Gators lose quality control assistant Deron Wilson to Arkansas
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators are losing a defensive quality control assistant for an on-field job, according to Matt Zenitz of On3. Deron Wilson will join the Arkansas Razorbacks as a secondary coach.
While at Florida, Wilson worked with Corey Raymond and the Gators’ cornerbacks. The move to Arkansas gets Wilson back into an on-field role as a coach.
Wilson arrived at Florida after spending two seasons as the defensive coordinator at McNeese State. Prior to that, he worked at UTSA from 2016-20 and served as a graduate assistant (2016-18) before being promoted to cornerback coach (2019-20).
A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Wilson has achieved a variety of coaching accolades. He has coached two defensive MVPs of the Southland Conference, 14 All-Southland Conference Players, and two All-C-USA Players. Wilson also worked with NFL defensive back Jordan Moore and Tariq Woolen who was a 5th-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Additionally, in 2021 he coached McNeese State to the number one ranked defense in the Southland Conference and helped lead UTSA to a top-ten-ranked defense in the country in 2017. The Cowboys led the conference in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, sacks, and fourth-down defense while ranking second in third-down defense. Wilson also helped McNeese sit nationally in the FCS in sacks (No. 10), rushing defense (No. 16), and scoring defense (No. 41).
Prior to his coaching career, Wilson played defensive back at Southern Miss from 2009-12, staring in 39 straight games and was selected to the 2010 Freshman All-American Second Team, Conference USA All-Freshman team, and Second Team All-C-USA honors from Phil Steele. A year later, he earned first-team all-conference and an honorable mention in 2012.
He was part of the secondary that broke the NCAA record for interceptions returned for touchdowns with eight and won the C-USA Championship during the 2011 season.
Wilson graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a bachelor of science and was invited to Rookie Mini Camp for the New York Giants in 2014.
![Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier celebrates with Florida Gators wide receiver Aidan Mizell (11) after a touchdown during the first half at the Orange and Blue spring football game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 13, 2024. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://on3static.com/cdn-cgi/image/height=215,width=393,quality=90,fit=cover,gravity=0.5x0.5/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/04/13155133/Untitled-design-65-2.png)
