Florida has seen plenty of NFL talent emerge from its wide receiver room over the years — Ricky Pearsall was a first-round pick in 2024, and Chimere Dike was a big name at the 2025 combine but who is next up for the Gators heading into the 2025 season? As spring practice season winds down, ESPN ranked the best receivers in college football, and Florida’s Eugene Wilson III earned a couple of votes.
Wilson didn’t crack the top 10, but he earned a handful of votes (5 points), which is good for a tie with LSU’s Barion Brown and Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq in the unofficial No. 16 spot. That’s still well outside the threshold for the top 10 (19 points), but it’s telling that Wilson is receiving any sort of national recognition after playing just four games last season.
A hip injury forced Wilson into a redshirt last year, but his obvious connection with quarterback DJ Lagway is something to look forward to and perhaps a big reason he’s expected to return to form in 2025. The duo only started one game together last season, but they provided an explosive performance.
Lagway found Wilson six times for 141 yards and a touchdown, albeit against FCS Samford. Finding each other against SEC defenses will be more difficult, but Wilson is the projected No. 1 receiver on the roster this season with Elijhah Badger and Chimere Dike no longer in Gainesville.
Wilson has added some weight to help him out-muscle those SEC defenders. He came to Florida at 170 pounds, but Wilson is now 20 pounds heavier, weighing in at 190 during the spring. He’s also extremely versatile, which allows Billy Napier to line him both in the slot or out wide. Moving around the field will keep the opposing defense guessing what route he’s running.
Now the veteran of the of the position room, Wilson is expected to lead Florida’s receiving corps. Napier is excited about getting his star receiver back, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him finish the season inside ESPN’s top-10 list.
“He looks like a million bucks. We all know 3 is one of the elite skill players in the entire country,” Napier said. “When he does go out there, he’s as impressive of a skill player as we have. It’s going to be huge for the Gators to get him back. This guy’s a one-play touchdown player.”
Wilson was in a non-contact jersey for Saturday’s Orange and Blue Game. Lagway didn’t participate either, except for a largely ceremonial first snap that was handed off. If both can stay healthy, Lagway and Wilson have a chance to be among the SEC’s best offensive pairings.
Best receivers in college football, per ESPN
- Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith (So.) — 100 points
- Alabama WR Ryan Williams (So.) — 82 points
- Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson (Jr.) — 68 points
- Indiana WR Elijah Saratt (Sr.) — 46 points
- Auburn WR Eric Singleton Jr. (Jr.) — 40 points
- Clemson WR Antonio Williams (Jr.) — 30 points
- Oregon WR Evan Stewart (Jr.) — 29 points
- Clemson WR Bryant Wesco Jr. (So.) — 21 points
- Ohio WR Carnell Tate (Jr.) — 19 points
- Texas A&M WR Kevin Concepcion (Jr.) — 19 points
Also receiving votes: Nic Anderson, LSU, 18 points; Cam Coleman, Auburn, 17; Eric Rivers, Georgia Tech, 14; Zachariah Branch, Georgia, 7; Makai Lemon, USC, 6; Barion Brown, LSU 5; Eugene Wilson III, Florida 5; Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon (TE), 5; Devonte Ross, Penn State, 4; Aaron Anderson, LSU, 3; Malachi Fields, Notre Dame, 3; Deion Burks, Oklahoma, 2; Oscar Delp, Georgia (TE), 2; Ryan Wingo, Texas, 2; Dakorien Moore, Oregon, 1; Max Klare, Ohio State (TE), 1; Nick Marsh, Michigan State, 1
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida Gators football WR III Eugene Wilson among ESPN top receivers