Report: Florida Hiring Rutgers Staffer Jeremy Patterson in Off-Field Role

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida is expected to hire Rutgers player development staffer Jeremy Patterson as the Gators' assistant defensive line coach in an off-field, graduate assistant capacity, according to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic.

Little is known publicly about Patterson's coaching career before his alignment with Rutgers. He spent the 2023 season with the Scarlet Knights in an off-field role, but his profile has since been removed from the program's website.

Before joining the support staff ranks at Rutgers, Patterson played football collegiately at Wisconsin (2014-16) and Tennessee State (2017-18). He did not post any statistics over four appearances with the Badgers but accumulated 17 tackles with 2.5 for loss over 18 games with the Tigers, six of which he started.

A former consensus three-star prospect from the recruiting class of 2014, Patterson launched his playing career in the southeast, attending Jesup (Ga.) Wayne County High School.

Patterson's hiring projects as Florida's replacement for former UF graduate assistant Kali James Jr., who was promoted to assistant defensive line coach in Gainesville this offseason before taking the on-field defensive line coaching position at Jackson State in February.

Following former Gators defensive line coach Sean Spencer's dismissal following the 2023 season, head coach Billy Napier shared that James had fulfilled those vacated recruiting responsibilities to conclude the 2024 cycle. James received the aforementioned promotion for his efforts, remaining in an off-field capacity.

"We’ve promoted Kali James. He’s a graduate assistant, he’s kind of the assistant defensive line coach and is going to help us with the hybrid players," Napier said on Feb. 7.

Taking over those duties, Patterson will work under new Gators defensive line coach, Gerald Chatman, who Florida hired away from Tulane in December 2023.

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