Previewing Florida football's loaded wide receiver room for 2026

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Florida's wide receiver room is one of the deepest position groups on the roster heading into the 2026 season.

Dallas Wilson and Vernell Brown III headline the returning group after both flashed immense talent in their true freshman campaigns. The Gators added another weapon in Eric Singleton Jr., who played for Buster Faulkner at Georgia Tech before spending 2025 in the SEC with the Auburn Tigers.

Beyond those three likely starters, Florida has several legitimate options. Wake Forest transfer Micah Mays Jr. and Georgia Tech transfer Bailey Stockton offer second-team options at the X and slot positions. Junior TJ Abrams rounds out a group of six players with a realistic path to regular snaps.

Kahleil Jackson is back for a seventh year, giving Florida some veteran presence in the room, and Jaylen Lloyd possesses top-end speed. A trio of freshmen is also looking to carve out a spot in Florida's receiver rotation.

Jon Sumrall brought in offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner to manufacture touches and run a system that values versatility and multiple alignments. Faulkner has plenty of talent to work with in Year 1.

Here's a closer look at Florida's wide receivers room heading into the 2026 season.

Check out Gators Wire's other position previews:

• Quarterbacks
• Running Backs

Note: With the new age-based eligibility system in place, player classifications will no longer include redshirt status. For example, a redshirt sophomore (R-So.) listed on the official roster will be considered a junior (Jr.) — freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, 5th year.

X Receivers: No. 6 Dallas Wilson (So.) and No. 5 Micah Mays Jr. (Sr.)

Dallas Wilson

Receiving Stats:

Wilson only played four games last season, but he had five-star flashes in those appearances. He made his debut against Texas, hauling in six catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns — setting a true freshman program record and earning an SEC Freshman of the Week nod in the process. Wilson only had five catches for 56 yards and a touchdown over the next two contests, and he made a seven-yard catch against Georgia before going down with a season-ending injury.

The X receiver is usually the most physical and big-bodied player in the position room. At 6-foot-3-inches and 218 pounds, Wilson fits that mold and has a chance to be one of the most dangerous receivers in the country if the quarterback play holds up. Staying healthy is another key to Wilson's success.

“He’s full go. He’s fully cleared," Sumrall said during fall camp. "He will be a guy that we need to be smart with by how we practice with him to make sure he gets to the dance each Saturday. But he’s ready to roll, and I’m excited to watch it.”

Micah Mays Jr.

* with Wake Forest

Receiving Stats:

Mays is a Florida native out of West Palm Beach who spent his first three seasons with Wake Forest. He didn't record any catches as a true freshman but found his way onto the field in four games before redshirting. Over the next two seasons, he hauled in 34 receptions for 520 yards and four touchdowns, priming him to enter the transfer portal.

He emerged as a hidden gem for Florida in the spring when he put on an eye-opening performance at the Orange and Blue Game, amassing 122 yards and two touchdowns on four receptions. Mays isn't simply a depth option at the X behind Wilson. He can play in the slot as a larger receiver and line up on the other side of the field when chunk yardage is needed.

“He’s flashed, in particular, making plays down the field or getting the ball when he’s on the move. As a route runner, he’s been explosive. He tracks it well. He catches it clean," Sumrall said in spring. "I’ve challenged him to play with a little bit more edge. That’s the biggest challenge I’ve put on him."

With Wilson out for some of fall camp, Mays has gotten more work at the X position.

Z Receivers: No. 2 Eric Singleton Jr. (Sr.) and No. 4 TJ Abrams (Jr.)

Eric Singleton Jr.

* with Georgia Tech; ** with Auburn

Receiving Stats:

Rushing Stats:

Singleton was the most interesting addition from the transfer portal, considering he played in Faulkner's system for two years before transferring to Auburn. Playbook and SEC experience give him a leg up on everyone else in the position room.

Faulkner and Singleton saw a lot of success together, too. Singleton totaled 104 catches for 1,468 yards and nine touchdowns in his two seasons with the Yellow Jackets and was named an FWAA Freshman All-American in 2023. He was the fastest Georgia Tech receiver to reach 1,000 yards since Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson, and his six touchdowns as a freshman were one shy of Johnson's program record.

“He knows how to use me," said Singleton, "especially with the two years I have under his wing at Georgia Tech. He knows what I'm good at, and what some of my weaknesses are.”

Then he went to Auburn, and his volume of targets slightly increased, albeit with a diminished yardage total. That suggests that Singleton can make plays at every level of the field and has the route-running chops to be wherever Faulkner wants him. The Gators know he can do it in the SEC because he finished eighth in the conference in catches last year.

Singleton has the speed and savvy to be Florida's top receiver this season, and he's targeting a jump to the NFL as a fourth-year college player. Expect him to do anything and everything as a Gator, including motions and running the ball.

TJ Abrams

Receiving Stats:

Abrams is starting his third year at Florida, but he didn't record a catch in 2024. He broke out a bit last season with 13 receptions for 201 yards despite not finding the end zone. While he doesn't have great size at 5-feet-10-inches and 198 pounds, Abrams has speed on his side. Strength and conditioning coach Rusty Whitt noted that Abrams has jumped from 20 mph to 22 mph since January.

“I’ve always been a speed guy," said Abrams, "but with Coach Whitt, he’s tackled, just like, hamstring issues, so being able to keep that top speed and keep running at that top speed, that’s what Coach Whitt came in to help. I just feel like that’s been making me better on the field, too.”

Abrams is at the top of the group competing for a regular spot in the rotation. Speed packages are going to call for more than just Singleton, and he has the versatility to play inside in the slot, too. With Singleton primed to start at the Z position, Abrams is a likely second-team member.

Slot Receivers: No. 1 Vernell Brown III (So.)

Vernell Brown III

Receiving Stats:

Rushing Stats:

Like Wilson, Brown was one of the standout freshmen on the 2025 roster for Florida. He was a key retention for Sumrall and the new staff and has already proven the ability to succeed in the SEC. He doesn't have Singleton's elite top-end speed, and he's on the smaller end at 5-feet-11-inches and 178 pounds. Still, Brown might be Florida's most complete receiver.

Inside receivers coach Trent McKnight praised Brown's versatility, and Faulkner said he is a quick study on the playbook. Outside receivers coach Marcus Davis agreed with a Percy Harvin comparison, highlighting the type of versatility Brown brings to the offense. Brown can be a motion receiver, a factor in the run game and a yards-after-catch option.

Brown also has strong intangibles. In addition to being a third-generation Gator who stuck with the program through the coaching transition, he's been one of the more vocal leaders this offseason.

“He's a natural-born leader," Faulkner said in the spring. "He's not afraid to step out front. He knows the offense right now, probably as good as any of the new coaches. So, he's a joy to be around, and I like the fact that he puts in the work. He's truly about it. And when you get a bunch of guys like that doing that, you've got a chance.”

The Transfers: No. 3 Bailey Stockton (Sr.) and No. 19 Jaylen Lloyd (Sr.)

Bailey Stockton

* with Georgia Tech

Receiving Stats:

Stockton played at Georgia Tech for the last three seasons as a career rotational receiver and knows Faulkner's system well. That puts him somewhere in Florida's regular receiver rotation, but it's unlikely he gets the same amount of targets as some of the names above. If Philo is the starting quarterback, Stockton's familiarity becomes even more valuable. Faulkner said there are about "six, seven guys in that room that are playing really good football." Stockton makes that cut.

He works primarily out of the slot with a lot of YAC value. Twenty-three of Stockton's 24 yards in the Orange and Blue Game came after the catch, which gives an idea of how Florida plans to use him.

“He had one on the scrimmage where he reversed field off of a screen that looked like it was going to be dead to rights, like (tackle for loss),” Sumrall said. “Sticks his foot in the ground and circles the entire defense, probably ends up being like a 25-yard gain.”

Jaylen Lloyd

* with Nebraska; ** with Oklahoma State

Receiving Stats:

Rushing Stats:

Lloyd's career numbers paint him as a deep-threat speedster. He has multiple catches of 50-plus yards and has an average of 25.9 yards per reception. The curious part is that he had zero catches in two appearances last season after transferring from Nebraska to Oklahoma State, with no obvious injury concerns. There isn't a clear path for him to break through in Florida's receiver rotation, but his verified track speed makes him a specialized deep threat and a potential special teams difference-maker.

Lloyd nearly landed at Florida out of high school as a track athlete, but he chose to join the Cornhuskers, where he could do both football and track. He was a National Junior Olympic long-jump champion and ran the 100 meters in the 10.4-10.5-second range in high school. At Nebraska, Lloyd ran a 6.87-second indoor 60-meter dash. The speed is impressive, but Faulkner and Sumrall have to find a way to make good use of it in a crowded position room.

Veteran Depth: No. 22 Kahleil Jackson (Gr. — 7th)

Kahleil Jackson

Receiving Stats:

Seventh-year players will soon be a thing of the past in college football, but a medical waiver gives Kahleil Jackson one more year with Florida. A walk-on quarterback out of high school, Jackson broke through in 2023, playing nearly 500 offensive snaps. Then, injuries took their toll and limited Jackson to one game over the next two seasons.

At 6-foot-3-inches and 214 pounds, Jackson has the size to make an impact, but he's not expected to be a featured receiver in Florida's rotation this season. Still, his veteran presence has value, and his 24 catches for 307 yards are evidence of production when healthy.

The Freshmen: No. 18 Davian Groce (Fr.), No. 83 Justin Williams (Fr.) and No. 88 Marquez Daniel (Fr.)

Davian Groce

Groce was a big win for Sumrall and Co. during the transition recruiting cycle. He's a four-star prospect ranked by ESPN as No. 2 at his position and No. 44 overall nationally. With more than 4,600 career scrimmage yards and 48 touchdowns, he was a legitimate multipurpose player at Frisco Lone Star. He fits right in with Faulkner's system as a player who can make an impact from different alignments.

There's verified speed here, too, with a 20.5-second 200-meter time. Groce won the Texas Class 5A state championship in the event. At 6-foot-2-inches and 199 pounds, Groce possesses a rare blend of size and speed. He's already added some muscle at Florida, too, gaining close to 10 pounds from his recruit listing. Getting on the field as a first-year player won't be easy, but he has the tools to be a big piece of the rotation down the line.

Justin Williams

Williams is another do-it-all kind of receiver. He was the first Florida high school player since Devin Hester to rush for more than 1,000 yards and record 1,000 receiving yards. In 2024, he finished with 2,496 scrimmage yards and 29 touchdowns, making him a true gadget threat.

Williams started as a running back with Buchholz High in Gainesville, so there's a real chance for him to make plays out of the backfield with Florida. The consensus four-star recruit was ranked No. 153 nationally by Rivals, and 247Sports had him at No. 9 among receivers in the class. Williams has looked like one of the more well-adjusted freshmen during fall camp, which could mean a faster track to playing time than Groce or Daniel.

Marquez Daniel

Daniel's 6-foot-5-inch, 219-pound frame makes him immediately stand out in the position room. He's Florida's biggest receiver and completely different from the other two additions in the freshman class. He's a clear successor to Wilson and Mays at the X position, even if he's more of a developmental piece for now.

ESPN and 247Sports listed Daniel as a four-star prospect, checking in around the No. 250 range nationally, but his high school numbers paint a prettier picture — 102 receptions, 1,984 yards and 27 touchdowns, plus 195 rushing yards and two scores on 21 carries. He also played defense for Booker T. Washington High, totaling 57 tackles and eight interceptions over his career. The interceptions are another indication of his ball skills, and he's already beginning to fill out his jumbo frame.

Walk-Ons: No. 14 Jaden Edgecombe (Sr.), No. 82 Ace Ciongoli (So.) and No. 81 Mason Jordan (Fr.)

Jaden Edgecombe

Edgecombe is Florida's longest-tenured walk-on, but he has never appeared in a game over his three years with the program. He joined the program in 2023 after playing his prep years at Cocoa High. At 5-feet-8-inches and 190 pounds, Edgecombe is an experienced practice option in the slot.

Ace Ciongoli

Ciongoli transferred from Indiana while retaining walk-on status. He's a long-term depth piece with a year in a national championship program, even if he didn't play a game for the Hoosiers. The Massachusetts native earned All-Independent School League honorable mention at St. Sebastian's School in high school.

Mason Jordan

Jordan is a first-year receiver out of Cardinal Mooney in Sarasota, where he served as a captain for the 2025 state championship team. He caught 40 passes for 664 yards and five touchdowns as a senior and brings a track background to Gainesville, holding school records as a member of Cardinal Mooney's 4×100- and 4×200-meter relay teams. At 5-feet-9-inches and 173 pounds, Jordan is a developmental slot option at the bottom of a crowded receiver room.

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Previewing Florida football's loaded wide receiver room for 2026

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