Florida (4-4 straight up, 5-3 against the spread) star sophomore wide receiver Eugene ‘Tre’ Wilson had season-ending hip surgery on Tuesday.
According to GatorOnline’s sources, Wilson has a congenital issue in his hip that was uncovered during the season.
“Tre’s injury has been lingering,” UF coach Billy Napier said Monday. “It’s been an issue that he’s had for quite a while that we’ve been navigating. I think at times he’s been able to produce and then there will be setbacks.”
As a true freshman in 2023, Wilson missed 2.5 games but still produced 61 receptions for 538 yards and six touchdowns. He also had 55 rushing yards on six attempts for a 9.2 yards-per-carry average.
In the Gators’ season-opening home loss to Miami, Wilson had seven catches for 50 yards. Then in a 45-7 win over Samford in Week 2, he snagged six balls for 141 yards and one touchdown.
However, Wilson suffered a knee injury vs. Samford that required minor surgery. He missed UF’s next three games.
Wilson was back on the field in an overtime loss at Tennessee. He hauled in five receptions for 35 yards.
In a blowout win over Kentucky the following week, Wilson had a 40-yard catch in the first quarter. But he missed practice last week before being ruled ‘out’ vs. Georgia.
Wilson’s season ends with 19 catches for 266 yards and one TD in only four games. Whether it will matter or not in terms of how long he stays in school remains to be seen, but Wilson will be able to redshirt and retain three more years of eligibility.
“It’s unfortunate. I think the injury bug is part of the game,” Napier said of Wilson. “That’s when it’s hard, is when you’re getting into the middle of the week. You’re building the plan in early part of the week and you’re unsure who is available. I think we have done a good job adjusting in that regard, but that’s part of the equation.”
Florida sophomore RB Treyaun Webb is also set to have season-ending surgery for a fractured tibia. He has missed four games in a row.
In 11 games as a true freshman last season, Webb had 163 rushing yards, two TDs and a 6.3 YPC average. He also caught four passes for 18 receiving yards.
Webb ran for 93 yards and one TD on 21 totes for a 4.4 YPC average in four games this year. Like Wilson, he’ll be redshirted.
Webb and Wilson join starting QB Graham Mertz, DL Jamari Lyons and WR Kahleil Jackson among UF players who have been ruled out for the remainder of the season. As for Saturday’s SEC showdown at Texas for a noon Eastern kickoff, QB DJ Lagway is ‘doubtful’ (hamstring), and RB Montrell Johnson is ‘questionable.’
The SEC’s initial injury report will be released Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.
Lagway left UF’s 34-20 loss vs. UGA last week with 5:01 left in the second quarter when his team was leading the Bulldogs 10-3. He had completed 2-of-6 passes for 47 yards and one TD without an interception, in addition to rushing for 18 yards on four attempts.
For the season, Lagway has connected on 56-of-92 throws (60.9%) for 1,071 yards with a 6/5 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He has 114 rushing yards and a 3.1 YPC average.
Johnson has missed back-to-back games since injuring his knee in the OT loss at Tennessee. In six games this year, Johnson has 373 rushing yards, four TDs and a 5.3 YPC average. He also has 13 catches for 64 yards.
As of Wednesday morning, most books had Texas installed as a 21.5-point home favorite Saturday vs. UF. The total was 48 points, and the Gators were +1100 on the money line at the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas.
Florida has quietly covered the spread in five consecutive games. They’re now 6-2 ATS in eight games as double-digit underdogs during Napier’s disastrous three-year tenure.
UF is now 10-18 SU against Power-Five opponents on Napier’s watch. After playing in Austin, the Gators will host LSU and Ole Miss before their regular-season finale at FSU.