After undergoing a lower-body injury earlier this week in practice, the status of star sophomore wide receiver Eugene Wilson III is up in the air for Florida’s game against Texas A&M Saturday, according to Swamp247.
Wilson III was limited in practice on Tuesday and only took a handful of snaps Wednesday, but he was listed as a participant in Thursday’s practice for UF.
However, other members of the Gators' receiving core will have to step up and fill Wilson III’s cleats in a big way against the Aggies.
Wilson III emerged as a focal point in UF’s offense last year, but seemingly in short bursts. Just two games into the 2024 campaign, he recorded his first career 100-yard receiving game. Helping him get there was an 85-yard pop-pass sweep that he took to the house.
On that play, Wilson broke the team record for fastest speed reached in a game. According to Florida head coach Billy Napier, he clocked in at 23.42 mph in full pads.
Wilson III leads UF in both receptions and yards through two games. With his status going from questionable to unlikely against A&M, it seems that even if he does play, he won’t be at full speed.
Luckily for the Gators, other members of the wide receiver room seem to have taken a step forward in their development and could be primed to make a huge impact in a big time game.
After the emergence of five-star freshman quarterback DJ Lagway, Florida’s wide receivers are looking to build off the momentum from their offensive explosion against the Bulldogs.
UF’s wide receiver room is littered with young up-and-coming talent, but that hasn’t always translated to on-field performance. All offseason, fans heard about the maturation of the young wideouts, the experience that the transfers brought to the room and the promise they all showed. In Week 2, Florida fans saw a glimpse of what could be a key piece of the puzzle for the 2024 Florida Gators.
“I feel like we’re all building a relationship,” said senior wide receiver Elijhah Badger. “We all help each other and it’s fun to play with those guys.”
Badger was on the receiving end of a 77-yard pass from Lagway that ignited the crowd at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. He caught two more balls in the matchup, ending up with 123 receiving yards on the night.
“I think [Badger is] getting more confident, comfortable in the system,” Napier said. “He’s made some plays. I think he’s getting into a little bit of a routine. Yeah, at receiver, I think confidence is huge.”
Through two games, Badger stands No. 6 in the SEC in receiving yards with 166, only three spots behind Wilson III.
Speed has been an emphasis on the recruiting trails for Napier and his staff over the last two cycles, including redshirt freshman Aidan Mizell and true freshman Tank Hawkins.
The speedy Hawkins recorded his first career touchdown on a 36-yard pass from Lagway. Hawkins split double coverage and found his way into the endzone on the play. Don’t let his speed and 5-foot-9 stature fool you. According to Napier, he didn’t get the name “Tank” for no reason.
“Go watch the high school film from West Virginia, and he’s not only playing receiver, but he’s playing corner,” Napier said. “Toughness was all over the tape… I respect Tank’s toughness, man. He’s not scared, and he plays with an edge for sure.”
Mizell, as a true freshman, didn’t see much playing time due to his size and the players ahead of him on the depth chart. Coming into this season, he’s looking to tap into his potential and show what he can do.
“I think this offseason, he made a huge jump physically,” Napier said. “I do think his ball skills and route running have improved. He’s always had the vertical part of his game… There are light years to go. I mean, he has a high ceiling.”
Mizell showed flashes of his potential Saturday with an athletic 41-yard touchdown snag down the right sideline.
“With that play, it’s just trusting my receiver,” Lagway said. “My man is better than their man… I have trust in Aidan and all my other receivers.”
The wide receiver room has shown flashes of promise for what’s to come.
With Wilson III potentially sitting out, UF’s wideouts could have another chance to prove themselves against Texas A&M Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium 3:30 p.m.
Contact Chandler Hawkes at chawkes@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @HawkesChandler.
