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Just hours after finalizing a deep 2016 recruiting class, Florida reportedly hired a defensive backs coach to complete its staff.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Thayer Evans, the Gators have hired Torrian Gray from Virginia Tech.
Va. Tech secondary coach Torrian Gray expected to be new DBs coach for Florida coach Jim McElwain per source.
— Thayer Evans (@ThayerEvansCR) February 3, 2016
“Yeah, I think we’re down the road on that,” coach Jim McElwain said of potentially hiring a defensive backs coach on Wednesday afternoon.
“Obviously, it goes back to something I believe in. I’m not going to ruin anybody’s (day). This is something we’re ready to do. It will happen. You guys will probably know it via Twitter or whatever before I do. But yeah, it’s ready to go.”
Gray, known as an excellent recruiter as well as a strong talent developer, is a Central Florida native with plenty of local ties. He coached defensive backs at Virginia Tech from 2006 to 2015 under then-coach Frank Beamer.
Recruiting analysts immediately speculated that Gray will help Florida push for 2017 recruits like four-star Lakeland receiver James Robinson.
Central Florida is an area that previous secondary coach Kirk Callahan patrolled as a recruiter. The Gators let go of Callahan after the 2015 season.
Despite a few significant departures, Gray will inherit a talented secondary led by cornerback Jalen Tabor. He’s developed several early-round NFL draft choices, including Kyle Fuller, the No. 14 overall pick in 2014.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
