Florida Football Spring Win: Dallas Wilson Back at Practice

One of Florida’s most promising playmakers has returned to the football field.

Redshirt freshman receiver Dallas Wilson participated in spring drills on Thursday after beginning camp in a boot to nurse a foot injury. The injury was to Wilson’s right foot, the same one he suffered a season-ending injury on this past season.

In the four games he played during his freshman year, the Tampa native finished with 12 receptions, 174 yards and three touchdowns. During his first career game, Wilson logged six catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns against No. 9 Texas.

His impressive introduction to college football set the program record for most receptions, yards and touchdowns for a true freshman in their first career start. Florida is optimistic about what a full season from Wilson could look like, especially with its new quarterback-offensive coordinator duo in Gainesville.

Florida hired Buster Faulkner as its new offensive coordinator in December, who’s coming off a three-year stint at Georgia Tech in the same role. Redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Philo followed his previous coordinator with the Yellow Jackets in the transfer portal and signed with Florida.

Faulkner brings a spread offense to the Gators that prioritizes a balanced attack, utilizing a variety of personnel groupings. All 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds of Wilson serves as a threat that can exploit man coverage, especially in short-yardage situations.

The receiver’s frame also allows him to be useful as a blocker in the ground game, opening up the amount of lineup combinations he can be integrated into. Wilson can be a key contributor in the air raid and a decoy that opens up space for the backfield for Florida’s star running back Jadan Baugh, all by drawing the attention of opposing secondaries.

These possibilities have a great chance at becoming realities if Wilson were to form a connection on the field with Philo, or his competitor Tramell Jones Jr., in the spring. Florida’s new quarterback set Georgia’s state record for the most passing yards in high school history with 13,922. 

Wilson’s versatile skillset adds to an offensive arsenal with Baugh and sophomore receiver Vernell Brown III, a trio central to a promising future.

That future will next be on display in the Orange & Blue game April 11 at 12 p.m. at Ben Hill Griffin stadium.

Category: Football, Gators Football