Florida Gators and Billy Napier entered the 2025 season with the toughest schedule in the country. Things were looking gruesome as they had to face the likes of Miami Hurricanes, Georgia Bulldogs, and Texas Longhorns.  In total, at least 8 games were deemed to be quite challenging both home and away. But, Napier and the Gators not only dig in deep in their roster to improve throughout the season. They also finished at 8-5 overall a massive improvement on their 5-7 finish in the 2023 season. Things were looking quite optimistic ahead. Except they had a massive problem on their hands.

They have just lost their defensive backs coach, Will Harris. He decided to switch camps after joining Mario Cristobal’s camp in Miami. The departure has sparked a looming crisis for the Gators who are now left without a cornerbacks coach in their 10 assistant coaches they have in their staff right now. That is because he was recently touted to oversee the CBs at Gators after Napier recently hired Vinnie Sunseri as Co-defensive coordinator. But why is the loss so great for the Gators?

Well, Harris was someone who had significantly improved the Gators’ back line. This is because in their 2023 season, they were averaging about 27.6 points conceded per game, which improved in the 2024 season when they averaged 23.1 points conceded per game. Furthermore, their total yards conceded per game also improved as they gave almost 6 yards less per game than their previous. Of course, that doesn’t look like a lot, but when you factor in the total yards conceded, the stats provide a pretty clear picture. So, overall, Harris’s departure will certainly hurt the Gators. But what can they actually do in this crisis?

Well, Florida Gators have already started their search for their new assistant coach to take the place of Harris. Hightop Sports podcast host provided with the potential candidates Florida is looking for the role. “Corey Bell was a name we mentioned who coached at the University of Florida in 2017 working with CJ Gardner, C.J Henderson, and Duke Dawson. He’s a Mississippi State cornerbacks coach who loves the familiarity“. Of course, the choice looks quite apt, too. The man has vast coaching experience in coaching cornerbacks and was also coaching Florida secondaries in 2017. So, there’s a history too. Hightop Sports also provided another prospective name for the job.

“Another name would be Deron Wilson, Georgia State defensive coordinator he just got the job. He was Arkansas’s  DB coach or secondary coach so this would be kind of in my opinion similar to that coach Vinnie right there. They’re moving up and we’re taking them to come back at a more of you know power four-level”. And, it’s quite right too since Deron Wilson also will make a very good name as CB coach at Gators. And this is because…

Why Deron Wilson can be the top choice for the vacant position

His time with Arkansas Razorbacks‘ secondary coach is evident by the improvement done on Arkansas’s defense. They had ranked 4th in the SEC in passing yards allowed per game (208.8 yards) and finished with the best record since their 2011 season. Furthermore, their interceptions also were something that stood out greatly as they achieved third position in the SEC with 12 interceptions. But Wilson’s achievements and development of players also stand out on their own.

The work he had done with Jaylon Braxton, who had earned all Freshman SEC honors after posting 21 tackles, including 12 solo tackles in the 2023 season. He also worked with other players like CB Dwight McGlothern and Alfahiym Walcott, who also produced effectively on the field. But, the major thing that will make him one of the top choices will be his past connection to Florida. Where previously, he had worked as a Quality Control Assistant with the CBs, working alongside their CB coach, Corey Raymond.