Entering Jim McElwain’s second season at the University of Florida, there are a lot of new faces on the team. The roster is filled with newcomers that look to leave their mark on one of the most anticipated college football seasons in recent memory. Amongst these new faces is defensive backs coach Torrian Gray.
Gray, a Florida native, has coached defensive backs of all shapes and sizes. He is known as a stickler for technique and ferocious recruiter. Gray has already made his presence felt at Florida, rendering a quick impression on senior safety, Marcus Maye.
“Just having coach Gray and the track record that he has, he’s done a lot of things with a lot of players and he’s been around for a very, very long time,” Maye said. “Having him in our room helps out a lot.”
With a reputation like Torrian Gray’s Florida knew they were getting one of the best in the business.
The Past
Gray played defensive back himself in college at Virginia Tech; where he was selected three times on the All Big East Team. He always teaches his defensive backs to be physical, much like he was in college. You can’t be afraid to use your hands if you play for Gray, and never be complacent with where you are as a player.
When he started his coaching career at Maine, Gray began to mold defensive backs in to big physical playmakers that had the most confidence of anyone on the field. In 2006, after coaching in the NFL with the Chicago Bears, Gray landed back at his alma mater of Virginia Tech. While he coaching at Virginia Tech for 10 years, Gray constantly had defensive backs ranked as top players in the country. In 2007, Virginia Tech defensive back Jamie Silva led the NCAA in interceptions with eight. The following year, Hokie’s star corners Victor Harris and Stephan Virgil both were ranked in the top 10 in interceptions, with six each. With three corners cracking the top 10 in interceptions during his first 2 years on the job, Gray had set the bar high for his future, one that he consistently achieved during the rest of his career as a Hokie. In his final season at Va.-Tech, Gray left the team in a respectable position defensively before making the jump to Gainesville to coach at D.B.U.
The Present
Even with the recent struggles at Florida one thing has remained the same, high standards at the defensive back position. From the Urban Meyer days through the Will Muschamp years, Gator defensive backs have been revered as the best in the country — a trend that coach Gray is sure to keep alive. With the current star studded roster with names like Jalen Tabor and Quincy Wilson, the new Gator defensive backs coach will likely field his most talented secondary yet.
Departing to the NFL, Keanu Neal, Brian Poole and Vernon Hargreaves made a mark at Florida that can only hope to be replicated in the fall of 2016, but with experienced corners that will play with a chip on their shoulder, the drop off will not be noticeable.
Marcus Maye spoke at SEC Media Days earlier in the summer about what coach Gray is trying to implement into his new group of elite defensive backs
“He want’s everybody to know what everybody is doing,” Maye went on, “That’s what he teaches us. That’s why he moves people around and stuff like that but he’s big on the safeties knowing what the corners are doing and the corners knowing what the safeties are doing. So it just makes everyone be on the same page and makes it easier with communication and stuff.”
The Future
Since moving to Gainesville, Gray has made an impact on the recruiting trail. The Gators have received commitments from Elijah Blades (6-3, 180, Pasadena, CA. Muir High School) and Marco Wilson (5-11, 163, Plantation, FL. American Heritage). Two highly talented recruits who made the choice to play for high-level coach, Torrian Gray. These two commitments are big, but bigger things are expected to come, especially as the Gators prepare for what is looking to be one of their most impressive years on defense, and that’s saying something with the production of recent defenses.
With an already impressive coaching staff, Head Coach Jim McElwain’s addition of Torrian Gray could prove to be his best yet.