DJ Pickett Drawn to Gators DB Coach Corey Raymond's NFL Development Regimen
DJ Pickett had a unique perspective of Florida's official visit weekend from June 2-4. While a flock of 2024 prospects spent three days touring UF and the Gators' athletic facilities, Pickett — from the 2025 class — spent two days on campus for an unofficial visit of his own.
"It was pretty cool. I saw the other players go on their OV, and I really liked that," Pickett shared with All Gators. "I'm gonna come back and do my OV. I like what they did."
Pickett, of Tampa (Fla.) Zephyrhills, was similar to the official visitors considering he is a top target of the Gators in his respective recruiting cycle. The trip to Gainesville marked his third of the year.
The No. 1 safety and No. 7 overall prospect in 2025 by the 247Sports composite rankings, Pickett originally earned a scholarship offer from the Gators' previous coaching staff in 2021. Head coach Billy Napier and secondary coach Corey Raymond, of the current administration, have continued UF's pursuit of his services.
Raymond involved Pickett in the weekend's festivities just like the two defensive backs in town on official visits, further strengthening his bond with the 2025 talent.
"I spent time with coach Raymond. Pretty cool guy," Pickett said. "I can talk to him about anything and I just feel comfortable being around him."
Although he has earned safety projections due to his 6-foot-2, 170-pound frame, Raymond covets Pickett as an outside cornerback with the positional flexibility to play numerous spots on the backend of Florida's defense.
Following his recent promotion from cornerbacks coach to overseeing the entire secondary, Raymond pitched versatility to Pickett during the visit — and Pickett expressed his appreciation for Raymond's own.
"I like how they use their guys. Like, [Raymond] told me he prepares his guys to play in the NFL, not to how their defense is," Pickett described. "I really like that because, at the end of the day, my goal is to get to the NFL.
"With my versatility, playing safety and corner, it's like, I don't have to talk to a different coach or anybody else. I can just talk to one coach and he can move me around the defense."
When he wasn't with coaches, Pickett also reconnected with a former high school teammate of his from his time at Tampa (Fla.) Carrollwood Day: Gators freshman tight end Tony Livingston.
Livingston, a class of 2022 UF signee who joined the program this offseason following a gray-shirt year, offered Pickett assurance of the coaching staff's authenticity.
"[Livingston] just said that, like, 'You're gonna get a shot, they're gonna give you a shot here,' " Pickett recalled. "And that, 'Whatever you see here right now is what you're gonna get, day in, day out.' "
Pickett intends to narrow his recruitment down for the first time in the near future, in order to focus on select schools among his 37 scholarship offers. Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Alabama are locks to make that cut.
And, perhaps before he releases the list, Pickett plans to make a return visit to UF.
"Oh yeah, I'll definitely be back," Pickett said. "They want me to be back in July. I'll just see what I'm doing, I might be back soon."
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