Florida makes splash hiring Corey Raymond, long-time LSU assistant, as cornerbacks coach

Football

1

Image Credit: Alex de la Osa / UAA

As new head coach Billy Napier continues to build his first staff with the Florida Gators, he landed his biggest fish yet on Thursday by reeling in longtime LSU secondary coach Corey Raymond. Joining the Gators staff as cornerbacks coach and assistant head coach of the defense, Raymond departs a Tigers program he’s called home for the last 10 seasons.

Raymond, who played for LSU and spent six seasons in the NFL, has coached at his alma mater since 2012, serving as defensive backs coach (2012-17) and cornerbacks coach (2018-21), adding the title of recruiting coordinator over the last two seasons. He’s known as one of the best position coaches in college football, one of the nation’s top recruiters and arguably the best recruiter of defensive backs.

Among the five-star prospects Raymond is credited with bringing to LSU are Derek Stingley Jr., Kevin Tolliver II, Kristian Fulton and Jamal Adams, just to name a select few. Raymond developed seven defensive backs into All-America first team selections over 10 seasons and has also seen four reach the NFL Pro Bowl.

Raymond’s title has him working alongside Patrick Toney, Florida’s new co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach, in the secondary. Joining Napier from Louisiana, the expectation is that Toney will serve as the defense’s playcaller. He’s seen throughout the industry as one of the nation’s hottest up-and-coming assistants.

Napier will still be hiring a second co-defensive coordinator, who will likely coach the defensive line or linebackers. That assistant will likely be targeted as another top-tier recruiter given Toney will have more in-game responsibilities.

Toney was one of four men announced as the initial members of Napier’s staff this week. The Gators have hired additional staffers throughout the week, but only three on-field assistants have been formally named at this time.