Family ties made the biggest difference in Dallas Wilson’s shocking flip

There’s a reason that one of Florida’s most well-known school songs, “We are the boys,” includes the phrase, “In all kinds of weather, we all stick together, for F-L-O-R-I-D-A.” It’s because when it comes to the University of Florida, family matters. And that’s exactly what Dallas Wilson recognized about Napier and the Gators when he decided to flip from committing to Oregon to committing to the Gators.

The Gators landed Wilson late into the process in a unique situation. But that’s not when they started recruiting the wide receiver. 

“We recruited Dallas the entire – ever since we knew he was a really good player,” said Napier on Wednesday at SEC Media Day. “I think his family dynamic with his mother and his grandmother – and Dallas actually contacted us. I think he asked out of his national latter and then contacted us,” Napier explained.

And that’s what Dallas explained in a very raw, personal video back in May.

“I was living with my grandma because my mom had already passed away, I lived with my grandma, and her health condition had dropped tremendously,” he explained. “She was going to have to be on life support. And that’s when prayer came in. Keeping God first, praying, and he had created a path.”

Wilson said at the same time, he and Oregon weren’t seeing eye to eye. And that’s when he confided in and looked to his sisters and brothers for support and advice on what was best for him and his family. And that’s when he began looking for a home in Florida, which was already his second home.

He explained that Florida and the whole coaching staff brough him in.

“Benny D brought me in, Coach Napier brought me in, and literally the whole coaching, from strength and conditioning coach to Nutrition, just brought me in greatly,” he explained. “Being around them and seeing what they offer me and seeing how they just treated me as family before they even knew who I was, it was great,” said an Emotional Wilson. He explained that it was a long journey to land at Florida, but a journey that was well worth it.

Wilson has already begun to fit right in at Florida and Napier and the Gator staff are happy to have him.

“Dallas is going to make our team better,” Napier stated. “I think what I really appreciate about Dallas is this spring his work ethic, his work capacity, his toughness, the way he competes in practice, his practice habits. He’s a big, physical player. He’s a tough guard. He’s a tough matchup,” said Napier.

Napier did go on to explain how Wilson has not yet played in a game, so there is still growth that will occur over the next several months, but Napier is confident in the veteran team around him.

“He’s got some good veteran players around him that have experience,” said Napier. “So there will be a different level of self-discipline and intensity and urgency once we get to the season, but there’s no question Dallas is going to make our team better.”

Wilson’s recruiting might’ve been unique. But Napier brought in a kid with the right morals and with a work ethic that knows while his situation was a rare one, Florida brought him in to do work, and that’s what he’s already done through spring camp.