Healthy again, Dallas Wilson aims to become Gators’ next star receiver
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GAINESVILLE — During his first season at Florida, a little bit of Dallas Wilson went a long way.
Now, the redshirt freshman receiver is confident nagging injuries are behind him and even better days are ahead, giving the Gators a game changer on the perimeter.
“It was like a roller coaster, a lot of ups and downs,” Wilson said Tuesday, on the eve of preseason camp. “But I’m on that steady pace now, so I’m doing good now. We’re just climbing up the charts.”
Wilson has shown he can reach rare heights. Now, he’s focused on staying there.
Wilson’s 2025 season started late and ended early because of foot injuries, limiting him to just four appearances and leaving Florida’s struggling offense without its ultimate mismatch for opposing defenses.
“The biggest thing is giving him a full year of health and availability to maximize the player he can become,” coach Jon Sumrall said.
The 6-foot-3, 218-pound Wilson has the ability to stand out amid a talented receiving corps featuring promising sophomore Vernell Brown III, highly productive senior Eric Singleton Jr., who transferred from Auburn, and surprising Wake Forest transfer Micah Mays Jr.
A record-setting spring game in 2025 featuring 10 receptions for 195 yards and two touchdowns energized Florida fans, but Wilson then sat out preseason camp with a left foot injury. When he returned, Wilson torched Texas for six catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns — all UF records for a true freshman receiver in his first start — during the Gators’ biggest win of Billy Napier’s final season, a 29-21 victory Oct. 5 in the Swamp.
After catching a touchdown during a loss at Texas A&M and two passes for 36 yards during a dramatic home win against Mississippi State, Wilson suffered a season-ending injury to his right foot in the first half of the Gators’ 24-20 loss to Georgia.
Wilson spent the offseason searching for a way to stay on the field.
The 20-year-old traveled to Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, last winter to find the best footwear options for his feet.
“They had me do various drills,” Wilson recalled. “They had tectonic plates on the floor and really just seeing how much power I was putting on the floor with my left and my right foot, and when I was getting out of breaks and all, then it all came together.”
While he recovered, Wilson was was a constant in the training and film rooms, as well as the offices of receivers coaches coach Marcus Davis and Chad Lucas, to pick their brains on the position’s fine points.
“That’s really when I got on the other side of football,” Wilson said. “I feel like it helped me a lot.”
The JUGS machine was a constant companion at his home, where Wilson caught thousands of footballs.
Wilson sat out spring practices, but by the April 11 spring game he was back to nearly full speed, running 21.5 mph on the treadmill.
Wilson will hit the field Wednesday able to fully participate and fulfill his promise.
“He’s physically imposing,” Sumrall said. “Can win the 50-50 ball in the air. Has good long speed. Possesses good ball skills. He’s smart. He’s really competitive.”
The Tampa native originally committed to Oregon before switching his commitment to Florida to stay closer to home.
Now healthy, Wilson understands the importance of making every opportunity count.
“I feel like you’ve got to take advantage of every opportunity you get,” Wilson said. “You never know when it’s going to be your last day playing this game. Every time I wake up, I’m going to give it everything I’ve got.”
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
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