Florida football enters the 2025 season looking to build their offense around sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway. After losing wide receivers Chimere Dike and Elijhah Badger to the NFL, the Gators aim to reload their passing attack with younger talent. While several freshmen are looking to make an early impact, Tampa native Dallas Wilson has stood out amongst coaches, teammates, and fans after an impressive spring camp.
Standing at 6’3, 209 pounds, Wilson stepped on to campus with an SEC ready frame. His combination of size and speed was evident during the media viewing portion of spring camp. Outside of his physical attributes, Wilson earned praise for his competitiveness, confidence, and work ethic.
“Dallas is going to make our team better,” head coach Billy Napier said at SEC Media Days. “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.”
Wilson can do just about everything on the football field, as highlighted by his 195-yard, two touchdown performance in Florida’s Orange and Blue Spring game. Wilson has advanced footwork in and out of his breaks and the ability to create space down field. Wilson can beat you at all three levels of the defense and displays elite levels of body control which helps him make catches through traffic. While it’s too early to label Wilson a star in the SEC or even at Florida, freshmen receivers are making more of an impact across college football, and Wilson certainly has the ability to be a difference maker in year one.
“The guy hasn’t played in a game yet, right. So there’s some growth that needs to take place. He’s got some good veteran players around him that have experience. 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,” Napier said on Wilson.
Originally signing with Oregon out of high school, Wilson’s collegiate journey changed when he decided he wanted to live closer to a sick family member. The Tampa Bay Tech product asked out of his National Letter of Intent before committing to Florida days later.
“Dallas’s recruitment was really unique,” Napier said. “I think his family dynamic with his mother and his grandmother — and Dallas actually contacted us. I think he asked out of his national letter and then contacted us. We recruited Dallas the entire — ever since we knew he was a really good player.”
Wilson should find a significant role as a freshman but will compete for snaps in a crowded room that consists of Eugene Wilson III, J.Michael Strudivant, Aidan Mizell, Tank Hawkins, Vernell Brown III, TJ Abrams, and Naeshaun Montgomery.