One sign of a successful program is when your assistant coaches and staff get poached for bigger roles elsewhere. That seems to have happened to Billy Napier this week when quality control assistant [autotag]Deron Wilson[/autotag] left his role in Gainesville for an on-field position at Arkansas.
Wilson will serve as the Razorbacks’ secondary coach. At Florida, Wilson worked with cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] in developing the Gators’ young secondary. Before his arrival in Gainesville, Wilson spent two seasons as McNeese State’s defensive coordinator. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at UTSA before being promoted to defensive coordinator.
In his time at McNeese State, Wilson coached the No. 1 ranked defense in the Southland Conference. While at UTSA, he was a part of a defensive staff that saw the Road Runners’ defense finish in the top ten in 2017. He can also take credit for coaching two Southland Conference defensive MVPs, 14 All-Southland Conference players, and two All-C-USA players. He has also coached NFL defensive backs Jordan Moore and Tariq Woolen, who was a 5th-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft.
Wilson played defensive back at Southern Miss from 2009-2012, starting in 39 games and earning multiple awards, including Freshman All-American Second Team honors in 2010.
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