For the second straight Orange and Blue game, Gator fans witnessed a freshman sensation emerge, hoping this year’s breakout performer follows the same trajectory as Jadan Baugh. Last year, Baugh captured attention with an impressive showing of 12 carries for 77 yards, foreshadowing his successful 2024 season where he would lead the Gators with 673 yards and seven rushing touchdowns.
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This spring, it was five-star freshman Dallas Wilson’s turn to steal the spotlight. The dynamic wide receiver put on a spectacular performance, setting a spring-game record with 10 catches while tying Trevon Grimes’ mark of 195 receiving yards from 2019. Wilson punctuated his debut with two touchdown receptions.
Wilson’s path to Gainesville is noteworthy. A top-50 recruit who initially committed to Oregon before choosing Florida, Wilson brings impressive credentials from Tampa Bay Tech, where he amassed 130 receptions for 2,424 yards and 30 touchdowns across 30 games. His physical presence at 6-foot-2.75 and 193 pounds makes him an ideal fit for the X-receiver position.
Head coach Billy Napier couldn’t contain his enthusiasm about Wilson’s performance: “I think the ball went his direction today. I think we were able to take advantage of the match-ups, the situations. He made some plays and not all those were routine. I thought some of those were really impressive.” Napier particularly emphasized Wilson’s mental acuity, adding, “I’ve been impressed with his football intelligence, how he’s been able to retain information and obviously you don’t produce like that today unless you’re been really working hard.”
The coach’s final assessment was particularly telling: “Like I told you guys before, these rankings are a little more accurate than they’ve ever been and I’d say that’s what a Five-Star looks like.”
Wilson’s connection with Orange team quarterback Harrison Bailey was evident from the start. Bailey revealed his pregame confidence in Wilson, sharing, “I was stoked to have Dallas when they announced the teams, and I told him as soon as they put it up on the screen that he was going to have 10-plus catches, 200-plus… I was going to find a way to get him the ball.”
When asked about his first impressions of Wilson during spring practice, Bailey praised the freshman’s polished approach: “When he came out there, he looked the part for sure. Just seen him in one-on-ones, he plays in a very veteran kind of style the way he runs route, very crisp, very big, physical guy, a big radius.”
With the Gators needing to fill the void left by departing receivers Elijhah Badger and Chimere Dike, Wilson’s remarkable spring game performance suggests he’s more than ready to step into a prominent role in Florida’s offense.
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