Florida football is right around the corner, with fall camp set to begin on Aug. 5. Gator Country’s roster preview series continues with a look at safety and STAR room. If you missed it, be sure to check out our edge rusher preview. 

SAFETY 

Sr. Bryce Thornton

Senior safety Bryce Thornton is the leader of the group and its most experienced player. He put together a solid 2025 campaign, recording 56 tackles, two fumble recoveries, five quarterback hurries, one interception, one sack and a team-high seven pass breakups.

Thornton graded as Florida’s second-best defensive player last season, trailing only Devin Moore, according to Pro Football Focus. He allowed just 187 yards in coverage on 28 targets, surrendering 17 completions.

The 5-foot-10, 211-pound defensive back isn’t the most athletic safety in college football, but he’s instinctive and has a knack for finding the football. Florida’s staff also values his versatility and size, allowing him to line up deep, in the box or over the slot receiver.

Sr. DJ Coleman

Baylor transfer DJ Coleman was a standout safety for the Bears in 2025, recording 46 tackles (30 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, two interceptions and a forced fumble. He was particularly effective in coverage, allowing 20 receptions for 141 yards on 32 targets. Coleman allowed just a 46.5 passer rating when targeted, which ranked 16th in the Big 12.

He also nearly cut his missed tackle rate in half from the previous season.

Like Thornton, Coleman is a smart football player with plenty of experience under his belt. While Florida lists him as a safety, he played 362 snaps at the STAR position last season, showcasing his versatility.

Jr. Cam Dooley

Florida added more depth to the room by bringing in Kentucky transfer Cam Dooley, who played in all 12 games for the Wildcats last season, including three starts. Dooley was highly effective in coverage during the 2025 campaign, allowing just 80 yards across 212 coverage snaps while posting a 45.8 passer rating allowed when targeted. He also did not allow a touchdown in coverage.

The 6-foot-2, 207-pound safety benefited from spending two years in Brad White’s system, easing his transition to Gainesville. He’s expected to be firmly in the mix for the safety competition.

So. Lagonza Hayward

Lagonza Hayward played in eight games during his freshman campaign, totaling 128 defensive snaps. He recorded 12 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss, an impressive total given his limited playing time.

Hayward is another safety who can line up in the slot because of his physical style of play. The 6-foot-1, 207-pound defensive back is an explosive playmaker who needs to become more consistent.

So. Drake Stubbs

Drake Stubbs primarily contributed on special teams during his freshman season, appearing in just two games on defense and logging 60 defensive snaps. He finished the year with three tackles.

Consistency remains one of the biggest question marks in Florida’s secondary, and Stubbs is part of that equation. Like Hayward, he’s learning his second defensive system in as many seasons, making their development during fall camp an important storyline.

Fr. Kaiden Hall

As announced by head coach Jon Sumrall on Tuesday, Kaiden Hall will miss the start of fall camp while recovering from a minor injury.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound safety was rated the No. 205 overall prospect, the No. 17 safety and the No. 27 player in Florida in the 2026 recruiting class, according to ESPN. Hall was also named an Under Armour All-American after a standout high school career in which he totaled 129 tackles (90 solo), 11 tackles for loss, four interceptions and two pass breakups.

R-Sr. Alfonzo Allen Jr. 

Alfonzo Allen Jr., a former walk-on, appeared in six games last season, including three starts. He recorded 15 tackles in his first career start against Mississippi State, becoming the first Gator since 2021 to tally 15 tackles in a single game.

Allen Jr. plays bigger than his 5-foot-11, 196-pound frame suggests. He’s a physical, hard-hitting defensive back who isn’t afraid to come downhill and make contact. He has good speed but needs to become a more consistent tackler.

STAR

R-So. Kanye Clark

As a redshirt sophomore at UCLA in 2025, Kanye Clark appeared in nine games at cornerback, making two starts at nickel. He recorded 23 tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, one quarterback hurry and two pass breakups across 207 defensive snaps.

Clark was one of the biggest surprises of spring camp. Standing at 5-foot-10, 184 pounds, he isn’t going to wow you with his size, but he makes up for it with his athleticism and competitiveness. He was a standout performer during Rusty Whitt’s offseason strength and conditioning program.

So. Elijah Owens

At Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in 2025, Elijah Owens appeared in 11 games in the secondary, recording 65 tackles (45 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and one interception. He finished second on the team in tackles.

Defensive coordinator Brad White and safeties coach Chris Collins recruited Owens while they were at Kentucky before bringing him to Florida. At 6-foot-2, 209 pounds, Owens has the size and physicality to thrive at the STAR position with further development.

Fr. Dylan Purter

Freshman safety Dylan Purter arrived at Florida as a consensus four-star recruit in the 2026 class. He was ranked the No. 181 overall prospect, the No. 15 safety and the No. 8 player in Alabama, according to the Rivals Industry Rankings. Purter was selected to the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game after totaling 148 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks, two interceptions and 11 pass deflections across his sophomore and junior seasons.

Purter is listed at 6-foot, 184 pounds.

Final thoughts 

Florida should be able to form a formidable safety unit with Bryce Thornton, DJ Coleman and Cam Dooley. The first two bring production and experience, while Dooley took a significant step forward last season and is expected to continue developing in year three. The depth behind them will be determined by consistency and how quickly Lagonza Hayward and Drake Stubbs can adjust to a new defensive system.

I expect one of those three safeties to also contribute at the STAR position.