The Florida Gators lost two receivers this week in two different ways

Gainesville is experiencing a season they’d likely prefer to forget. A 3-6 record and a fired head coach later, this season has been a disappointment. However, there is more bad news but with the right intentions in mind. This time in the form of players lost. Interim head coach Billy Gonzalez has a thinner wide receiver room this week.

While neither receiver was a projected starter in the upcoming game versus No. 6 Ole Miss, it still creates a significant depth issue. The expected starters for the Florida Gators next game are Dallas Wilson, J. Michael Sturdivant and Vernell Brown III. Neither of which are the two receivers they lost.

Eugene Wilson III is out for the remainder of the season for the second season in a row. Interim coach Gonzalez confirmed Wilson’s status on Monday. "He had a high ankle sprain. He's going to have a tight-rope procedure to give him the best opportunity to get back to himself coming off it to get ready for spring ball," Gonzales said. 

The ‘tightrope’ surgery, also known as Syndesmosis Fixation, is a procedure to repair severe sprains by reinforcing ligaments that connect to the tibia or shin bone. Wilson was the third leading receiver on the Gators team behind starters Vernell Brown III and J. Michael Sturdivant. Wilson’s 2025 season will end with him gaining 239 yards on 27 receptions and three touchdowns.

BREAKING: Gators WR Eugene Wilson III will undergo ankle surgery and miss the remainder of the season.#Gators | #UF pic.twitter.com/5SJg8fQ4iu

— 1010 XL / 92.5 FM (@1010XL) November 10, 2025

The second receiver Florida is losing is Tank Hawkins, and not by way of an injury. Hawkins in opting out of his remaining games this season to preserve his red shirt status. The speedy receiver only appeared in four games for the Gators totaling only two receptions for less than 20 yards. Interim head coach Gonzalez was impressed with how Hawkins made his request.

“Tank came up, very professional, he came out and asked if he could preserve his redshirt," Gonzales said. "Absolutely. I said, I 100% honor it."

Preserving red shirt status can be as much a benefit for the team as it is for the player. In this instance, Hawkins has given no indication of entering the transfer portal so this should be a win-win scenario. Florida has very little to play for in the remaining games and its unlikely Hawkins would become an integral part of the offense in those remaining games.

Per the SECN broadcast, WR Tank Hawkins has opted out and will redshirt the remainder of the season 😬 pic.twitter.com/JM12jMiHP5

— Florida Gators 🐊🔥 (@gatorsszn) November 9, 2025

These moves, one unavoidable and one intentional, might be the first indicators of preparing for the Gators offseason. An offseason where they will be competing with at least 11 other programs looking to make a big coaching hire. They also have to find a way to ensure DJ Lagway remains a Gator in 2026.

Florida travels to Oxford Mississippi to take on No. 6 Ole Miss. That game will kick off at 7pm ET and broadcast on ESPN.