Photograph: Rashad Torrence II; Credit score: College of Florida athletic affiliation 

With spring soccer squarely within the rearview mirror, and never a lot happening within the realm of school sports activities, AllGators has determined to take a stab at going over numerous place teams for the Florida Gators and the three urgent questions for every room.

Wrapping up on the defensive facet of the ball, the subsequent place group we’ll cowl is Florida’s safeties as a complete. This consists of staff’s STAR place, the Gators’ nickel cornerback position.

Florida employed former Louisianna defensive coordinator Patrick Toney to take over because the staff’s safeties and co-defensive coordinator this 12 months beneath head coach Billy Napier in Gainesville. Toney and cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond collaborate on teaching the STAR place.

AllGators’ three questions by place sequence

Is Rashad Torrence II set to take the subsequent step?

The Gators are coming into this season with loads of anticipation for gamers to take the “subsequent step” on each side of the soccer.

Much like cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. and defensive deal with Gervon Dexter, junior security Rashad Torrence II is likely to be the subsequent defender value speaking about taking the subsequent step, turning into a key member of the Florida protection.

That hypothesis has been born out of the play Torrence has placed on the sector over his first two years with Florida, coming in as a member of the 2020 recruiting class and being thrust into the fireplace not lengthy into his first 12 months in Gainesville.

Throughout his freshman season, Torrence performed in 9 video games, together with three begins. He would register simply 25 tackles however debuted in Week 1 towards Ole Miss after an ejection and accidents led to his fast taking part in time. He contibuted instantly, posting eight tackles within the sport.

Throughout his second season, Torrence would grow to be a full-time starter inside the Gators’ secondary, beginning all 13 video games and ending third on the staff with 87 tackles (51 solos), 3.5 tackles for loss and three interceptions. He recorded two interceptions and a compelled fumble restoration throughout the staff’s loss towards Georgia.

This 12 months, led by a brand new teaching employees headed up Napier, Torrence is ready to exceed earlier expectations. With Toney, who lately helped ship Louisianna security Percy Butler to the NFL, now in cost, Torrence’s play ought to obly transfer ahead.

At 6-foot, 197 kilos, there’s loads of room for him to develop and it seems he is able to make that subsequent step as a key member of the Florida protection this 12 months.

Who’s the beginning STAR?

Florida is heading right into a 12 months with loads of query marks on protection, together with who precisely will begin within the secondary. Although not the protection place, the STAR, extra generally generally known as the nickel nook, performs a wide range of roles, a few of which embrace duties akin to the protection position.

Nonetheless, Florida would not have an unquestioned starter on the place heading into 2022.

Final season, the staff flirted with the thought of Tre’Vez Johnson filling in because the staff’s starter, whereas together with switch DB Jadarrius Perkins into the rotating lineup. Nonetheless, the staff could not get a lot manufacturing out of the place because of accidents and inconsistent play.

Heading into 2022, Florida nonetheless has some query marks on the place, particularly with rising redshirt sophomore DB Kamar Wilcoxson coming off of an harm and now coming into the fold as a possible participant to take over the place as nicely.

Florida additionally did not see Perkins for a lot of spring as he handled an harm, forcing him to overlook the motion together with the staff’s spring sport in April.

All of that has led to the place being much more muddied, particularly with redshirt freshman DB Jordan Younger now rising as a possible contributor on the spot.

Whereas Johnson, a real junior, actually has probably the most expertise of the gamers talked about – taking part in in 10 video games, beginning seven at STAR final 12 months – there’s loads of room for the place to develop if the staff desires to get probably the most out of the place transferring ahead.

Whereas he would not have a lot taking part in expertise because of redshirting his freshman season and coping with a season-long harm final 12 months, Wilcoxson is likely to be one of many extra intriguing gamers to look towards when projecting who may begin this season.

Although transient, Torrence spoke extremely of Wilcoxson throughout his media availability simply earlier than the spring sport.

“Kamar got here again from that harm final 12 months and he’s form of had one thing to show,”
Torrence mentioned of the younger DB. “However I really feel like he’s undoubtedly doing an excellent job this spring in attempting to show himself and present that he’s worthy of being a Gator.”

Torrence mentioned earlier that he felt each Wilcoxson and security Donovan McMillon have a possibility to contribute enormously on protection. Time will inform whether or not that involves fruition or not.

Nonetheless, given Younger’s emergence on the place close to the top of spring, posting a number of the finest numbers on protection throughout the scrimmage, it feels as if he’ll seemingly play a significant position in some capability. Do not be shocked to see him utilized inside the position early and sometimes this 12 months.

How massive of a task will Kamari Wilson have?

We have now written at size concerning the potential for Kamari Wilson, a real freshman this 12 months, to return in and produce instantly within the Florida protection. However, precisely how massive a task he performs seemingly will likely be dictated by these round him, together with a second-year security in McMillion.

Wilson, hailing from IMG Academy – the primary participant the Gators signed from the highschool that really performed there – is available in with loads of intrigue and ability. Wilson was one of many few early enrolee gamers from this 12 months’s class and already has the benefit of taking part in snaps with the remainder of the roster throughout spring and throughout the scrimmage.

At occasions, Wilson was seen with the first-team protection throughout the occasion, although that might have been because of a wide range of elements, together with accidents on the place.

With a necessity for extra manufacturing inside the secondary and a scarcity of skilled depth forward of him, Wilson might see himself inserted into the beginning lineup, or closely inside the rotation sooner fairly than later.

At the moment, Florida is ready to begin Torrence and fifth-year senior Trey Dean III on the place. There’s loads of expertise inside the anticipated beginning lineup, however there are questions straight behind them, and the potential the duo has at producing at a excessive degree heading into this 12 months.

Behind Dean and Torrence is junior security Mordecai McDaniel, who has been flashy however inconsistent when he is taken the sector defensively during the last two years. After that, Florida would not have a lot in the way in which of expertise, leaving an open door for a participant like Wilson to get some taking part in time.

One impediment that might make it take a little bit of time earlier than Wilson is on the sector for an prolonged interval, apart from accidents, is McMillion, who has the mildew of a possible stud participant at 6-foot-1, 200 kilos. The true sophomore seems able to take the subsequent step as a participant that may are available in and contribute instantly after posting an interception within the spring sport.

It is seemingly that we see a participant like McMillion garner extra repetitions early, however do not be shocked to see Wilson on the sector, given his capacity and willingness to be taught.

“He’s coming alongside nice,” Torrence mentioned of Wilson throughout spring. “I imply, he’s very explosive, very sturdy, interacts in each movie assembly.” 

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