A pair of former Gators from the 1990s — wide receiver Willie Jackson Jr. and safety Lawrence Wright III — are finished with their NFL careers and making a difference on the high school circuit, according to All Gators’ Cam Parker.
Jackson played with the Gators from 1990 to 1993, hauling in 162 career receptions, which ranks third in program history. He also scored 24 touchdowns (6th) and totaled 2,172 career receiving yards (9th). Wright, who started with the Gators in 1993 helped the team to four conference titles and a national championship while claiming a Jim Thorpe Award.
Jackson and Wright have reunited at P.K. Yonge’s Developmental Research School in Gainesville as coaches. The first year of Jackson’s tenure as head coach of the program comes with some serious challenges, though. The Blue Wave have 24 players on the roster, including Wright’s son, quarterback Lawrence Wright IV, who found the end zone twice on the ground.
“We don’t have many kids, but we’re working with them on teaching them warrior mentality, develop as men, character,” the senior Wright said following his team’s third win, over Sante Fe, on Saturday.
The Blue Wave managed four wins a year ago. Jackson and Wright are doing a fine job turning the program around just as they did at UF 30 years ago.
Jackson spoke briefly about Florida’s trajectory under Billy Napier, stating the defense had taken major strides forward but also pointing out that the offense isn’t scoring nearly as much as it should.
Entering Week 7, the Gators rank dead last in the SEC in touchdowns per game, just behind the Gamecocks (2.8) with 2.6 per game.
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