Sophomore Vernell Brown III is a player the Gators will count on heavily in 2026. (Photo: Hannah White/UAA Communications)
Gators Position Preview: Receivers
Friday, September 4, 2026 | Football
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By: Ryan Roddy, FloridaGators.com Student Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida wide receiver room took a big hit in the offseason.
The Gators lost a ton of production. Three of their top four receivers from a season ago are gone — one to the NFL, two to the portal.
The Gators return just over 36% of snaps from the position in 2025. Next to quarterback and tight end, that's the third-least among their position groups.
But the new coaching staff did not back down from the challenge of rebuilding the group.
They kept key younger returners, added experienced players in the portal, and signed big-time high school recruits.
"There's like six, seven guys in that room that are playing really good football," offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner said.
With a revamped offense, the receiver room is one to watch.
It started with Vernell Brown III. He was part of that group of players that fans and coaches wondered would return following a coaching change. Brown had the second-most snaps in 2025 as a freshman, behind current Packers rookie J. Michael Sturdivant. He finished the season as the team's top receiver with 40 catches for 512 yards. Brown also impacted the return game, adding 261 all-purpose yards through punt and kick returns. With his freshman campaign performance, he was tabbed as an All-SEC Freshman at wide receiver, all-purpose and return specialist, becoming just the fifth player in the SEC to accomplish the feat.
A player in that same class who returns in Dallas Wilson. Wilson battled injuries for the first and last four games of the season; he started the middle four. In those four games, he made a lasting impression, collecting 12 catches for 174 yards and three touchdowns. But it was the Week 5 game against No. 9 Texas when fans really learned his name. In the upset victory over the Longhorns, Wilson hauled in six receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Gators to their most significant win of 2025. He had a long 55-yard catch, spinning, shaking off and dragging defensive backs in burnt sienna into the end zone. Receiver Eric Singleton Jr. transferred from Auburn. (Photo: Ethan Roy/UAA Communications)
A newcomer looking to make an impression is Eric Singleton Jr. Before he played for Auburn in 2025, Singleton played for Faulkner at Georgia Tech. The senior has 162 receptions, 2,022 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns in his career. He was a FWAA Freshman All-American (2023) and a two-time All-ACC Honorable Mention (2023, 2024). Brown, Wilson and Singleton will begin the season as the three primary starting receivers.
As for the immediate backups, they should see the field. Bailey Stockton, Kahleil Jackson, Micah Mays Jr. and TJ Abrams provide exceptional depth for the room. Stockton comes from Georgia Tech, where he recorded back-to-back 200+ receiving-yard seasons. Jackson and Abrams return for the Gators. Jackson has dealt with injuries over the past two seasons and will be entering his seventh year of college football, bringing experience and knowledge of the program. Abrams, along with Brown and Wilson, was one of three Florida receivers who took snaps last season to return. He finished 2025 with 13 catches for 201 yards. Mays comes to Gainesville from Wake Forest, where he collected 520 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 34 receptions. Mays was also a standout in Florida's Orange & Blue Game. He had four catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns. The Gators also have three promising freshmen: Davian Groce, Marquez Daniel and Justin Williams, who may not see the field right away, but have the potential to be impact players for Florida down the road.
If season started today: The main seven players mentioned above will play the most. It looks like it'll be a rotating system for the reserves, offering different looks and matchups. Multiple receivers beyond the starting three should get work in the first two weeks vs FAU and Campbell.
Speculation: The question is which players will play the most to complement Brown, Wilson and Singleton. Also, how will production at the position look in Faulkner's system? There seems to be a lot of excitement about the room internally and externally.
Quote of note: "I just want to go out there and be the best player I can be every game. Like I say, the results, the stats, and all that is a byproduct of the work. So just going in and putting in the work and winning each day. That way, when opportunities [arise], I'm prepared." — Sophomore wideout Vernell Brown III
