Projecting Florida's 2023 Wide Receiver Depth Chart
Photo: Caleb Douglas; Credit: Zach Goodall
A pattern will become crystal clear as this series, projecting Florida's 2023 positional depth charts, continues to play out at All Gators: This is not the Gators roster observers observed on Saturdays a year ago.
The wide receiver group provides a great example of the attrition Florida experienced across the board this offseason.
One standout veteran returns to lead the position, but otherwise, a combined six contributors from 2022 left the pass-catching unit this offseason, three newcomers joined it, and one walk-on receiver was promoted to the scholarship roster.
In anticipation of the season's start on Aug. 31 in Salt Lake City, Utah, All Gators projects the first-team and analyzes the depth that makes up Florida's three wide receiver positions entering the 2023 season below.
Note: Florida is likely to move receivers the coaching staff considers versatile across the offense. Receivers shouldn't be considered locked into the positional role they are assigned on All Gators' projected depth chart, which is in the mold of 11-personnel.
Starters
Outside receivers: Caleb Douglas and Marcus Burke
Out with the old, in with the new.
These spots belonged to Justin Shorter and Xzavier Henderson a season ago. But with the former now in the NFL and the latter having transferred to Cincinnati, two underclassmen in sophomore Caleb Douglas and redshirt sophomore Marcus Burke are slated to occupy first-team roles near the boundary.
Formerly a quarterback in high school, Douglas takes over as a starting receiver for Florida in his fourth season at the position. Now a 6-foot-3, 202-pound boundary threat, Douglas enters the year with some collegiate experience under his belt as he made two starts and eight appearances as a freshman.
Then, Douglas hauled in 10 receptions for 175 yards and two touchdowns. He had a breakthrough moment at Texas A&M, scoring on a 12-yard reception to put the Gators up 10 points over the Aggies late in the third quarter, a double-digit lead Florida would not squander.
"I feel like I just got more confident. The game has slowed down," Douglas said of his offseason development on Aug, 13. "Things have gotten simple. Everything was going so fast [and now] I know what I’m looking for. I know how I’m going to run this route pre-snap. Everything like that.”
Burke, 6-foot-4, 199 pounds, has caught six passes for 103 yards over 11 appearances in his UF career. He was a standout in Florida's Orange and Blue Spring Game with two receptions for 55 yards, good for second-most in the scrimmage, and a touchdown.
Although his second campaign with Florida was uneventful offensively, Burke first made his presence at Florida known as a freshman when he caught two passes for 73 yards at South Carolina in 2021. While Florida lost that game, 40-17, Burke accounted for over 20% of the team's total offense in his second career appearance.
"Marcus is a talented young man," Napier said about Burke after the spring game. "I mean, he is tall. He is long. He is fast. Marcus is learning how to be more consistent as a person. I'm proud of him and the progress that he has shown.
"He is a guy that's always been one of the more talented guys, and I think he has grown up this offseason in particular. He has taken some steps forward just in terms of being dependable, being accountable, being a guy that not only the staff can respect, but also his teammates ... we're better when Marcus Burke is playing his best football"
Slot receiver: Ricky Pearsall
One of the most obvious starting projections in our entire depth chart series, Ricky Pearsall returns to the slot receiver position as one of Florida's most valuable offensive weapons entering the 2023 campaign after starting 10 games for UF a season ago.
That being said, Pearsall suggested at SEC Media Days that he won't be limited to playing inside receiver. As the most established pass-catcher on Florida's roster, Pearsall will remain on the field and move outside when Florida operates out of 12-personnel with two receivers and two tight ends involved in the play.
Pearsall, 6-foot-1, 192 pounds, split his offensive reps in 2022 with 67% in the slot and 33% inside.
"He’s savvy, man," Florida quarterback Graham Mertz spoke of Pearsall on Aug. 15. "You think about a guy who understands his body enough, he knows how he gets open. He’s so twitchy in his movements. it’s refreshing to see a guy that just understands it. He’s like a quarterback playing receiver."
Following three seasons at Arizona State, Pearsall produced single-season career-highs of 661 yards and five touchdowns across 33 receptions in his first year with the Gators. He also rushed eight times for 113 yards and a touchdown.
Entering his second year with the Gators, Pearsall was named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award, presented annually to the College Player of the Year.
Key Backups
Outside receivers: Andy Jean, Ja'Quavion Fraziars, Aidan Mizell, Kahleil Jackson
Although these players are listed as backups, several if not every scholarship receiver behind the starters will have a chance to contribute this season. A few are already in a position to take on meaningful roles following strong offseason performances.
Freshman Andy Jean, in particular, could factor into the position's rotation immediately. Jean has operated both outside and in the slot throughout his first offseason with the team and earned glowing praise from teammates and coaches along the way.
Napier, specifically, said in March that Jean had recently been clocked running 22.5 miles per hour. He later stated that the receiver "made a big jump" in his development over the summer.
"He’s a good ball player. Gator fans should be excited about him," Pearsall said about Jean on April 1. "He came in right away, and the first thing I noticed is he’s really polished. I can tell he’s been coached by a lot of good coaches, and he’s already so polished at a young age, so he’s got a big future.”
"Andy Jean is definitely route savvy," cornerback Devin Moore added on Aug 3. "His route-running is pretty good."
The 6-foot-1, 198-pound Jean signed with Florida after catching 59 passes for 1,142 yards and 11 touchdowns in two varsity seasons with Miami (Fla.) Northwestern.
Aidan Mizell, 6-foot-2, 167 pounds, offers Florida's receiver position elite speed unlike what the position has boasted in some time.
The son of former UF All-American sprinter Ebony Robinson, Mizell posted a personal best of 10.65 seconds in the 100-meter dash in high school. In the football practice setting, Mizell's 40-yard dash performances have commanded the attention of his Florida teammates.
"Aidan is the fastest on the team," Douglas said about Mizell on April 8. "We [were] out there running our 40s and, like, we're running, Aidan's just [runs] right by. Everybody's like, 'Oooh! Aidan's running! Aidan's running.' "
In his breakout junior year at Orlando (Fla.) Boone, Mizell caught 47 passes for 1,003 yards and 18 scores. He missed all but one game of his senior season with an injury.
The offseason departures of Shorter, Henderson, Trent Whittemore (transfer), Daejon Reynolds (transfer), Jordan Pouncey (graduation) and Ja'Markis Weston (moved to safety) from the position have created legitimate playing opportunities for each of Florida's freshmen receivers.
The position's turnover also provides fourth-years, junior Ja'Quavion Fraziars, and redshirt sophomore Kahleil Jackson, the chance to break through in Florida's offense.
Despite having appeared in 22 games offensively in his career, Fraziars — a local product of Dunnellon (Fla.) High — has been limited to just 11 receptions across 23 targets for 99 yards to date. He's scored three touchdowns, though, including an impressive contested catch in the end zone at Texas A&M in 2022.
Fraziars' 6-foot-4, 218-pound frame makes him a candidate for increased red zone targets in 2023.
Jackson, formerly a walk-on who was placed on scholarship this offseason, offers a similar size profile at 6-foot-3, 219 pounds.
He earned playing time in three games at the end of the 2022 season as injuries piled up at receiver, finishing the year with two catches for 43 yards, and continued to impress Florida's coaching staff into the offseason as the position was reconstructed. Jackson and Burke were the only players to score a touchdown in the spring scrimmage.
Slot receiver: Eugene Wilson III, Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman
Much like Jean and Mizell, Eugene Wilson III is likely to receive playing time sooner rather than later in his Gators career. What arguably makes his rise more impressive than the others is the fact that Wilson did not enroll early and participate in spring practices, unlike Jean and Mizell, yet appears ready to make an impact already.
The son of former NFL defensive back Eugene Wilson II, the younger Wilson has received elite training throughout his young career and brings a polished and dynamic skill set to Florida's offense as a result.
"Explosiveness. I could see his play-making ability early on," cornerback Jaydon Hill assessed regarding Wilson on July 30. "As far as just watching him go, I've matched up with him a couple of times. He definitely can go, and he's going to make a lot of plays for us."
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Wilson gathered 108 receptions for 1,816 yards and 18 touchdowns in 28 varsity games with Tampa (Fla.) Gaither High School. In addition to his duties as a pass-catcher, Napier doesn't "think there's any question" that Wilson will factor into UF's kick and punt return game this year, he said on Aug. 11.
ESPN recently named Wilson among college football's top 50 "newcomers" entering the 2023 season.
Sophomore wide receiver Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman, a 6-foot, 201-pound former junior college transfer, also figures to see his reps increase after exceeding expectations relative to his recruitment.
Chiaokhiao-Bowman caught seven passes for 138 yards, averaging 19.7 yards per grab, and was a regular contributor on special teams in his debut campaign with the Gators in 2022.
It is worth noting, though, that Chiaokhiao-Bowman did not participate in Florida's Friday scrimmage, as he nurses an undisclosed injury that limited his availability during the final week of fall training camp. He was limited earlier in camp with a soft tissue injury, as well.
Previous Gators 2023 depth chart projections
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