (36:30) Lane Kiffin misses his window (40:57)

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. NBA draft (:00) Returning players (17:26) NCAA settlement (33:01) Football recruiting (55:26) Jeremy Foley’s Corner (58:57)

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. Catching up (0:00) Mens basketball update (5:46) Schedule released (18:20) Football (26:02) AD Scott Stricklin on settlement (33:20) How do schools have any hope? (40:34) NBA Draft (54:32)

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. Coach Kevin O'Sullivan tirade (0:00) Baseball season (13:33) Jac Caglianone called up to Majors (17:40) College Football Hall of Fame ballot (20:28) Softball season in review (25:26) Track and field falls short (29:47) Athlete contracts (30:00) Basketball: Olivier Rioux center stage (41:13) Summer workouts (46:44) Football OTAs (49:28)

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. Alex Condon is back (0:00) Basketball stats (10:16) Shoe deal (14:52) Napier: DJ Lagway's workload (20:00) NIL's impact on discipline issues (29:10) Team development (36:51) SEC spring meetings (38:47) Jeremy Foley’s Corner (1:01:59)

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. Football schedule (0:00) Basketball schedule (14:14) Gators at While House (26:40) Coach salaries (30:58) Jeremy Foley’s Corner (35:08)

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. Todd Golden contract (0:00) Contract perks (8:58) Closing in on Billy Napier (14:01) Football staff raises (18:56) Ninth game? (31:25) CB Dijon Johnson arrest (41:07) Jeremy Foley’s Corner (46:43)  

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. Gators in NFL draft (0:00) Montrell Johnson Jr. (3:02) Graham Mertz (7:43) Jeremy Crawshaw (16:52)  Desmond Watson (19:33) Other signings (21:33) Jags: Travis Hunter (28:37) Spotlight on the Jacksonville (32:57) Shedeur Sanders saga (34:29) QB DJ Lagway healthy (40:37) Bill Belichick restrictions (44:49) Todd Golden making moves (47:58) Jeremy Foley’s Corner (50:21)  

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. Mind boggling transfer portal (2:56) UF’s success leads to demise (7:13) Evolution of the portal (16:42) Todd Golden cashing in (26:57) No more operating in the shadows (37:03) Gators in NFL draft (44:07) Jeremy Foley’s Corner (53:37)  

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. Basketball team honored (:00) Todd Golden contract (2:27) Deserving of own event (4:17) Heavyweight boosters (9:00) Top targets (19:02) Spring football game: DJ Lagway status (22:31) Other players (39:50) Game not televised (38:48) Who didn’t play (41:00) Autograph line for Lagway (43:15) AD Scott Stricklin gets booed (44:39) Most joyless person: Bill Belichick (49:00) Jeremy Foley’s Corner (51:10) The Masters (54:24)