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Published Feb 4, 2017
Gray headed to the NFL
Landon Watnick  •  1standTenFlorida
Beat Writer
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Florida defensive backs coach Torrian Gray is headed to the NFL.

Gray has accepted a job on the Washington Redskins’ coaching staff, a source told Inside the Gators. He leaves Gainesville after spending one season with Florida.

Prior to that, Gray served as Virginia Tech’s secondary coach from 2006-15. He returns to coaching in the NFL, where he was an assistant defensive backs coach for the Chicago Bears from 2004-05.

Gray will presumably replace Perry Fewell, who was dismissed as Redskins’ defensive backs coach shortly after the 2016 season concluded. Gray's annual salary at UF was $335,000.

The loss of Gray is a considerable one for the Gators’ coaching staff, which is now undergoing somewhat of a makeover. Gray was widely regarded as one of Florida’s top assistant coaches this past season, as defensive backs like Marcell Harris, Duke Dawson, Chauncey Gardner and others blossomed under his tutelage. Under Gray, Jalen Tabor and Quincy Wilson had strong junior seasons and now could likely land in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

This past season, the Florida defense ranked second nationally in passing defense, allowing just 148.5 yards in the air per game.

On the recruiting trail, Gray played a part in helping the Gators land one of their best secondary hauls in school history during the 2017 cycle. Florida’s latest recruiting class features four four-stars (Marco Wilson, C.J. Henderson, Brian Edwards, Brad Stewart) and two three-stars (Shawn Davis, Donovan Stiner).

Florida now has two vacancies currently on its coaching staff, barring any other departures. The Gators announced the hiring of offensive assistant coach JaJuan Seider on Friday and are still in the hunt for an offensive line coach to replace Mike Summers.

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