Five doomsday predictions for Florida Football ahead of 2024 season
![Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier collars at the officials during first half action as Florida takes on Florida State at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 25, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2473,h_1391,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2F213%2F01j5xf59532p2tz22e61.jpg "Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier collars at the officials during first half action as Florida takes on Florida State at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 25, 2023. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]")
Gators Only Have 1.5 Competent Wide Receivers
Much like the offensive line, wide receiver depth was an issue last season. Ricky Pearsall nearly had 1,000 yards receiving, and Tre Wilson was a breath of fresh air, but beyond that, the rest of Florida's receiving group was just dudes running routes who sometimes caught a ball thrown their way.
Wilson is back and will lead the way this season. Chimere Dike and Elijhah Badger were picked up in the transfer portal and the Gators have players like Aidan Mizell, Tank Hakwins, Kahleil Jackson, and Marcus Burke waiting in the wings too.
In theory, Florida should be able to scrape together three solid wide receivers on any given Saturday.
But...
We aren't 100% sold on Dike. As we here have chronicled on the site throughout the offseason, Dike was much better in the slot in 2022 than his attempt to play out wide in 2023. Even then, his 47 catches off 75 targets in 2022 when he played with Mertz was a much lower reception rate than Pearsall's 65 catches off 87 targets in 2023.
And for the record, both had an average depth of target in the 11's for their respective season playing with Mertz.
We like Badger as a player and sang his praises when he committed to Florida. The thing is, he hasn't had his name pop up much during camp, and indications are he probably won't be a starter against Miami.
Jackson has experience, but with just 23 catches in three years in Gainesville would need a huge leap to be a top-level contributor. The same goes for Burke, who has 12 catches in three years.
Hawkins and Mizell have speed and are exciting prospects, but as we have stated time and again, until you have done it for real, you haven't done it.
Add it all together, and there is a real possibility that Wilson winds up being a one-man show for Florida's passing attack while Gator fans beg for someone, literally anyone, to step up and provide some support.