Florida football seeking more big plays from WRs in 2024

Florida football lost a wide receiver to the first round of the NFL Draft last April, but there is thought that the receiving corps could be as talented and deeper heading into the 2024 season

Still, it won't be easy replacing the talent and production of Ricky Pearsall, who led the Florida Gators in receiving each of the last two seasons. A transfer from Arizona State, the 6-1, 190-pound Pearsall had 65 catches for 965 yards and 4 TDs last season, nearly becoming UF's first 1,000-yard receiver since Taylor Jacobs in 2002. Pearsall was taken in the first round (31st overall) by the San Francisco 49ers.

Billy Gonzales enters his second year in his third stint as UF's receivers coach, where he's helped develop two first round picks (Pearsall and Kadarius Toney in 2020) over the last four years.

Gonzales conveys a simple message to his receivers at UF, that each rep is part of your resume.

"Everything that you do, every time that you take a rep, every time you’re on a football field that’s your stamp - that’s who you are," Gonzales said. "It creates an environment where these guys are competing, but at the same time learning to get better. I love their attitude. I absolutely love their attitude. They’ve made some big plays, but we have to continue to be consistent."

One area Gonzalez wants to see UF's receivers improve upon is big plays after the Gators generated just 14 pass plays or 30 or more yards in 2023.

"I’ve always talked about five big plus-plays of 20 yards, that’s kind of what I’ve always said in my meeting room," Gonzales said. "If we can have five plus-plays of 20 yards or more in a game, we’re going to put ourselves in a really good opportunity at the end of the game to be successful."

Here's a look at UF's wide receivers entering the 2024 season:

Florida football WR starters

Eugene "Tre" Wilson III will look to build off a stellar freshman season, in which he caught 61 passes for 538 yards and 6 TDs in 10 games and seven starts. Wilson's speed and cutting ability allows him to befuddle opposing defenses in spite of his 5-foot-10, 181-pound frame. He picked up where he left off in UF's spring game, catching a 60-yard TD pass from quarterback Graham Mertz and finishing with 8 catches for 128 yards and 1 TD.

At 6-3 and 215 pounds, redshirt junior wide receiver Kahleil Jackson returns as a bigger target. In 11 games and 9 starts, Jackson had 21 catches for 251 yards and 1 TD, including a spectacular falling-down catch against South Carolina.

The battle for the third wide receiver spot will come down to a pair of incoming transfers — Chemire Dike from Wisconsin and Elijah Badger from Arizona State. The 6-0, 195-pound Dike posted his best season at Wisconsin with Mertz, a Wisconsin transfer, throwing him the ball. Dike had 47 catches for 689 yards and 6 TDs with Mertz under center at Wisconsin in 2022. He also brings speed to the position, having been clocked as fast as 10.8 seconds in the 100 meters. Badger, a spring transfer and bigger target at 6-2, will get acclimated to the offense this fall after catching 65 passes for 713 yards and 3 TDs for the Sun Devils last season.

Florida football WR depth

Junior wide receiver Marcus Burke arrived in spring practice with improved work habits and it showed in the spring game, as he caught 3 catches for 63 yards.

Sophomore wide receiver Aidan Mizell also is coming off a strong spring, catching a 22-yard TD pass in UF's spring game. Sophomore wide receiver Andy Jean (6 catches, 97 yards as a freshman) will need to prove he can stay healthy after dealing with hamstring issues that lingered into the spring.

At 6-4 and 218 pounds, redshirt junior Ja'Quavion Fraziars (10 catches, 120 yards and 1 TD for his career) provides depth and another big target.

Florida football WR future

T,J. Abrams (5-10, 197) and Tank Hawkins (6-0, 170) are two young receivers who took advantage of enrolling early. Both displayed speed and playmaking ability taking part in spring drills. Abrams had a 20-yard catch in UF's spring game, with 18 of the yards coming after the catch. Hawkins returned kickoffs during the spring game and returned one for 25 yards.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football seeking more big plays from WRs in 2024