Florida Gators

The first of our Three and Out Q&A series with Gators to preview each position group heading into the start of preseason camp.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida junior cornerback Quincy Wilson has started 11 games over the past two seasons, including nine as a sophomore.

Wilson hasn't received as much recognition as some of his teammates in the secondary such as first-round NFL Draft picks Vernon Hargreaves III and Keanu Neal, or fellow junior Jalen Tabor. Still, Wilson has been a productive member of the unit and with Hargreaves gone, he is slated to start opposite Tabor to give Florida perhaps the best cornerback tandem in the country.

Here is our Three and Out with Wilson:

Q: What is your mindset with preseason camp set to start in a few days?

A: I've been really working on slimming down and getting fit for camp. The workouts with Coach Kent have been going well. He really knows how to transform your body. It's about that time when we've got a full month of football before the season starts, so we've just got to lock in and be on point with learning and technique and helping the other guys get on the same track.

Q: What are your personal expectations entering your third season in the program?

A: I feel like it really is going to be a big year. I'm finally going to be a full-time starter and be able to get out there and make more plays. I feel like everything is clicking. Being in the position I was, there were other people in front of us to learn from like Keanu and [Brian] Poole and Vern. I just got to soak everything in. I was splitting snaps with Jalen so I think the competition made us play at a higher level. It was a good thing to have.

Q: What was it like to split time with Jalen as both of you competed for playing time the past two years?

A: We just looked at it like, 'he is going to make me better and I'm going to make him better. If we're both balling, they've got to put us on the field.' So however we can get on the field together, it's the way to go. We never had animosity toward each other or anything like that.

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Player to Watch: Tabor blossomed into an All-SEC performer as a sophomore and had 14 pass breakups and four interceptions. He returned two of the interceptions for touchdowns. Many project Tabor as the next first-round pick from the Florida secondary.

Newcomer to Watch: Chauncey Gardner enrolled early out of Cocoa (Fla.) High and impressed his teammates and coaches with a solid spring camp. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Gardner is versatile and should have ample opportunity to make an impact as a true freshman.

Overview: Florida has boasted one of the most talented and deepest secondaries in the country in recent years and that trend is expected to continue with Tabor, Wilson and safety Marcus Maye back. Maye had his finest season a year ago and opted to return to school for his final year of eligibility after earning first-team All-American honors from USA Today. Veterans Nick Washington, Marcell Harris and Duke Dawson are expected to take on expanded roles, and early enrollees Gardner and McArthur Burnett gained valuable experience in spring camp. Sophomore Chris Williamson provides depth at cornerback. The Gators signed six defensive backs in the 2016 recruiting class. Besides Gardner and Burnett, true freshmen Quincy Lenton, C.J. McWilliams and Jeawon Taylor joined the team over the summer. Newcomer Joseph Putu is an intriguing addition to the roster. Putu transferred from North Dakota State College of Science, where he blossomed into a coveted prospect last season and was recruited by such schools as Ohio State, UCLA and Virginia Tech prior to signing with the Gators.