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Billy Napier clarifies report on Eugene Wilson's injury

Untitled designby:Nick de la Torre•09/16/23•

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators beat No. 11 Tennessee 29-16 on Saturday night but may have lost freshman receiver Eugene Wilson. Wilson left the game in the second quarter and was seen favoring his left shoulder as he left the field and went into the locker room.

After halftime, ESPN’s Holly Rowe reported that Wilson had suffered an apparent collarbone injury.

“The most potent weapon in that first quarter for the Florida Gators, Eugene Wilson III, will not return to this game,” Rowe said. “He has an apparent collarbone injury on the left side of his body. I saw him walk into the tunnel holding that left arm and collarbone gingerly.”

After the game, Napier clarified Wilson’s status.

“Tre is going to be fine. The x-ray was normal. I think he has a bruise of some — you know, but he wasn’t able to return. Just didn’t have the strength to return. He wanted to play, but I don’t think he was ready to play,” Napier said. “So we’ll be able to give you a little bit more of an update on Monday or Wednesday of next week. But right now, he wasn’t able to play in the game.”

In two previous games, Tre Wilson totaled six receptions for 60 yards while adding two carries for 27 rushing yards on the ground. Wilson was featured heavily in Florida’s game plan before leaving the game. Wilson had six catches for 44 yards.

He arrived on campus this year as a highly touted recruit, checking in as a four-star prospect and the No. 106-ranked player in the nation from the 2022 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Florida came into the matchup with Tennessee knowing that they wanted to slow the pace down on offense. Florida controlled the ball and the clock for 37:34. Wilson hauled in five passes on Florida’s first drive.

“He’s the fast one, man. I’d rather have him have the ball in his hands,” Mertz said. “I’ve done it a few times. A couple years ago we did a little wildcat package. Any time I’m out there, I just make jokes, ‘Throw me a fade, throw me a post.’ Never happens. I don’t know why.”

“That was really impressive at that young of an age. You come in and I think you want to do everything right. When something doesn’t go right, it can kind of affect you. It dwells. But for him, it was all business. ‘I might have messed this up, but I learned from it.’ Yeah, now he’s out there making plays.”

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