GATORCOLLECTIVE CORNER: Getting To Know Newcomer Kamari Wilson

"I’m a fast, quick aggressive guy. I could play corner even, just versatile. I just like physical competing. You're going to have to work if you want to beat me." -- Incoming freshman safety Kamari Wilson.

By KYLE CURTIS. GatorBaitMedia.com

From the transcript of The Buddy Martin Show/Gator Collective Corner with Buddy Martin/Ben Troupe/ and Franz Beard. Interview with Kamari Wilson.

Question: Why did you choose Florida?

WILSON: “I chose Florida because it was my dream school. When I was in 9th grade, I didn’t know much about recruiting then I went on a visit to Florida and I was just amazed by the crowd and the fans, just Gator Nation. I was honestly leaning toward Georgia, then the new hire happened, and I wanted to give Coach Napier a chance. Coach Napier had a good plan and I wanted to hear what he had to offer. During my recruitment, God was giving me signs of the Florida Gators. I made my decision that day at the table, I knew then I wanted to be a Florida Gator.”

Question: Can you talk about your instincts and presence as a safety?

WILSON: “I’m a very violent player, I’m aggressive. Going to IMG, my 11th-grade year, gave me patience. I’m a fast, quick aggressive guy. I could play corner even, just versatile. I just like physical competing. You're going to have to work if you want to beat me.

Question: Can you touch on Coach (Patrick) Toney and how he is the defensive coordinator and the safety guy?

WILSON: “He is a very smart guy. I’m going to be prepared to go to the NFL probably by the end of the season the way he is teaching us. He is also the DC and my coach. “

Question: How dangerous can this secondary be?

WILSON: “It’s going to get really scary, Coach PT (Patrick Toney) and Coach (Corey) Raymond together, that’s a crazy mix. They’re all about togetherness. We are all a brotherhood. Us being so close we have each other’s back. DBU is going to be Florida this year. Trey Dean and some of those older guys are really showing me the way, it is going to be scary.’”

Question: What was your experience like at IMG?

WILSON: “It was a hard decision. A lot of people don’t have the people to guide them and push them to the right path. I was blessed enough to have a good mother and father that showed me you have to be a student-athlete first. Going into 8th-grade year I always said I was going to IMG, and I was going to be the #1 safety in the country and people laughed at me because I had a disability when I was younger, it was hard for me to read. People told me I couldn’t have the grades to play football, I proved all of them wrong. When I was there (IMG) I had a 3.2 GPA. Sophomore year I had 34 offers from everywhere around the country and I was the first 5-star at my high school. The best decision was going to IMG because everyone is working towards the same goal as you. IMG got me ready for the next level.”

Question: Can you talk about how you are goal orientated?

WILSON: “My mom and dad always told me I was going to be different. I learned from my brothers and sisters because I'm the youngest, they used to always pick on me. That itself motivated me. I wanted to prove them wrong. People were surprised when I got my first offer to Florida, they thought it was fake. That just drives me to be better. Being where I come from, that drives me to be great too, to show the young kids you don’t need to be a part of gangs. The young kids motivate me.”

Question: What was it about the Gator Collective that made you want to hop on board with them?

WILSON: “It gets me to connect with fans, and people in general, to know the real me underneath the helmet. Some people just get the persona of someone, and they don’t really know them. I get to do things like go to elementary school and hand out candy and help the community of Gainesville. It has been of the best decisions I’ve made since coming to campus. I get to show people who I am personally.”

Question: What other players on the team have really impressed you?

WILSON: “Trey Dean, all the DBs period. But Trey Dean, he doesn’t stop, he is like a machine, and I love it. Jason Marshall is about business and is a great leader. Devin Moore, an incoming freshman is a great worker. The whole team is honestly all working with Coach Napier, if you didn’t want to be here and work you hit the transfer portal. We’re connected, we got way better as the weeks went by and you can tell by the effort.”

Question: What is your impression of Patrick Toney?

WILSON: “He is the smartest dude I’ve ever met. I promise you. The way he’s teaching us makes it easy for us, just in bits and pieces, he’s a great coach. Everything has a reason, everything we do in practice is justified. I feel like after this season the stats are going to show he's the best DC in the country. He’s taught me so much already. He’s technical on everything such as footwork. I have all my trust in him that when the combine comes around, I’ll be 100% ready.”