Tag: Kamari Wilson

Former five-star DB leaving Florida for Pac-12 program

Former Florida safety Kamari Wilson is headed to the Pac-12. The former five-star recruit committed to Arizona State on Saturday after two seasons with the Gators.

Signing five-star safety Kamari Wilson was one of the early highlights of Billy Napier’s career at Florida, but the former IMG Academy standout will likely play his first meaningful minutes of college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Wilson announced his decision to transfer to ASU on Saturday, Dec. 16. Many believed he’d end up with UCF after he publicly thanked the recruiting staff, but the post-visit praise didn’t lead to anything.

After playing just three games with the Gators in 2023, Wilson decided to silently redshirt, which became obvious after he disappeared from the depth chart. Wilson took to social media after entering the portal on Dec. 7, stating “(his) decision was not based on any external factors that might have been floated around.”

Wilson leaves Florida (16 games) with 40 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one pass deflection and one forced fumble.

Several players from Billy Napier’s transition class at Florida have hit the portal after two years in The Swamp. Quarterback Max Brown is headed to Charlotte, Caleb Douglas picked Texas Tech, Jonathan Odom is going to Eastern Michigan and Princely Umanmielen will stay in the SEC as a Rebel at Ole Miss.

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Despite conflicting info former 5-star safety officially enters transfer portal

The Gators lost a former five-star talent to the transfer portal… but it is not too surprising.

Florida football saw another departure through the NCAA transfer portal on Monday when former five-star safety [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag] officially entered the sport’s de facto free agency system.

Last week, 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz first broke the story that Wilson was headed out the door, but a Twitter account apparently belonging to the student-athlete’s father dismissed the report, citing that he had not been informed prior of the decision.

“My son never told anyone he was entering the portal,” Wilson’s father wrote. “Fake News!”

Regardless of whether or not that claim held any veracity, it is clear that the younger Wilson has made his final decision.

The 6-foot, 205-pound defensive back was a standout in the 2022 recruiting class and played in all 13 games — with two starts at safety — last fall. This season, things derailed when his playing time decreased due to a pair of promising incoming freshmen getting more reps at the start of the schedule.

Wilson was not included on the active roster for the Week 2 home opener against the McNeese State Cowboys and was escorted to the locker room after trying to join the team on the sidelines midgame. He appeared in three total games, subsequently taking a redshirt for his sophomore season.

In 2022, he recorded 19 solo and 20 assisted tackles along with 1.5 tackles for a loss, one forced fumble and one pass defended. This season, he notched just one lonely assisted tackle.

The departure of the IMG Academy product was inevitable despite the recent drama. The current defensive back corps led by Jordan Castell will have their hands full replacing his talent.

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Gators safety Kamari Wilson’s transfer status in question

Another Florida Gators is headed to the transfer portal, per reports, but an apparent family member of safety Kamari Wilson is denying the claim.

The player that broke the IMG Academy curse at Florida, former five-star safety [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag], is hitting the transfer portal after two years with the Gators, according to a report from 247Sports’ Graham Hall.

Or is he?

Once the report began to circulate a social media account claiming to be Wilson’s denied the report.

“My son never told anyone he was entering the portal,” Wilson’s father wrote. “Fake News!”

Wilson disappeared from the team’s depth chart ahead of Week 4. Head coach Billy Napier noted that the safety failed to make the travel roster, and that was the last we saw of him in a Gators uniform. Wilson took a redshirt and sat the rest of the season, giving way to Jordan Castell and Bryce Thornton.

It would make sense for Wilson to enter the transfer portal given the way the season went for him, but he has yet to make an official announcement. The expectation remains for him to end up somewhere other than Gainesville next season, but he could surprise everyone by setting the record straight.

Wilson would be the sixth Gator to hit the portal, following safety Jadarrius Perkins, offensive lineman Jordan Herman, tight end Jonathan Odom and kicker Adam Mihalek.

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Florida releases Week 4 depth chart vs. Charlotte

Florida’s Week 4 depth chart looks mostly the same as the week prior’s, but there are a few notable names missing as a clash with Charlotte looms.

After a convincing win over Tennessee in Week 3, the Florida Gators are changing up the depth chart too much for a Week 4 matchup with the Charlotte 49ers.

On offense, the most notable changes come in the trenches.

At right tackle, Damieon George Jr. is listed as the third-string option after starting the first three weeks of the season. He’s not being demoted. George and Micah Mazzccua are suspended for the first half of the game after defending Graham Mertz following a late hit. Lyndell Hudson II will start at right tackle and Richie Leonard IV with start at left guard.

Center Kingsley Eguakun is once again out with a lower-body injury after returning to the field for just one week. Jake Slaughter will start in place of Eguakun with Richie Leonard IV serving as the backup. If Leonard is moved from the left guard spot, redshirt freshman Christian Williams will step in for him.

At tight end, redshirt freshman Arlis Boardingham is now listed ahead of junior Jonathan Odom.

Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman returns to the receiver corps this week, but Eugene “Tre” Wilson III will sit and recover from an upper-body injury suffered against Tennessee.

The only change on defense is a major one. Kamari Wilson, a five-star recruit out of IMG Academy in his second year with Florida, is no longer listed on the depth chart. He was the “or” option to Miguel Mitchell at safety for the first three weeks of the season.

Wilson’s situation is one worth monitoring over the next couple of weeks.

Also, at the SAM linebacker spot, Mannie Nunnery has jumped ahead of Scooby Williams, who is playing more inside linebacker these days.

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2023 Florida Football Position Preview: Safeties/STAR

Florida lost all three starters from the third level over the offseason, but there’s a room full of young talent that is ready to step up.

After looking at every other offensive and defensive player on Florida’s roster, it’s time to wrap things up with the safeties and STAR position players.

Trey Dean and Rashad Torrence held down both starting safety spots for all of 2022, but now two doors have opened for some young talent to step up. At STAR, Jaydon Hill and Jadarrius Perkins look to split duties after Tre’Vez Johnson departed the program.

This group might not be the most experienced, but there is a ton of raw talent ready to be unlocked.

Here’s a look at every safety and STAR on Florida’s 2023 fall roster.

Former Michigan safety transferring to Florida

Billy Napier wanted to add another defensive back to the roster through the spring transfer portal, and he’s found his man in former Michigan safety RJ Moten.

The Florida Gators earned a commitment from Michigan transfer safety [autotag]RJ Moten[/autotag] on Tuesday, one day after his official visit.

Moten is a Florida legacy. His dad, Ron Moten Sr., played for the Gators from 1982-1986 and was drafted in the sixth round by the Philadephia Eagles. The junior Moten joins the Orange and Blue with two years of eligibility left.

A former four-star recruit, Moten signed with the Michigan Wolverines in 2020 and appeared in one game on special teams as a freshman before redshirting.

His second year in Ann Arbor was more eventful. Moten played in all 14 of the Wolverines’ games and started five of them. As a junior in 2022, he started 10 games at safety, but eventually lost the job to Makari Page. With younger talent also improving and forcing competition, Moten’s best career move was to hit the transfer portal after spring practices.

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Now, Moten will join a safety room that is losing two starters from a season ago in Florida. [autotag]Trey Dean III[/autotag] and [autotag]Rashad Torrence II[/autotag] both signed undrafted free-agent contracts with NFL teams and Moten offers a veteran replacement to either of those two. He could also wind up playing the STAR position, which was left vacant when [autotag]Tre’Vez Johnson[/autotag] transferred out.

Sophomores [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag] and [autotag]Miguel Mitchell[/autotag] are expected to play significant roles in Florida’s secondary, and senior [autotag]Jadarrius Perkins[/autotag] might be the only other lock for playing time as an expected starter.

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Gators losing key defensive analyst to Western Kentucky

Florida is losing a key member of its recruiting staff as defensive analyst Jamar Chaney departs for an on-the-field role at Western Kentucky.

After losing a few coaches from the staff a week ago, the Florida Gators received some more bad news on Tuesday. Defensive analyst [autotag]Jamar Chaney[/autotag] is leaving the program for an assistant coaching role with the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, according to On3’s Matt Zenitz.

Chaney was a major player for the Gators in the recruiting world, and losing him will likely hurt the team’s standing with a few top targets. He helped bring in safety [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag] and was a factor for several members of the class of 2023.

This will be Chaney’s first season with an on-the-field title after serving as an analyst for Florida and Mississippi State before that. This was his second stint with the Gators after spending the 2019 season as Dan Mullen’s assistant director of player personnel.

Chaney was an All-SEC linebacker for Mississippi State in 2007 and selected in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He lasted until 2014 in the league and then began his coaching career at his alma mater, St. Lucie West Centennial high school.

It might take some time to see the impact of losing Chaney, but he was a key member of Florida’s recruiting staff. Napier will need to replace him with another strong recruiter, which won’t be easy this late in the offseason.

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Corey Raymond coaching entire Florida defensive back corps in 2023

Cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond is stepping into a larger role in 2023 and coaching the entire Florida secondary.

Following the departure of former Florida safeties coach and defensive coordinator [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag], cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] is getting a promotion of sorts.

Raymond will coach the entire Florida secondary in 2023, according to a Gators Online report. The Gators have reportedly landed on former Southern Miss defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong to take over Toney’s playcalling role, but it’s Raymond who will take over the safeties room – a room that he helped build.

Several of Florida’s biggest signings in the Billy Napier era have seen Raymond as the lead recruiter, including five-star IMG Academy safety [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag] and incoming freshman four-star safety [autotag]Dijon Johnson[/autotag]. He knows the position room well and should manage the increased workload just fine. Raymond is considered among the nation’s elite position coaches and has a knack for developing NFL talent.

It won’t be easy for Raymond in Year 1, though. He has to replace both Trey Dean III and Rashad Torrence II’s production next season. Losing two starters is always tough, but Florida also lost some depth to the transfer portal. Wilson is ready to step into a starting role, but Raymond might have to lean on some of Florida’s young talent this season.

Napier could add someone to help Raymond before finalizing his staff, but this move seems like it addresses the team’s needs.

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Billy Napier describes trio of defensive backs as a ‘very versatile group’

Gators fans could see some improvements in the secondary next season thanks to Napier’s positional overhaul.

The Florida secondary will be undergoing an overhaul for the 2023 season. Defensive backs [autotag]Trey Dean III[/autotag], [autotag]Rashad Torrence II[/autotag], [autotag]Donovan McMillon[/autotag] and [autotag]Corey Collier Jr[/autotag]. have all left the program either due to graduation, declaring for the NFL draft or entering the transfer portal.

[autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag] and [autotag]Miguel Mitchell[/autotag] are the only returning safeties from the 2022 season. Because of the roster turnover, highly-touted recruits like [autotag]Ja’Keem Jackson[/autotag], [autotag]Dijon Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Sharif Denson[/autotag] will undoubtedly get playing time over the course of the season. But those aren’t the names that Napier singled out.

Head coach Billy Napier believes that [autotag]Jordan Castell[/autotag], [autotag]Bryce Thornton[/autotag], and [autotag]Aaron Gates[/autotag] are the early contenders to provide the position depth in 2023. In addition to being the team’s defensive coordinator, [autotag]Patrick Toney[/autotag] is also tasked with being the safeties coach, working with cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] to craft the defensive backfield.

Napier praised Castell’s ability to cover receivers in man-to-man or zone coverage, Thornton’s football IQ, and Gates’ competitive nature, noting that he was the lone holdover from the previous staff to become a Florida Gator in 2023. Gates is coming off a torn ACL suffered in his final season of prep football, but the staff maintained their belief in him and brought him in.

Overall, the secondary looks to be at the dawn of a new era. For a long time, Florida fans were unsure about the talent level in the secondary. It seems like this group will be the ones to begin the process of restoring Florida to its “DBU” status, something that hasn’t been able to be said in a long time.

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Florida coach visits this 5-star CB to kick off January contact period

Florida cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond stopped by a priority recruit’s high school on Friday as the contact period opened up.

Florida cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] opened up the January contact period, which runs from Jan. 13 to Jan. 28, by visiting the high school of a five-star recruit in the class of 2024, according to 247Sports.

[autotag]Charles Lester III[/autotag] included the Gators in his top five just two weeks ago and is a top-25 player in the class, so it only makes sense for Riverview High to be Raymond’s first stop. Florida signed an elite defensive backs class in the 2023 cycle and pulled off a miracle during a short 2022 cycle by landing five-star safety [autotag]Kamari Wilson[/autotag]. Much of that success is thanks to Raymond, and Lester seems like his top priority in the upcoming cycle.

So far, things seem to be going well for Raymond and Lester, but there’s not timetable for a decision in place. He’ll visit Florida State over the coming weekend for a Junior Day and previously named the Seminoles and Alabama Crimson Tide as programs piquing his interest. In the past, Lester has claimed that coaching connections will play a big part in his decision, so Raymond is the right man to take point on this one.

The 247Sports composite ranks Lester at No. 22 overall and No. 3 among cornerbacks in the class of 2024. After missing on Cormani McClain in 2023, landing an in-state five-star defensive back would be a massive win for the Gators.

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