Gators 2024 Positional Outlook: Safety and STAR
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The winds of attrition breezed through The Swamp again this winter, with Florida making 30 total scholarship roster additions and 21 subtractions via the NCAA transfer portal, along with several departing players heading toward the NFL Draft or their post-football careers.
All Gators is breaking down each position on Florida's roster as the team approaches spring training camp, reviewing the performances of each group in 2023 and previewing their makeup for the 2024 season.
Following our analyses of the quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, interior defensive line, edge rusher and linebacker corps, we move to the backend of the defense with the safety group and STAR nickel corners.
If required, All Gators will revisit positions affected by the spring transfer portal window later this offseason. We will offer final depth chart projections during Florida's fall training camp in August.
2023 Season in Review: Florida's Safeties and STAR Nickel Corners
In what looked to be a year of improvement under new defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong, the wheels of Florida's defense fell off quickly.
Florida's defensive backs, notably the safeties and STARs (slot cornerback) continued to struggle in coverage and in run support as Florida trudged to a 5-7 last season.
On the year, Florida gave up 226.7 passing yards per game and had only three interceptions as a team, although two of them came from the safety group. However, those numbers were even worse during the Gators' five-game losing streak to end the season.
Over the final five games of the season, which included four matchups with ranked opponents, Florida gave up an astounding 281.4 passing yards per game and had three quarterbacks throw for over 300 yards in that time. They also only intercepted one pass in those five games.
Individually, things weren't much better.
First, veteran backup slot corner Jadarrius Perkins left the team shortly following Week 1, after two seasons with Florida.
Former five-star Kamari Wilson, who many expected to start this season, completely disappeared from the depth chart and was not a member of the travel roster for the majority of the campaign, according to Napier.
Fellow 2022 recruit Miguel Mitchell emerged as a starter at the beginning of the year, but lost snaps to freshman Bryce Thornton as the season went on. Over 11 appearances with eight starts, Mitchell finished with 37 tackles and an interception, the game-sealer at South Carolina, to finish the year.
However, it was his tackling struggles that stood out like a sore thumb throughout the season, a major example being his whiff on Missouri receiver Luther Burden III, who trucked Mitchell despite being in the middle of a catch.
A notable bright spot, however, was the emergence of freshman Jordan Castell, who started in every game except for the season opener at Utah. His 60 total tackles and 30 solo stops were team-highs, and he was one of three Gators to record a rare interception.
As a result, he was named to the Freshman All-SEC team, ESPN's Freshman All-America group and was an honorable mention on College Football Network's Freshman All-American team.
That being said, his successes were largely clouded by the struggles of the group, and the winds of change hit the secondary hard as a result.
The ensuing offseason saw a massive exodus at almost every level with Mitchell, Wilson and starting STAR Jaydon Hill each transferring out, backup RJ Moten switching to inside linebacker and defensive backs coach Corey Raymond being replaced by Will Harris.
Out and In
Scholarship players only
- Out: Miguel Mitchell (transferred to Arkansas), Kamari Wilson (transferred to Arizona State), Jaydon Hill (transferred to Texas A&M), Jadarrius Perkins (transferred to Toledo), RJ Moten (position change to inside linebacker)
- In: Trikweze Bridges (transferred from Oregon), DJ Douglas (transferred from Tulane), Asa Turner (transferred from Washington), Gregory Smith III (freshman), Josiah Davis (freshman)
Looking Forward
Mitchell's move to Arkansas and Hill's transfer to Texas A&M opens up two starting positions in the defensive backfield heading into 2024, one at safety opposite of Castell and one at STAR.
Thornton will be expected to contend for the open safety spot after starting four games at the end of the 2023 season, but the redshirt freshman faces ample veteran competition for the position which has arrived via the transfer portal.
Florida answered the call about these losses with three immediate impact transfer acquisitions and two talented freshmen incoming at safety, a few of whom will also contend at the STAR spot.
Oregon transfer Trikweze Bridges kicked off the influx of defensive back transfers with his commitment on Dec. 18, and his versatility puts him in an interesting position heading into spring camp.
Although he logged over 1,000 of his 1,190 snaps at outside corner throughout five seasons with the Ducks, Bridges will begin his UF career at the safety position, where he originally played in high school and expressed a desire to return to during his visit to UF.
Bridges' experience playing on the front line is hard to overlook. Despite a limited role last season, he still managed to play in every game, finishing with 16 total tackles and three pass breakups. Before that, he started every game in 2022 and had 49 tackles with three interceptions, both of which were career-highs.
There's very little doubt that Bridges will be an instant contributor in the defensive backfield. The only question is at which position. For now, he'll compete at his original position.
The transfer headliner at safety is Asa Turner from Washington. There's familiarity with Turner's addition to the roster as he was previously coached by Harris at Washington, not to mention his prior production and Florida's needs, making him a favorite for a starting gig before spring camp.
Turner began two of his first three seasons with the Huskies (2019 and 2021) as a backup before emerging as a starter. He started all four of Washington's contests in the 2020 season and all but one in the 2022 campaign.
The 2022 season was Turner's best with 52 tackles, two interceptions and three pass breakups posted, and he was poised to do the same in 2023. However, broken bones in both hands forced him to miss eight of the Huskies' 15 games, and he failed to record an interception in his seven appearances.
He did start in six of those appearances and managed to record 26 total tackles in a limited capacity. His injuries also allowed him to medical redshirt and gave him one final year of eligibility, as he appeared in just four regular season contests.
That being said, it's not necessarily their production that attracted Napier to Turner and Bridges. Their leadership qualities and "team-oriented" characteristics stood out to Florida's staff.
Bridges previously mentioned on a recruiting visit how Florida's youth in the secondary stood out to him and how he could step in as a big brother figure while also competing for playing time. Napier specifically mentions Turner having a voice at Washington standing out to him.
Turner and Bridges will have to compete with Thornton for the spot opposite of Castell, but the transfer's experience may give them the edge going into spring.
It should be noted that Aaron Gates, who spent most of last season injured, is healthy and will be competing for playing time, too.
Additionally, Florida welcomed Tulane transfer DJ Douglas, who logged a considerable 157 snaps at STAR during his time with the Green Wave. Although he spent most of his time at deep safety, Florida's immediate need at STAR puts him in a spot to contribute right away at that position.
Florida returns rising sophomore Sharif Denson, who was originally recruited to play STAR, but he spent most of 2023 as a reserve and on special teams.
Outside of the transfers, Florida welcomed high schoolers Gregory Smith III and Josiah Davis, who will likely be backups and reserves for the time being due to the experience in front of them.
Early 2024 Gators Safety/STAR Depth Chart Projection
Safety
Starters: Jordan Castell (So.), Asa Turner (r-Sr.)
Backups: Bryce Thornton (So.), Trikweze Bridges (r-Sr.), Aaron Gates (r-Fr.), Gregory Smith III (Fr.)
Reserves: Josiah Davis (Fr.), Ahman Covington* (r-Fr.), Cahron Rackley (r-So.)*, Brayden Slade (r-Fr.)*, Ethan Wilson (r-Sr.)*
STAR
Starter: DJ Douglas (r-Sr.)
Backup: Sharif Denson (So.)
Florida 2024 Positional Outlooks
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