Brad Treliving Toronto Maple Leafs GM Announced that Mitchell Marner
In order to improve a pass defense that ranked 70th in the country in yards allowed in 2023, the Florida Gators hired secondary coach Will Harris in December.
The Gators should immediately show improvements in their scheme and technique, but having the finest players available cannot be substituted.
Harris has targeted DJ Pickett, the top cornerback in the country, who plays in Zephyrhills, Florida, among other players. On3’s Steve Wiltfong has learned that Pickett intends to make a formal visit to Gainesville shortly.
Wiltfong was told by Pickett’s father, “I really like Coach (Will) Harris.” “I told him I would make it my mission to find a means for an official to travel to Florida.”
Despite not being the clear favorite among major scouting services at cornerback, Pickett is a defensive back blessed with an excellent name. Among those who rank the 6’4 and 180-pound Pickett at No. 3 at his position is only 247Sports.
Harris appears to have left an impression on Pickett’s family, but the Gators still have some catching up to do against teams like Miami, LSU, and Georgia. Harris worked as assistant secondary coach with the LA Chargers before joining the Gators, and his work at Washington would open anyone’s eyes.
Per his bio, Washington had the best pass defensive team in the country in 2021, giving up just six touchdowns and only 143.3 yards per game. Harris assisted in the development of Kyler Gordon and Trent McDuffie, two first-team Pac-12 All-Conference picks that year. A first-round draft selection of the Kansas City Chiefs, McDuffie also received recognition as an Associated Press third-team All-America selection. The Chicago Bears chose Gordon in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
It’s early in the 2025 Florida legislative session. 447Sports ranks them No. 49 in the country and they have just four commits. That being said, they are going big-game hunting with players like Pickett and the top dual-threat quarterback in the country, Keelon Russell.
The Gators’ ability to bounce back from three consecutive uncharacteristically bad seasons with seven losses is heavily dependent on head coach Billy Napier. If the Gators succeed in 2024, recruiting for 2025 will take care of itself.
