Florida football: Second-year players who’ll become stars in 2023
![Florida Gators wide receiver Caleb Douglas (12) celebrates a touchdown during the second half against the Eastern Washington Eagles at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, October 2, 2022. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]Ncaa Football Florida Gators Vs Eastern Washington Eagles](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F617eb987d50ef283873ac84c940b28ee1aa1d97d1815572435e0c1200dbea471.jpg "Florida Gators wide receiver Caleb Douglas (12) celebrates a touchdown during the second half against the Eastern Washington Eagles at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, October 2, 2022. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]Ncaa Football Florida Gators Vs Eastern Washington Eagles")
![Florida Gators safety Kamari Wilson (5) tackles LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) during the first half at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, October 15, 2022. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]Ncaa Football Florida Gators Vs Lsu Tigers](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F18226bc7951235d224341c6e773fb5d0d19f59005f6112e44d3f94d480add0b3.jpg "Florida Gators safety Kamari Wilson (5) tackles LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) during the first half at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, October 15, 2022. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]Ncaa Football Florida Gators Vs Lsu Tigers")
Kamari Wilson is projected as a backup free safety on the depth chart heading into next season, but if I’m Billy Napier and I just watched my defense give up over 235 passing yards and over 400 total yards per game, I’m making every single position an open competition.
If that’s the case, Wilson should at least make a serious push for a starting safety job and I wouldn’t be shocked if he was a starter when 2023 begins.
Wilson had a strong freshman season that cannot be overlooked as he finished with 39 total tackles which was good for eighth on the team and he also added 1.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble. He’s a physical safety who isn’t afraid of contact and who was projected to be an immediate star when he signed with the Gators in 2022.
I think his time is coming and I’d be shocked if he wasn’t a starter and a star during the 2023 season. Wilson is just too gifted not to be.
Next. Way-too-early Top 25 projections for 2023. dark