Tag: Kahleil Jackson

Florida puts 4th-year wide receiver on scholarship

Billy Napier hinted at it a few months ago, and now it seems that wide receiver Kahleil Jackson is indeed being put on scholarship.

Billy Napier talked about putting redshirt sophomore [autotag]Kahleil Jackson[/autotag] on a scholarship during his spring speaking tour, and now it’s a reality.

According to Swamp247, the Gators are putting Jackson on scholarship for the 2023 season, moving Florida one spot shy of reaching the 85-man limit. A third-generation Gator, Jackson switched from quarterback to wide receiver when he arrived in 2020.

He didn’t see action until his redshirt freshman year when he made appearances on special teams against South Carolina and Florida Atlantic. In 2022, Jackson made his first catches at the college level, hauling in two passes for 43 yards.

Jackson has a chance to break out in 2023, and Napier clearly believes in him. At least, enough to give him a scholarship. Caleb Douglas, Ja’Quavion Fraziars and Ricky Pearsall are the only returners alongside him, but the freshman class is loaded with speedy receivers also looking for a shot.

Regardless of what happens, Jackson’s story is inspiring for other preferred walk-ons that are hoping to get a taste.

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Depth Chart: Gators light at WR ahead of Week 11 matchup with South Carolina

The Gators might be thin at wide receiver this weekend when South Carolina comes to the Swamp.

The Florida Gators are still dealing with injuries, particularly at the wide receiver position, according to the Week 11 depth chart update released Wednesday evening.

The team’s leading receiver, [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag], is still listed as questionable after missing the Texas A&M game, and backup [autotag]Ja’Quavion Fraziars[/autotag] is out with an upper-body injury. Fraziars made his first-career start against the Aggies last week, so Florida will be down to it’s reserve options on Saturday.

Shorter is still listed as the starter, but freshman [autotag]Caleb Douglas[/autotag] is set to make his first career start if he can’t go. Behind him and [autotag]Xavier Henderson[/autotag] will be Marcus Burke and [autotag]Daejon Reynolds[/autotag] with [autotag]Kahleil Jackson[/autotag] as another option. [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] is the starter in the slot.

The wide receiver room isn’t the only position group to deal with injuries. Starting left guard [autotag]Ethan White[/autotag] was added to the injury report and is listed as questionable with an upper-body injury. White is still listed as the starter, but that decision will be made as kickoff approaches.

Freshman kicker [autotag]Trey Smack[/autotag], who has exclusively served as Florida’s kickoff man this season, is out for a second straight week after missing the Texas A&M game. [autotag]Travis Freeman [/autotag]will back up [autotag]Adam Mihalek[/autotag] for all kicking duties.

At linebacker, [autotag]Diwun Black[/autotag] is back on the depth chart and off the injury report. He’s listed as a third-team option behind [autotag]Amari Burney[/autotag] and [autotag]Shemar James[/autotag].

Tight end Keon Zipperer will miss a second-straight game, and that’s all for the depth chart update this week. [autotag]Devin Moore[/autotag], [autotag]Arlis Boardingham[/autotag] and [autotag]Nick Elksnis[/autotag] are all out as well.

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