Billy Napier evaluates youth of defensive backs

The Florida Gators lost a handful of talent and returning starters from last season to the NFL this offseason, particularly in the secondary where they lost veterans like Trey Dean and Rashad Torrence. Some Gator defensive backs will gave to grow up fast and contribute in the secondary this upcoming season, which head coach Billy Napier discussed during spring practice.

“That’s one of the areas on our team where young players are gonna have to play, there’s no question,” Napier said. “So the Jordan Castell project, the Bryce Thornton project, and certainly Kamari (Wilson) and Miguel (Mitchell) both being young players had some experience last year but not necessarily returning starters. So that room is a room where we’re doing a lot of work.”

Castel and Thornton both just arrived on campus this year for the Gators, enrolling early and participating in spring practice. The two were both ranked within the top 50 at the safety position in the 2023 recruiting class, and some early playing time in their young careers could be coming their way depending on how fast they can learn and execute the Gators’ defense.

And if those two freshmen aren’t quite ready, the Gators can rely on Wilson and Mitchell as they enter their sophomore seasons, who each appeared in every single game last year for Florida and made a combined three starts as freshmen.

“And then when you’ve got the star position with (Jadarrius) Perkins, Jaydon (Hill), and Sharif (Denson). And then Ja’Markis (Weston) is back there and he’s learning that for the first time, he’ll make some improvement over the summer and through training camp,” Napier said.

The Gators’ star position will be crucial in their defense in obvious passing situations, and thankfully, they have a variety of options at that spot. From experienced veterans like Hill who’s started 14 games in his career to newly enrolled freshmen like Denson, Napier and his staff have their fair share of DBs that can fill that spot.

Despite this, Napier still entertained the idea of potentially bringing in more talent in the secondary from the transfer portal. RJ Moten joined the team from the transfer portal after spring practice was complete, providing veteran experience and leadership to the safety position from Michigan.

Moten may help combat some of the youth in Florida’s secondary, but regardless, development will still be a major key to the team’s success on the back end this upcoming season.

“So overall that is a room where we could add a player,” Napier said. “That’s a room that we need to continue to develop if that makes sense. And ultimately it’s going to be a big part of how good we can be on defense is how good that can be, that’ll be one of the areas of our team where we’ll be inexperienced and we will be playing young players.”