Florida is deep at wide receiver entering the 2024 season. One of the receivers I’ve been keeping a close eye on is redshirt freshman Aidan Mizell, who appeared in just two games last season.
Mizell, who stepped foot in Gainesville weighing 170 pounds, put on 16 pounds this offseason and looks like an entirely different receiver. The four-star recruit was known for his speed out of Boone High School in Orlando, Florida. Mizell was a state qualifier in both the 100 and 400-meter dashes as a junior, owning personal bests of 10.65 in the 100 and 46.99 in the 400. Speed is in Mizell’s blood as his mother, Ebony Robinson, was an All-American sprinter at UF, qualifying for the NCAA 400m finals twice.
While Mizell’s speed and length were evident in year one, it was clear that he was very raw as a receiver. Mizell suffered a knee injury early in Boone’s season opener back in 2022 and was shut down for the remainder of the season, which certainly halted his development as a receiver.
With a full year and offseason at UF, the 6’1.5, 186-pound receiver is ready to make an impact on the football field.
“I’ve been very impressed with Aidan. I think he’s one of the players that probably improved the most from year one to year two,” Head Coach Billy Napier said on Mizell. “In particular, just the skill level, the route running, the releases, the top of the route, the detail there. Then the hands, his ball skills. He’s made some very impressive, challenging catches the last couple days. “I think he brings a speed element to our team that we need. We’re hopeful that he can make an impact.”
The media is only allowed to observe 15 minutes of individual drills during spring and fall camp, but even from a short viewing window you can see the progress Mizell has made as a receiver. His hands, route running, and body control have noticeably improved this offseason. As I’ve said before, Mizell looks much more like a football player than a track star.
“When he first came in here, he was known as the burner, the fast guy. He was always a little bit smaller than everybody,” quarterback Graham Mertz said on Mizell. “The biggest thing with Aidan, he’s combined his speed with finishing the play. If it’s a contested catch, he’s going to go make the catch. You can see him, like I said, guys putting on weight, being a little bit stronger. He’s stronger, finishing those plays. He’s done a fantastic job.”
Mizell hauled in two catches for 26 yards in Florida’s home opener against McNeese State last season. I expect a major uptick in playing time and production for the second-year receiver, who has the speed and contested catch ability to take the top off opposing defenses. It’s also possible you see Mizell in a special teams role this season.