Tradition. History. Coaching.
Three things senior safety DJ Coleman harped on in explaining why he transferred to Florida. Following UF’s 13th practice of the spring, the former Baylor standout noted what drove him to play in Gainesville and what he hopes to prove in 2026.
As far as tradition goes, there’s no question the Gators sit at the top of the food chain in college football. From UF’s legacy, to its rowdy fans and gameday atmosphere at The Swamp, Florida has built a historical program that draws players like Coleman in from the portal.
As for coaching, Jon Sumrall and Brad White played a large role in the recruitment of Coleman. The senior sees Sumrall as “a winner” and believes White has a great plan for how he wants to incorporate Coleman’s strengths into his defensive unit.
The key to White’s acquisition of Coleman was the versatility of the defensive coordinator’s scheme and his aforementioned plan to utilize Coleman’s strengths.
“What I like about this defense is that it allows you to play very versatile, and Coach White will put you in positions to show your skill set,” Coleman said. “He finds the way to put you in the position to highlight your strengths, and then there's a lot of vision, and he allows us to play very free.”
Another plus for the senior safety was getting to reunite with his former Baylor teammates Brendan Bett and DK Kalu. Bett came to Florida ahead of the 2025 season, while Kalu joined just a day after Coleman.
Through UF’s first 13 spring practices, Coleman said it’s crazy to see how much Bett has grown. Not just physically, but mentally.
"He was more of a strength and power guy back at Baylor, but now he's all over the field,” Coleman said. “He got faster, stronger, and then he's grown as a leader too.”
This shift in both versatility and physicality Coleman has seen from Bett since their time at Baylor can be attributed to the grit demanded by the Southeastern Conference. Just in the months he’s spent watching film and practicing at Florida, Coleman has seen the difference firsthand.
"The SEC, it's more of a beefier league than the Big 12,” Coleman said. “I have the body type that will compete and be ready for that, and I feel like the way we practice here at Florida, we'll be ready for any team that we play."
In his time as a Gator thus far, Coleman said he has yet to settle into a set position in the secondary. His versatility has allowed him to bounce around from boundary safety to strong safety to nickel.
Though he’s taken plenty of reps at boundary, Coleman doesn’t care what his role is, he just wants to be active on the field. And to him, his ability to bring a level of calmness to the defense in the chaotic in-game environment is a skill he brings to the table at Florida.
“I just bring a very strong voice back there, I put people at ease,” Coleman said. “When you're at safety, people need you to calm them down, like the cornerbacks, the linebackers, they can get really hectic out there, especially in a loud stadium.”
Coleman has plenty to prove in his first season in orange and blue and is counting on his versatility, physicality, veteran voice and playmaking ability to help him play a key role in the Gators’ secondary in 2026.
As for what he hopes to show Gator Nation this year, Coleman wants to send a clear message that this isn’t last year’s team. With a new coaching staff and a slew of new players, Coleman believes UF is poised to show fans a different brand of Florida football.
“I just want to show them that this is a new era of Florida Gators,” Coleman said. “What we're bringing to the 2026 football season is a brand of football that they can trust and believe in.”
As the season nears, Coleman is in competition with players like Bryce Thornton, Lagonza Hayward, Cam Dooley, Alfonzo Allen Jr. and Drake Stubbs in UF’s secondary.
However, the Gators have fostered a sense of camaraderie and friendly competition in practice, and Coleman particularly noted that Dooley — a Kentucky transfer — has been helpful for the players in the secondary working to understand a new system under White.
Prepared to make an impact in 2026, Coleman is aware of the vehement mentality he needs to bring to compete for a larger role and show Gator fans this “new era” of Florida football.
“Florida is a different beast,” Coleman said. “The fans here, they care a lot about their football, so just the intensity you have to bring when you come and play in The Swamp, you have to be on 10 at all times.”
Additionally, with Florida’s Orange & Blue Spring Game quickly approaching, Coleman wants fans to see the Gators enjoying the game.
In a college football landscape where everyone is caught up in results, Coleman wants to play with passion and show everyone around him that you can enjoy the opportunity to be on the field while still holding yourself to a higher standard.
“I just want to show the fans that we're out there having fun,” Coleman said. ”When I looked at some of the tape last year, it looked like guys weren't really enjoying playing the game, and I want to enjoy playing the game.”
Contact Curan Ahern at cahern@alligator.org. Follow him on X at @CuranAhern.
Curan is a junior sports journalism student in his fourth semester at The Alligator. He is currently the sports desk's football and enterprise beat writer, and previously served as a reporter for men's tennis, sports enterprise and football. He is currently pursuing a public relations minor and is an avid Duval sports fan. (#DTWD)
