Former Gators WR Caleb Douglas Transfers to Texas Tech
Caleb Douglas is returning to the Lone Star State to continue his football career.
The former Florida Gators starting wideout shared his decision to transfer to Texas Tech on Wednesday afternoon after entering the portal on Nov. 29. Douglas will head to Lubbock with two years of eligibility remaining.
An important late signing window addition to Billy Napier and Co.'s transition class in 2022, Douglas emerged as a high-upside wideout during his first season in Gainesville.
Amid injuries down the stretch in his frosh campaign, the Missouri City, Texas, native saw an uptick in playing time, thus resulting in increased production in the final weeks of the season. His 10 catches for 175 yards and two scores presented a strong foundation for an anticipated year two ascension.
Douglas claimed the Gators' top X-receiver spot within the offense, holding the role firmly to capitalize on the end-of-rookie-season success.
However, despite producing at a promising clip through the first five games, Douglas suffered a season-ending leg injury on the road in Florida's Week 5 33-14 loss to Kentucky. At the time, head coach Billy Napier suggested Douglas' recovery time would last four to six weeks, slating him to potentially return down the stretch of the Gators 2023 campaign.
He failed to see the field again on the year, making the play he got hurt on the final of his 13-game career in orange and blue. He elected to enter the transfer portal following the season's end.
Douglas departs having accounted for 21 receptions for 308 yards and three touchdowns in two seasons in Gainesville.
He'll look to rekindle his promising start to the 2023 campaign with the rebuilding Jerry McGuire-led Red Raiders squad for the remainder of his collegiate career.
With the loss, Florida will have to replace two Week 1 starters from the 2023 roster heading into the next campaign as top pass catcher Ricky Pearsall departs for the NFL Draft.
Rising sophomore Eugene Wilson III will spearhead the unit alongside rising redshirt junior Kahleil Jackson. Andy Jean, Aidan Mizell and Marcus Burke make up notable pieces expected to contribute at a greater clip next season due to the turnover at the top of the depth chart for Billy Gonzalez's position corps.
Florida holds three commits at the position heading into Early Signing Day on Dec. 20, including IMG Academy's Jerrae Hawkins, Carrollwood Day's Izaiah Williams and Dunbar's Tawaski Abrams. The Gators have also shown a desire to acquire a transfer wideout this offseason, contacting several since the portal window opened on Dec. 4.
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