Will a coaching adjustment help the Florida football secondary? We break it down

The Florida football secondary will look to build off an up-and-down 2022 season.
The Gators recorded nine interceptions, including two returned by cornerbacks for touchdowns, demonstrating big-play capability. But Florida also had its share of coverage busts, ranking 11th in the SEC in pass defense at 235.8 yards per game. The lowlights included giving up 349 yards passing against Tennessee and LSU.
As a result, Florida head coach Billy Napier made an adjustment to the secondary during the offseason. Corey Raymond, who coached cornerbacks last season, will take on an expanded role as secondary coach this season, overseeing all defensive backs. Last year, former UF defensive coordinator Patrick Toney coached the safeties. There is hope that the move will result in better communication on the back end.
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"With coaching the safeties, it's just we're all together," Raymond said. "Doing it together, you know, maybe some more working together, cohesiveness, talking together."
Here's a look at UF's secondary going into the 2023 season:
Florida football cornerbacks
Jason Marshall Jr. is back for his third year as a starter and is arguably UF's best defensive player. Marshall Jr. had a team-high eight pass breakups last season and one interception.
Starter Jaydon Hill also is back. Hill had two interceptions last season, including one returned 49 yards for a touchdown against Missouri, but his lack of speed in man coverage coming off knee surgery was exposed at times. As a result, Hill could end up moving to safety or star this season. He worked out at the star position during spring practice.
If Hill doesn't stay at corner, redshirt junior Jalen Kimber and sophomore Devin Moore could line up opposite Marshall as the second starter. Kimber, a transfer from Georgia, returned an interception for a touchdown against USF and finished the year with 13 tackles, an interception and a pass breakup.
UF Gators safeties
Trey Dean and Rashad Torrence II leaving for the NFL Draft will open up opportunities for sophomore Kamari Wilson (strong safety) and sophomore Miguel Mitchell (free safety). A hard hitter, the 6-foot-0, 220-pound Wilson made two starts as a true freshman and appeared in all 13 games, finishing with 39 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 forced fumble, and a pass breakup. Wilson will need to demonstrate the ability to cover tight ends and running backs out of the backfield but is strong in run support.
Mitchell, who was recruited by Napier to play at Louisiana before taking over the Florida job, has the speed to cover the back end and had 15 tackles, one tackle for loss and a forced fumble in his first year with the Gators.
The star position
With starter Tre'Vez Johnson transferring to Missouri, Hill could end up moving to the hybrid linebacker/safety spot to replace him. Another candidate is Jadarrius Perkins, who had 14 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and an interception playing behind Johnson last season.
The newcomers
Michigan transfer R.J. Moten, who made 10 starts at safety for the Wolverines last season, had 31 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups and an interception and could emerge as a possible starter at either the star position or safety. Moten's father, Ron, was a former standout linebacker for the Gators in the 1980s who played in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Ja'Markis Weston was moved from wide receiver to safety during spring drills to add depth and speed to the safety position.
True freshman cornerback Ja'Keem Jackson, an Under Armour All-American from Kissimmee, impressed during spring drills and could work his way into the conversation as a starter opposite Marshall with a strong fall camp.
The future
True freshman Sharif Denson, an Under Armour All-American, was moved from cornerback to safety in spring drills and could provide a potential big-play threat at free safety down the road. Denson had four interceptions at four interceptions at Bartram Trail High in Jacksonville last season.
Freshman cornerback Dijon Johnson did not enroll in the spring but the Tampa/Wharton High standout who flipped his commitment from Ohio State to the Gators in the spring could develop into an impact player in coverage in future seasons.