Breaking: Gators in the mix to sign defensive lineman
Gators hosted one of the top transfer portal names on campus this weekend
The Florida Gators hosted four transfer targets on campus this weekend for their first official visitor weekend in December. One of those names in town was a popular name in the portal, former Penn defensive lineman Joey Slackman. He’s been fielding a ton of interest since announcing his intentions to move onto to a new program, with Florida being one of the teams he’s keeping in mind.
Slackman did play football at the high school level, but his focus was more heavily on wrestling. He decided down the line to move from wrestling back to the gridiron, so this second recruitment is much different than his first. This was his first time seeing UF’s campus for the official visit, and it was a time he enjoyed.
“It was awesome,” Slackman said. “It was really great to meet the staff. Talking with Coach Armstrong and Coach Napier about where I fit in the defense. Talk some scheme, talk some ball. Seeing the facilities and everything. It’s been a really good time. [The highlight] was just now taking with Coach Armstrong about where I fit in the defense. Talking scheme and getting to work.”
Florida hiring Chargers’ assistant Will Harris as secondary coach
Florida is hiring Los Angeles Chargers’ assistant defensive back coach Will Harris to fill their secondary coach vacancy, Gator Country has learned from multiple sources. Harris joined the Chargers in 2023 after serving as the defensive coordinator/secondary coach at Georgia Southern University in 2022.
Under Harris’ direction, Georgia Southern’s defense ranked 129th in total defense, 109th in scoring defense, and 104th in passing defense in his one year with the Eagles. Harris’ unit ranked No. 12 in the nation in red-zone defense and four Eagles defenders earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors.
Prior to his one year stop at Georgia Southern, Harris spent four seasons (2018-21) at the University of Washington working with their secondary unit. In his final season with the Huskies, Harris’ guided Washington to the No.1 pass defense in the FBS, allowing just 143.3 passing yards per game and six passing touchdowns on the season, the fewest by any team in the country. Following this season, Washington cornerback Trent McDuffie was drafted in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft, earning a third-team All-America selection for his dominant 2021 season.
Washington’s pass defense was a strength under Harris, with their lowest ranking coming in 2019 (55th), where the Huskies had three true freshmen start at least five games in the secondary. The Huskies ranked 12th in 2020 and 25th in 2018 under Harris. In three of his four years in Seattle, Washington’s pass defense ranked inside the top 25 in the FBS. Washington’s coverage grade ranked inside the top 14 in each of Harris’ four seasons, including three top ten and two No.2 finishes, according to Pro Football Focus.
Harris also had collegiate coaching stops at San Jose State (2016-17), Dixie State University (2015), Humboldt State (2014), and Northwestern Oklahoma State University (2013), working with defensive backs at each of those programs.
The Pasadena, Calif. native played college ball for the University of Southern California (2005-09), where the Trojans appeared in four-straight Rose Bowls, including the 2005 BCS National Championship Game against Texas, winning each of the final three. As a junior, Harris appeared in 13 games as a defensive back and totaled 69 tackles and four interceptions as a senior. Harris would go on to spend training camp in 2010 with the Seattle Seahawks before joining the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League.
Will Harris is expected to be on the recruiting trail on Monday, Gator Country has learned.
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