ESPN calls Dallas Wilson Florida's top newcomer
Who are the top newcomers on each team in ESPN.com’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 list? That is the question the website tackled Saturday. For the Florida Gators, whom ESPN ranked 19th, Dallas Wilson was the answer.
Why Wilson, a 4-star true freshman receiver from Tampa Bay Tech (Fla.)?
Said ESPN’s Billy Tucker: ” Florida’s first order of business is getting quarterback DJ Lagway healthy after he missed time this spring with a shoulder ailment. Next? Identifying the right weapons to put around its star quarterback. The Gators brought in several new pass catchers, including potential breakouts in freshman Vernell Brown III and transfer J. Michael Sturdivant, but Wilson has a chance to emerge as the biggest hit of them all. The 6-foot-4 Tampa native nearly made it to Oregon before requesting a release to return home to Florida.”
What can be expected of Wilson in Year 1: “He’s a matchup nightmare with his size and speed combination and he’s ahead of the curve in regard to the understanding of route concepts,” Tucker wrote. “He has impressive speed with a 6-foot-4, 190-pound frame, running in the 4.5s in high school. Wilson will team up with Brown, who was slotted one step ahead of him in the ESPN 300 wide receiver rankings, along with Sturdivant to turn an offseason weakness into a strength.”
Between 2022 and 2024, Wilson posted 130 receptions for 2,423 yards and 28 touchdowns at the high school level. He was ranked the No. 8 wide receiver and No. 41 overall recruit nationally by the On3 Industry Rankings. Initially signing with Oregon in December, Wilson was later released by the Ducks and enrolled at Florida the following month.
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Dallas Wilson shined this spring in G’ville
It did not take long for him to draw attention in Gainesville.
Wilson delivered a record-setting performance during the Florida Gators’ recent Orange & Blue Game. Though it’s important to keep in mind it was only a spring game, Wilson—a 6-foot-3, 209-pound early enrollee—made a significant impact. He finished with 10 receptions for 195 yards and two touchdowns. His 10 catches set a new Orange & Blue Game record, while his 195 receiving yards tied the school record for a spring game. His longest reception covered 31 yards, and 51 of his total yards came after the catch.
“I’d say that’s what a 5-star looks like,” Gators Coach Billy Napier said after the game.
Wilson is projected as the top backup to Sturdivant at the X receiver position. Per Google, “The X receiver is typically the team’s best receiver, and they are positioned on the line of scrimmage, often on the outside of the formation. They are known for their ability to make plays on deep routes, and they are often the primary target in the end zone.”
