Gators Notebook: Wilson Update, SEC Announces Suspensions, Remembering a Special Teams Star
Monday, September 18, 2023 | Football, Scott Carter
The good news for the Gators is that Wilson, who goes by Trey, is not expected to be sidelined for an extended period according to head coach Billy Napier.
"Trey's banged up,'' Napier said Monday. "Nothing long-term. Ultimately, the X-ray is normal. I think it will take him a little bit of time to return."
Wilson opened Florida's 29-16 win over the Vols as the centerpiece of the offense. He caught six passes for 44 yards on the Gators' opening drive. However, he departed for the locker room prior to halftime and when he returned to the sideline in the second half, Wilson was in street clothes.
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The talented newcomer from Tampa's Gaither High has added a spark to the offense in Napier's second season. He made his debut in the loss at Utah and has 12 catches for 104 yards in three games. Wilson has added two rushes for 27 yards and caught a 2-point pass at Utah.
Wilson has already become a fan favorite for his shifty moves and ability to evade tacklers. However, at 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, Wilson's durability in the physical Southeastern Conference will be tested.
Napier said the time of Wilson's return is to be determined.
"It's going to be a pain-tolerance deal," he said. "Could be this week, could be next week. We'll give you an update on Wednesday where we're officially at. The good thing here, big picture, I think we're going to get him back at some point."
THREE GATORS TO MISS HALF
The Southeastern Conference announced Monday afternoon that three UF players and one Tennessee player will be suspended for the first half of this week's games for flagrant unsportsmanlike actions at the end of Florida's 29-16 victory over the Vols on Saturday night. An altercation erupted near the end of the game when a Tennessee player hit Gators QB Graham Mertz late.
Gators OL Damieon George Jr., OL Micah Mazzccua and TE Dante Zanders are suspended for the first half of Saturday's home game against Charlotte. Tennessee DL Omarr Norman-Lott is suspended for the first half of the Vols' home game against UTSA.
According to the league office, the suspensions were determined after video review and consultation between the SEC office and both schools.
"It's an opportunity for us to talk about composure and poise, ego, temper,'' Napier said Monday prior to the announcement. "Football presents an opportunity to teach some of those things. It's not going to be the first time you're going to be in an altercation. Look, you make a decision like that, we had multiple players that screwed up. They compromised the entire team. No different than some guy calls you a name at the local bar on Friday night. Are you going to compromise your wife and kids, make a poor decision?
"These things are teachable moments."
REMEMBERING DOUG DREW
In the last football game of his career, the 5-foot-8, 170-pound former Gators walk-on heard the crowd roar on a frigid December night in 1983.
Doug Drew, a special teams dynamo for four seasons at Florida, was preparing to block on a punt return against Iowa in the Gator Bowl. When Drew looked up, he saw the ball free in the end zone after a fumbled snap by Iowa's punter.
Drew raced toward the ball.
"It seemed like it took me 11 years to get to it,'' he told reporters after Florida's 14-6 win.
Drew's touchdown recovery with about a minute left before halftime proved too much for the Hawkeyes to overcome in a scoreless second half.
Playing on UF teams loaded with future NFL standouts such as Cris Collinsworth, Wilber Marshall and Neal Anderson, Drew walked onto the team in 1980 as a former 155-pound offensive lineman at Melbourne High. By the time Drew was a senior, then-UF coach Charley Pell put him on scholarship and second-team at inside linebacker because of Drew's tenacious approach and work ethic.
Drew recalled listening to Collinsworth on a radio show while in college and hearing the star receiver mention his name. Drew didn't even know Collinsworth knew his name. He often guarded Collinsworth as a scout team defensive back in practice.
"That made my month, my year,'' Drew once said of the recognition from a player he admired. "In practice, I wanted to make him work as hard has he could. I figured that was my job."
Drew was named Special Teams MVP as a junior, and as a senior, his 16 tackles led all Gators non-starters. In the aftermath of that Gator Bowl win over Iowa 40 years ago, Pell paid tribute to his undersized special-teams star.
"Doug Drew? They don't make but one of him,'' Pell said.
Douglas Edward Drew, 61, died Sept. 4 at William Childs Hospice House in Palm Bay. He was a scuba diver, water skier, fisherman, surfer and carpenter. He was much larger than his size for Gators fans who watched him play.
