Florida Gators will have to reach deep in the WR zone against Texas

Another week and another long list of injuries reported by the Florida Gators for their upcoming SEC contest. And while some have been around for most of the season, there is a newer addition that might disappoint fans.

Looking at the latest availability report for the Gators, leading receiver Elijhah Badger was ruled out against the Texas Longhorns.

With this addition to the report, the Gators will now be without two of their top three receivers who are in Austin. It’s not an ideal situation for head coach Billy Napier and wide receivers coach Billy Gonzalez, but it’s not the end of the world for either of them.

Instead, this will be an opportunity for them to show how well they have recruited in this position.

But before we look at those looking to climb the totem pole, it’s best to start with this unit’s new leader, Chimere Dike.

Dike will now have to assume much of the responsibility and leadership among the receivers. Fortunately, he is very capable of doing this. He has been a reliable and consistent target for all three quarterbacks that have played this season, totaling 428 yards and two touchdowns on 23 catches so far. He will certainly be Aidan Warner’s weapon of choice if he gets into trouble.

Another player Warner wants to target more is speedster Aidan Mizell. Mizell had his best game of the season when he had four catches for 66 yards and a touchdown against Georgia. He has great top speed that can outrun any defender on the field, which he talked about this week.

“Mostly speed,” Mizell said with a laugh about what he brings to this team. “…when the ball is in my hand, I just feel dangerous with the ball. That’s why I feel like I can score from any yard line on the field.”

Having both Dike and Mizell in this room is great as they complement each other very well, but the Gators will need others to step up as well. This is where guys like Tank Hawkins and Marcus Burke come into play. The pair have put in good performances here and there, but their talents need to be on full display in this match.

This will also be an opportunity for those who have shown little or no attendance this year. The only player with a strong chance of getting his first reps will be Andy Jean. He came to Gainesville with a lot of hype and love from fans, but has yet to show up in the unit due to injuries. But that can’t be the reason today. If he wants to be loyal to the Gators and make his head coach proud, today is the best time to do it.

As for his head coach, Napier is already coming to Austin with a big task ahead of him: He’ll have to go up against one of the best in the country, and it won’t be any easier as he’ll have to get deeper into the receiver, more space than he’ll probably ever be in his entire career.