Breaking: Super Bowl Champion set to join Gators next month

Chaminade-Madonna Prep wide receiver Koby Howard has set up multiple visits for the spring, including an official visit with the Florida Gators.

Howard will be in Gainesville, Florida, from May 31 to June 2. He will also visit Florida State, LSU, Missouri, Notre Dame, and Tennessee throughout the spring. Howard ranks as the No. 297 prospect in the 2025 class, according to the 247Sports’ Composite Rankings.

He’s high school teammates with cornerChris Ewald Jr., who recently decommitted from the Michigan Wolverines and will be in Knoxville, Tennessee, on April 6. Howard has made four trips to Tennessee over the years and has been active on the recruiting trail, attempting to find the right spot for home. He logged 70 catches for 808 yards and eight touchdowns during his sophomore season before missing a lot of time during his junior season due to injury. The Vols hope to take around wide receivers in the 2025 class and only have one currently committed, so we’ll see how things progress.

Gators 2024 Positional Outlook: Wide Receiver

The winds of attrition breezed through The Swamp again this winter, with Florida making 30 scholarship roster additions and 21 subtractions via the NCAA transfer portal, along with several departing players heading toward the NFL Draft or their post-football careers. All Gators is breaking down each position on Florida’s roster as the team approaches spring training camp, reviewing the performances of each group in 2023 and previewing their makeup for the 2024 season.

After taking a look at the quarterbacks and running backs, we now move to the outside to examine the receiver room. If required, All Gators will revisit positions affected by the spring transfer portal window later this offseason. We will offer final depth chart projections during Florida’s fall training camp in August.

2023 SEASON IN REVIEW: FLORIDA’S WIDE RECEIVERS

With the transition at quarterback from top-five NFL draft pick Anthony Richardson to Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz going into 2023, Florida needed as much production from its receivers as possible to boost the passing game. The Gators got that and then some from fifth-year senior Ricky Pearsall and true freshman Eugene Wilson III, who helped Mertz achieve career-highs in passing yards, touchdowns, completion percentage and a career-low in interceptions.

Pearsall had one of the best seasons by a UF wide receiver in recent memory with 65 catches for 965 yards, both of which were career-highs and team-highs, with four touchdowns. He also added two rushing touchdowns, another career high. Meanwhile, Wilson broke out in his debut season with a team-high six touchdowns on 61 catches. Additionally, his 538 receiving yards were second-most on the team and led all freshmen in the SEC. As a result, Wilson earned freshman All-SEC honors, Freshman All-America honors from On3, 247 Sports and the FWAA, and a Freshman All-America honorable mention from the College Football Network.

A breakout player in 2023 came in the form of former walk-on quarterback-turned-wide receiver Kahleil Jackson, who became a deep threat and flashy pass catcher. He hit career marks in catches (21), yards (251) and caught his first collegiate touchdown last season. Outside of Pearsall, Wilson and Jackson, Florida had little help from the other receivers in the room. Sophomore Caleb Douglas started the first five games of the year and caught 11 passes for 133 yards and one touchdown before suffering a lower leg injury against Kentucky, which ended his season.

He has since transferred to Texas Tech. Four-star freshmen Andy Jean, who battled a lower-body injury throughout the year, and Aidan Mizell caught six and two passes, respectively, and redshirted in their first season. Veteran backups Marcus Burke and Ja’Quavion Fraziars combined for 10 catches for 142 yards.