Gators Online reported earlier this month that the expectation was for Florida Gators off-field staffer Dae’One Wilkins to remain in Gainesville under new head coach Jon Sumrall. That eventually came to fruition, as Gators Online has learned that not only will Wilkins remain on the staff, but he will also be elevated to an on-field coaching role, now serving as the nickelbacks coach.
Dae’one Wilkins was hired by the Gators last year as their quality control defensive backs coach. However, he has ties to the current Florida staff. Wilkins worked with new Gators defensive coordinator Brad White and new UF safeties coach Chris Collins at Kentucky in 2024 as a graduate assistant. Before his time in Lexington, Wilkins served as a defensive assistant/nickel coach at his alma mater, Furman in Greenville, South Carolina.
At 25 years old, this promotion makes Dae’one Wilkins the youngest assistant coach in the SEC.
Other notable Florida Gators coaching hires
PositionAge Previous College experience(years)SEC (years)Power 4 (years)NFL (years)Jon SumrallHead coach43Tulane head coach21660Buster FaulknerOffensive Coordinator44Georgia Tech Offensive Coordinator21470Brad White Defensive coordinator43Kentucky Defensive coordinator198106Joe CraddockQB coach40Tulane offensive coordinator 14200Phil TrautweinOffensive line coach 39Penn State offensive line coach130110Marcus Davis Receivers coach 31Auburn receivers coach 6340Evan McKissackTight ends coachTight ends coachTulane Co-OC/OL coach 10330Gerald ChatmanAssistant head coach/defensive line37 Tulane defensive line coach (2024 was first season at UF) 14452Greg Gasparato Linebackers coach–Tulane defensive coordinator 17030Bam HardmonOutside linebackers coach44Tulane OLB/Defensive run game coordinator 20440Chris CollinsSafeties coach 37Kentucky co-defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach 16550Brandon HarrisCorners coach 35UCF defensive back coach 7010Dae’one WilkinsNickles coach25UF quality control – DBs3200Johnathan GalanteSpecial teams coordinator—994Offensive Coordinator
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