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Perhaps no Florida football offensive player will see his role increase as much as Eugene Wilson III in 2024.
The sophomore from Gaither High School in Tampa served as WR2 last season, but he mostly played second fiddle to Ricky Pearsall.
With Pearsall heading to the NFL Draft, Wilson will now step into the WR1 role for the Gators.
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In his first stint in the role, he rose to the occasion.
Wilson caught eight passes for 128 yards and a TD in Saturday’s Orange and Blue Spring Football Game.
His TD came a slant from QB Graham Mertz, and Wilson used his speed to take it to the house.
Wilson knows he can fill Pearsall’s shoes for Florida football
Wilson was certainly no slouch in 2023. He caught 61 passes for 538 yards and six TDs last season, including a freshman program record 11 catches vs Georgia. He caught two touchdown passes vs. Arkansas, the most for a Gators freshman since Riley Cooper in 2006.
Pearsall, though, totaled over 400 more yards and oftentimes, Mertz relied on Pearsall as a security blanket.
Florida Gators wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (1) makes a catch over Florida State Seminoles defensive back Azareye’h Thomas (20) during the second half at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 25, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]
Now, that role can belong to Wilson. He’s off to a good start as he hauled in 11 of Mertz’s 28 targets and registered an impressive 77 yards after catch.
Mertz believes fans haven’t seen the best of Wilson yet.
“He picked up where he left off. Just so explosive in what he does,” Mertz said….
[ad_2]Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/florida-football-wr-eugene-wilson-224029678.html
Author : The Gainesville Sun
Publish date : 2024-04-13 22:40:29
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