Four Florida Gators named to SEC All-Freshman Team

GAINESVILLE, Fla. —  The Southeastern Conference has released the 2023 All-Freshman Football Team and four Florida Gators received the honor. Receiver Eugene Wilson, safety Jordan Castell, defensive linemen T.J. Searcy and Kelby Collins were all named to the SEC All-Freshmen team as voted on by the league’s coaches. Florida led the league with their four selections.

The four freshmen are the most the Gators have put on an All-Freshman team since 2012 when D.J. Humphries, Dante Fowler, Jon Bullard and Antonio Morrison were all named to the All-Freshman team.

Wilson played in 10 games in 2023, including seven starts. He quickly became one of Florida’s most effective offensive weapons. He finished his freshman campaign ranking second in multiple receiving categories for Florida, including receptions (61) and yards (538), while also leading Florida’s offense in receiving touchdowns (six).

Wilson III also ranked highly nationally among freshmen, leading all FBS true freshmen in receptions per game (6.1) while ranking second in receptions, tied for second in receiving TDs, fourth in receiving yards per game (53.8) and fourth in receiving yards. 
 
Wilson became the first Florida true freshman to eclipse 500 receiving yards since Antonio Callaway in 2015 — who holds the UF freshman receiving record with 678 yards. In Week 9 vs. Georgia, Wilson set a Florida Gators freshman record with 11 receptions. The following week against Arkansas he became the first true freshman to record multiple touchdowns in a single game since Riley Cooper recorded three vs. Western Carolina on Nov. 18, 2006.

“I think the thing for Tre is he came in in the summer and for him, it was how fast he could take that and learn it really quick and then go out there and play fast,” quarterback Graham Mertz said of Wilson. “The big thing for him is how quickly he translated it. It really freed him up to just go play his ball. He’s only going to get better.”

Florida Gators defense led by freshmen

No player on the Gators’ defense played more snaps than true freshman Jordan Castell, who started the final 11 games for Florida. Castell led the team in total tackles (60) and solo tackles (30) with 1.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, and an interception. He was named to the On3 Midseason True Freshman All-American Team in October.

Collins appeared in all 12 games in his first season with the Gators, playing a key rotational role on the defensive line. In his time on the gridiron, the freshman from Gardendale, Ala. was able to secure 23 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and sacks, four quarterback hurries, a pass breakup and a forced fumble.
 
Searcy also provided depth to the Gators defensive line unit and just like his freshman teammate Collins appeared in all of the Gators contests during the 2023 season. He recorded 26 tackles (nine solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, half a sack, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.

Notes:

• Florida had 14 touchdowns scored by freshmen in 2023 (34.2%), the sixth-highest total in the FBS. 
• Of those to catch multiple touchdown passes for Florida this season, three of four were freshmen: WR Eugene Wilson III (6), TE Arlis Boardingham (4) and TE Hayden Hansen (2).
• The Gators saw a combined 37 starts made by freshmen on offense (20) and defense (17) including 24 by true freshmen across the 2023 campaign (true + redshirt).
• Nine different freshman Gators combined for those 37 starts: S Jordan Castell (11), TE Hayden Hansen (9), WR Eugene Wilson III (7), SS Bryce Thornton (4), TE Arlis Boardingham (2), RG Knijeah Harris (1), QB Max Brown (1), NT Jamari Lyons (1) and LB Jaden Robinson (1)
• Five true freshmen combined for 24 starts.
• True freshmen account 3,767 snaps this regular season (18% of the entire team’s snap count).
• True freshmen account for 2,725 defensive snaps during the regular season (27 % of all defensive snaps)
• WR Eugene Wilson III led all FBS true freshmen in receptions per game (6.1) while ranking second in receptions (61), tied for second in receiving TDs (six), fourth in receiving yards per game (53.8) and fourth in receiving yards (538). 
• With six receiving touchdowns, Wilson III had at least two more touchdown grabs than every other true freshman in the SEC regardless of position, with Vanderbilt’s London Humphreys ranking second with four.
• WR Eugene Wilson III became the first Florida true freshman to eclipse 500 receiving yards since Antonio Callaway in 2015, who holds the UF freshman receiving record with 678 yards.
• TE Arlis Boardingham led all FBS freshmen tight ends (as well as true freshmen) with four receiving touchdowns while TE Hayden Hansen is tied for sixth in that department with two.
• Seven true freshmen at Florida played in every regular season game this year, the most in the FBS.
• True freshman S Jordan Castell played in all 12 games including starting the final 11 of the campaign.
• The first-year Castell led Florida with 60 tackles while true freshman S Bryce Thornton finished seventh on the team with 34.
• Castell’s 75.7 PFF grade ranks fifth among FBS true freshmen safeties and second in the SEC behind Alabama’s Caleb Downs.
• Castell’s 78.7 pass rush grade ranks second among FBS true freshmen safeties and leads the SEC
• Thornton’s 64.7 pass rush grade ranks sixth among FBS true freshmen safeties and second in the SEC.
• Castell and Thornton rank 1-2 among SEC true freshman safeties in PFF pass rush grade
• Kentucky’s Ty Bryant ranks third with a 59.3 grade