Tre Wilson taking veteran leadership role in Florida receiving corps
Florida has some talented young players, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, and they were showing out on Saturday in the team’s annual spring game. Receiver Tre Wilson was picking up right where he left off in 2023.
The elite speedster had seven catches for 125 yards and a touchdown just before the third quarter ended. The highlight was a 60-yard touchdown scamper on a perfect pass from Graham Mertz on a go.
The skilled sophomore has impressed his head coach.
“I think Tre benefited from having an opportunity to watch Ricky Pearsall go about his business the right way,” coach Billy Napier said on the ESPN+ broadcast. “Tre wasn’t a mid-year player, so he got here late May, early June, and he hit the ground running. It was very evident early that he was going to be one of our most explosive players.”
That panned out in the fall, when Wilson logged 61 catches for 538 yards and six touchdowns. He also displayed some versatility, rushing six times for 55 yards.
More than anything, Tre Wilson plays beyond his years. He looks like a savvy veteran out there.
“So he’s benefited from seeing a veteran player in his approach,” Napier said. “I think Ricky did a good job leading there, he kind of set the pace for that room. And Tre has evolved this offseason. I think he’s doing that for the room now. He’s got great practice habits. I thought he was the best player we signed in that class, and I think he’s proving that so far.”
Billy Napier explains spring game process
One thing fans watching Florida’s spring game will notice is that some players aren’t playing at all or didn’t play much.
That was by design.
The Florida coaching staff is trying to see what it has in some of the younger players, while it already knows what some of the team’s veterans bring to the table.
“I think for a lot of your young players this is a chance to simulate the game so they’re more prepared for some of those critical games that we’ll have next year,” Napier explained. “When you’re dependent on maybe some portal players and some rookies, I think just kind of getting the butterflies out of the way — we go through all of our processes to prepare for a game. I think it can be beneficial.
“We manage the players that have a ton of experience. Montrell Johnson has played a lot of football. There’s certain players out today that are veterans that are maybe proven that won’t play, they’re on a pitch count. I think there’s benefit from a process standpoint and gets them ready for the challenge in the fall.”