One receiver flying under the radar is Wisconsin transfer Chimere Dike. The 5th year senior combined for 1,478 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns across four seasons with the Badgers. Dike’s most productive collegiate season came in 2022, where the 6’0, 195-pound wide receiver totaled a career high 47 receptions for 689 yards and six touchdowns. Dike was catching passes from a familiar face that season, current Gators’ quarterback Graham Mertz.
The connection on the field between Dike and Mertz has been evident throughout spring and fall camp. You’d be hard pressed to find a practice rep that results in the duo failing to connect in stride or poor ball placement from the field general. Mertz seemingly knows where Dike will be at all times, almost serving as his “security blanket” on the football field, one source told Gator Country. Mertz has a great feel for Dike’s speed and route-running tendencies, which makes sense given the pair has worked together for 3+ years, connecting on thousands of passes.
“We kind of grew up together in college football,” Dike said on Mertz. “His maturity level, continuing to get older, as well as just decision making, his leadership ability. Not that he didn’t have those things in Wisconsin, but they just kept continuing to progress and get better. And it’s really nice to see how comfortable he is and how much the guys have support behind him.”
Although Dike doesn’t have the biggest frame, he is faster than people give him credit for. The 6’0, 195-pound receiver clocked a 4.46 40-yard dash at Wisconsin and improved on his speed throughout Florida’s offseason workout program. Dike is up to a max velocity of 22 MPH and set his personal record several times this summer.
“I think I PR-ed almost every time that we ran,” Dike told the media. “I think when you see the work that you’re putting in in the offseason, it can be a grind, but when you see those results coming, I think it just gives you motivation to keep going and put even more trust in the coaches and the plan they have for us.”
Florida’s wide receiver room is built on speed with many players bringing a background in track to the football field, including Tre Wilson, Aidan Mizell, and Tank Hawkins.
“I feel like it’s a constant work in progress, from strength to your technique,” Dike said on improving his speed. “But Coach Miles and his staff, they pour into us all winter, all summer. And I was able to see a lot of max speeds. I’m running around with a lot of really fast guys, as well. So I think that iron sharpens iron, and being able to work out next to people who were running really fast has helped me a lot.”
Dike has observed the talent inside the Gators’ wide receiver room closely and feels as if he’s learning from each and every player.
“We have so much talent in the receiver room I feel like, and guys who have different things,” Dike said. “I’m a student of the game and I like taking things and learning things from different people. The speed with which Tre comes out of his routes, the ability that K-Jack has on deep balls to make catches, Burke’s athletic ability to run and get over the middle. There’s so many different things that you can take. We push each other. Obviously we’re competing, but I want all the best for those guys. Those guys are my brothers, and ultimately we’re gonna make each other better.”
Dike was one of two major transfer additions Florida made at wide receiver this offseason, with the other being Arizona State’s Elijhah Badger.
“He can make every single play,” Dike said on Badger. “I think that he’s a guy that works super hard, does the right things and just has playmaking ability. He has speed, great catching ability, feel for the game, obviously, experience as well. So I think he brings a lot.”
Badger was a summer enrollee, which doesn’t give the 6’1, 192-pound receiver much time to prepare for Florida’s first game on August 31st. If Badger can learn the playbook and gain a sense of comfortability within Florida’s offense, you will see the California native make an immediate impact.
“I feel like he’s settled in really well,” Dike said on Badger enrolling in the summer. “You’d have to ask him kind of that. But from what I tell, he looks really comfortable, and I think he’s ready to go for the season.”
Dike is expected to work alongside returning sophomore Tre Wilson, who was named a Freshman All-American in 2023 after hauling in 61 catches for 538 yards and a team-high six receiving touchdowns.
“I’ve been around some special dudes, but when you get a special athlete like Tre, they’re unique. And I said the thing that I’ve never been around is his ability to accelerate. I’ve never seen that before. It’s incredible honestly,” Dike said on Wilson.
Gator Country has confirmed that Dike has been repping at both punt and kick return throughout fall camp, a role he has experience in from his time at Wisconsin.
“I think special teams are huge, making plays on special teams, being able to impact on all three phases and win all three phases of teams,” Dike said on playing special teams. “So anywhere the coaches need me, I’ll do that. I have some return experience, and definitely something I’m willing to add to the team.”
I expect Dike to serve as Florida’s WR2 to start the season and believe he could shock some fans in his 5th collegiate season. Dike has above average route-running ability and the speed to fly across the field from the slot position.