Florida WR Eugene Wilson III Makes Freshman of the Year Watch List

Wide receiver Eugene Wilson III becomes the first Florida player to earn a spot on the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year watch list.

Photo: Eugene Wilson III; Credit: Zach Goodall

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- Expected to occupy a significant role in Florida's offense right out of the gate in his college career, Gators freshman wide receiver Eugene Wilson III was named to the sixth annual Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year watch list on Wednesday, as announced by the Maxwell Football Club. 

Wilson is the first player in program history to receive a spot on the catalog.

Despite Wilson's summertime enrollment at UF, having missed the team's spring training camp, he quickly ascended within the offense amid Florida's fall training sessions.

Wilson was listed as Florida's No. 2 slot receiver, behind senior Ricky Pearsall, on Florida's Week 1 depth chart. He was also named a co-starter on punt returns alongside Pearsall, and was included on the team's four-deep kickoff return unit with running backs Trevor Etienne and Montrell Johnson Jr. and cornerback Jason Marshall Jr.

Marshall, in particular, has been impressed by Wilson in the practice setting this offseason, having matched up with the receiver multiple times in coverage.

“I have to guard him in practice and he makes it hard on me as well," Marshall said about Wilson on Monday. "It’s iron sharpens iron, he’s getting better, I’m getting better, preparing him for the weeks with these games coming up and very explosive guy, twitchy, quick in and out of his breaks.”

The son of former NFL defensive back Eugene Wilson II, the younger Wilson was one of the most sought-after slot receiver prospects in the recruiting class of 2023. He was considered the No. 2 player at his position and No. 68 overall prospect in the county by the Sports Illustrated 99.

He collected 108 receptions for 1,816 yards and 18 touchdowns in 28 varsity games with Tampa (Fla.) Gaither High School. 

The Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, named in honor of former Alabama running back Shaun Alexander, has been presented to college football's top rookie since the prize debuted in 2018.

Past winners include quarterback Trevor Lawrence (Clemson, 2018), running back Kenneth Gainwell (Memphis, 2019), edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama, 2020), tight end Brock Bowers (Georgia, 2021) and quarterback Drake Maye (North Carolina, 2022). 

Stay tuned to All Gators for continuous coverage of Florida Gators football, basketball and recruiting. Follow along on social media at @AllGatorsOnFN on Twitter and All Gators on FanNation-Sports Illustrated on Facebook. 

Get your Gators football, basketball, baseball and other sporting events tickets from SI Tickets here.