Florida Gators Freshman Duo Receive High Preseason Honors

Florida Gators Freshman Duo Receive High Preseason Honors

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Florida Gators Freshman Duo Receive High Preseason Honors

As the excitement continues to grow for the Florida Gators heading into the upcoming season, the program has racked up plenty of preseason awards prior to Week One.

While the Gators' top playmakers have made a lot of noise this offseason in the awards department, such as star running back Jaden Baugh, Florida recently had two redshirt freshmen make a preseason watch list.

On Wednesday afternoon, Maxwell Football officially released its 2026 Shaun Alexander Freshmen Player of the Year Watch List, with wide receiver Dallas Wilson and cornerback Ben Hanks cracking the list ahead of the regular season.

Dallas Wilson

Oct 4, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators wide receiver Dallas Wilson (6) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Texas Longhorns during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Oct 4, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators wide receiver Dallas Wilson (6) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Texas Longhorns during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Wilson, a former four-star prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle, had plenty of hype surrounding his name ahead of his first year with the Gators. Before signing with Florida, the Tampa, FL native was the No. 8 wide receiver prospect in the 2025 class, according to 247Sports Composite.

In his first season with the Gators, Wilson only appeared in four contests, which allowed him to take a redshirt year. Still, the highly-touted wideout showed terrific promise in his limited playing time, recording 12 receptions for 174 yards and three touchdowns. Wilson's most notable game in 2025 was his outstanding six-catch, 111-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Texas Longhorns.

Now, with the departure of Eugene Wilson this offseason, Wilson has an opportunity to shine during his second season with the program. Head coach Jon Sumrall managed to sign former Auburn Tigers' wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. in the transfer portal, but the trio of Vernell Brown III, Singleton, and Wilson is primed to be one of the best pass-catching units in the SEC this season.

Ben Hanks III

Nov 29, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Micahi Danzy (19) breaks up a pass to Florida Gators defensive back Ben Hanks III (12) during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Nov 29, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Micahi Danzy (19) breaks up a pass to Florida Gators defensive back Ben Hanks III (12) during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

On the defensive side of the ball, cornerback Ben Hanks will look to carve out a role within the Gators' secondary unit.

Coming out of high school, Hanks was widely viewed as one of the best defensive backs in the 2025 recruiting class. Before landing with the Gators, the Miami, FL native was the No. 8-ranked cornerback in the nation, per 247Sports Composite.

Similar to his counterpart in Wilson, Hanks received a limited amount of playing time as a true freshman, but made the most of his time on the field. In his three games played during the 2025 season, the prolific cornerback recorded eight tackles, while also finishing off the season with an electric two-pass breakup and one interception performance against the Florida State Seminoles.

The Gators' defensive back unit lost multiple starters from the 2025 season, such as star cornerback Devin Moore. Luckily for Sumrall and his coaching staff, Hanks is projected to take over the starting cornerback duties alongside junior Cormani McClain in 2026.

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