Despite being only 36 years old, the new Florida Gators secondary coach adds leadership and talent to the role.
Despite all of Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier’s flaws and foibles, his willingness to hire younger coaches is undeniable. In a sport where many coaches will become older, Napier prefers originality over recycling. Will Harris, 36, has had a long and successful career as an assistant.
Now, he leads the Florida secondary during a key year for both the club and the head coach. Any continuous failures may cement the destinies of the entire coaching crew.
Sign of Leadership
Former United States Senator and Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Bradley once stated, “Leadership is unlocking people’s potential to become better.” This perfectly captures Will Harris’ personality. When rumors circulated that the team had cut sophomore cornerback Cormani McClain, who jumped to his rescue? Harris flatly refuted the report immediately.
By vociferously defending his athlete, the entire program rallied behind him. That comment remains one of the most essential messages from the team thus far. Granted, coaches frequently defend their athletes. Nonetheless, the intensity of the words emphasized the brevity.
With the majority of the football media and a large fan base condemning a player, when his coach stands up, it will not go missed. Cormani McClain shows up late for practice. It is not a decent coach’s responsibility to kick a player off for arriving late. Instead, try to approach the player and offer him a legitimate opportunity to demonstrate why he is a member of the squad.
Transfer
When safety Asa Turner found he had a sixth year of eligibility, he opted to join one of his former position coaches down south. Harris spent five years coaching the secondary at the University of Washington. Turner enters with a thorough understanding of what Harris expects.
The Gators want Turner to slide right in and keep the tight ends occupied. Also, crash down and tackle the run game. Furthermore, playing on a team that concluded the season competing for the national championship carries weight. Turner does have time in big games. That mindset pulls the defensive backfield into balance. Teams who want to throw below must deal with Turner.
The Future
The Gators trusted Harris to command their last line of defense. With so many offenses who enjoy throwing the ball, the secondary receives a lot of attention. Will Harris plans to make one huge move. He will not sit back and play quietly, regardless of how the pass rush reacts. Harris wants ballhawks at every position.
With so many potential passes, the Gators will have plenty of opportunities to capitalize. During his time in Seattle, Harris transformed the Washington secondary, shutting down opposition wide receivers. Florida will hit the field with determination and confidence in the secondary.
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