GAINESVILLE — Florida’s sputtering offense will be without top playmaker Tre Wilson for the second week as the Gators seek a rare road win at Mississippi State.
The team’s leading receiver, with 13 catches for 191 yards, is out a week after he was questionable with an undisclosed injury but did not play during a 33-20 loss at home to Texas A&M.
“We’re definitely a better team with Tre Wilson,” coach Billy Napier said following Wednesday’s practice.
The SEC announced Wilson’s status at 8:10 p.m., after Napier had addressed reporters. He did say Wilson was injured during the Gators’ 45-7 win Sept. 7 against Samford, highlighted by his 85-yard touchdown following a shovel pass from true freshman DJ Lagway.
While Wilson left defenders in the dust, GPS tracking clocked him at team-record 23.42 mph. The Gators built much of their attack around the 5-foot-10, 183-pound sophomore because of his explosiveness and instincts.
But the Gators (1-2, 0-1 SEC) struggled to unleash Wilson during a 41-17 season-opening loss to Miami. Without him against Texas A&M, UF was shut out during the first half for the first time at home since 2015.
Transfer receivers Elijhah Badger (Arizona State) and Chimere Dike (Wisconsin) combined for 11 catches — 6 by Dike for 185 yards. Each scored a touchdown.
“Dike and Badger stepped up in a major way,” Napier said. “We have the ability to in formation plays to get the primary guys in position, much like we’ve done the past. We’ve got to continue to create ways to get the ball to the best players.
“Who’s the third? That’s the question mark.”
Sophomore Aidan Mizell of Orlando and true freshman Tank Hawkins went without a catch against Texas A&M after each caught long touchdown passes from Lagway against Samford. Hawkins is listed as questionable this week as the Gators face struggling Mississippi State (1-2, 0-0).
Each team will seek a fast start.
Florida trailed Texas A&M 20-0 at halftime and Miami 24-10 after 30 minutes. Meanwhile, first-time head coach Jeff Lebby’s Bulldogs were outscored 55-6 during the first half the last two weeks at Arizona State and vs. Toledo.
“It’s a key to winning football,” Napier said. “It’s an area in particular for us on offense where we have had some success in the past, and we’ve got to get back to that. We’ve typically been able to get going early.
“We need to do that.”
Napier will again deploy a two-quarterback rotation with veteran Graham Mertz and Lagway. Against Texas A&M, Mertz, who finished 12 of 15 for 195 yards, a touchdown and an interception, outperformed Lagway, who was 6 of 13 for 54 yards, a touchdown and 2 picks.
“Some of it is open-ended,” Napier said of each player’s usage. “They know that. Ultimately my expectation is they both prepare well, they both practice well and they both play lights out when given a chance.”
The Gators also have to get their run game on track against a Bulldogs defense that allowed 346 rushing yards during a 30-23 loss two weeks ago to Arizona State. Napier’s offense is built around establishing the run, but averaged just averaged 95.5 yards and 3.6 yards per carry in two losses.
“Hence my frustration,” Napier said. “We got to do better in that area. It’s one of the things that makes the engine go.”
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
Up next …
Florida at Mississippi State
When: Saturday, Davis Wade Stadium, noon
TV: ESPN
