The defensive back position was a huge need for the Florida Gators in the 2023 class and the coaching staff signed five guys who can play all over the secondary.
Defensive back Sharif Denson (5–11, 170, Jacksonville, FL. Bartram Trail) was one of those guys who signed earlier this month and he’s a versatile guy that can play multiple positions.
“They said they like me at outside corner and nickel,” Denson said on where Florida wants him to play. “For me wherever I can go in and play first is where I’m going to be at, if that’s nickel then I’ll be there but if that’s outside corner then I’ll be there.”
Defensive coordinator Patrick Toney was the main guy recruiting Denson and Toney set the bar high for the Gators during one of Denson’s first visits to campus.
“PT [Patrick Toney] was the lead recruiter for sure, then C-Ray [Corey Raymond] stepped in when he needed to,” he said on the coaches who recruited him. “PT did a great job, the first or second visit we came up there for a visit he put together a video of his old defensive backs making the same plays I was making in my highlights. He was just showcasing how I could make plays in his defense.”
Denson’s recruitment was pretty much shut down for much of the recruiting cycle, but Miami made a late charge for him at the end it was too late of a push.
“UM, Miami,” Denson said on who finished second for him. “It was kind of towards the end and that’s on them. I learned at the end of the process that there are great coaches everywhere.
The Jacksonville native also admits that he thinks the Gators’ program has the ability to be good for a long time compared to the Canes.
“I just feel like over the long period of time that Florida is going to be able to be a good program,” he said on why he stuck with Florida over Miami. “I don’t know that you can say the same thing about Miami. Miami is just the NIL factor is so big over there, you just don’t know when they’re going to drop out or how much money they really have. I know at UF what they say you’re going to get, you’re going to get and the coaches at UF, you just can’t beat that.”
Both of Denson’s parents went to Florida and attending UF was something that Denson had always dreamed about.
“I kind of always seen myself playing at UF,” Denson said. “With the old staff recruiting me how they recruited me and then the new staff doing the same, it just showed that this is where I was supposed to be at.”