Florida Gators junior cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. has announced that he is returning to the Gators for another season, forgoing a possible decision to enter the 2024 NFL Draft.
Marshall Jr. returning to Gainesville is big news for the Gators but for their secondary in particular, who will need his veteran leadership to bolster a room that is going to be mixed in terms of experience with players leaving for the transfer portal, new players joining from the transfer portal, and new prospects from high school signing on.
Marshall Jr., a former five-star recruit from Palmetto, Florida, has been the Gators best cover corner the past two seasons, but did not perform up to the level many expected him to prior to the start of the 2023 season.
Marshall Jr. started in all 12 of Florida’s games in 2023, recording 10 pass breakups (which led the team), 26 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack.
Marshall Jr. also started in every game for the Gators in 2022 and has appeared in every game for Florida since he signed ahead of the 2021 season (a total of 38 with 32 of them being starts).
Marshall Jr. will be coached by his third different position coach, as newly hired secondary coach Will Harris takes over the room from the Los Angeles Chargers for the Gators.
As mentioned, Marshall Jr. will be the veteran of the secondary room and one of a few veterans of the entire defense in 2024, so Florida will need him to take on an expanded role in that aspect.
Marshall Jr. rejoins talented secondary
Marshall Jr. will re-join a room that has an abundance of young talent with more experience on the way via the transfer portal.
Florida Gators safety Jordan Castell (14) – Gabriella Whisler/Florida Gators Athletics
Safety Jordan Castell had an incredible rookie campaign for the Gators, being named a member of the Freshman All-SEC team, the ESPN Freshman-All-American team, and even won SEC Freshman of the Week for his performance against Tennessee where he recorded 10 tackles and a pass breakup.
Florida Gators safety Bryce Thornton (18) – Emma Bissell/Florida Gators Athletics
Along with Castell is another rising talent at safety in Bryce Thornton, who came on strong for the Gators towards the end of the season. Thornton played in all 12 games for the Gators and started in four of them, recording 34 tackles, three-and-a-half tackles for lass, a half sack and a pass breakup.
With the departure of STAR/nickel cornerback Jaydon Hill via the transfer portal, Florida will look towards Sharif Denson and transfer from Oregon Trikweze Bridges to replace Hill. Denson appeared in all 12 games for the Gators, primarily playing on special teams and used seldomly on defense.
Bridges started in all 13 games for Oregon in 2022, recording 49 tackles, three interceptions, five pass breakups, a forced fumble and a tackle for loss. Bridges brings size to the Gators secondary, standing at 6-3, 192 pounds.
Florida Gators cornerback Devin Moore (28) and safety Jordan Castell (14) – Mallory Peak/Florida Gators Athletics
Florida will also have CB Devin Moore returning, who when healthy, is one of Florida’s best cornerbacks. Moore played in just seven games for the gators in 2023, missing five due to injury, recording six tackles, three pass breakups and an interception. If Moore can stay healthy, he will be a likely option to start opposite of Marshall Jr..
Two more cornerbacks who will likely compete for the opposite cornerback position to Marshall Jr. are Ja’Keem Jackson and Dijon Johnson. Jackson appeared in 11 of 12 games for the Gators, recording seven tackles, three pass breakups and a QB hurry. Jackson is a potential breakout candidate for the Gators in his sophomore season. Johnson appeared in all 12 games for the Gators, primarily on special teams, but is set to see more action for the Gators at cornerback in 2024.
Suffice to say the Gators have talent and Marshall Jr. provides the room with experience, but he will need to take on an expanded leadership role alongside Castell for the Gators defense in 2024, which will need to rely on its young talent like they it did throughout 2023.
