Florida’s wide receiver room got a serious jolt this offseason - and not a moment too soon. After more than 30 players exited Gainesville through the transfer portal, first-year head coach Jon Sumrall had his hands full reshaping the 2026 roster.
Few position groups felt the exodus more than the wideouts. Even with Vernell Brown III and Dallas Wilson sticking around, the Gators were in desperate need of another explosive playmaker on the perimeter.
Enter Eric Singleton - a game-changing addition who didn’t just plug a hole but elevated the entire unit.
A Familiar Face with Unmatched Speed
When Florida landed Singleton out of the portal from Auburn, it wasn’t just a big win - it was a strategic coup. The Gators had already seen key contributors like Eugene Wilson III, Aidan Mizell, and Tank Hawkins move on, but Singleton’s arrival immediately shifted the dynamic.
Suddenly, this was no longer a position group trying to tread water. It became one of the more intriguing receiver corps in the SEC.
And the connection between Singleton and Florida’s staff? It runs deep.
At his Wednesday press conference, Sumrall detailed the backstory that made this transfer feel more like a reunion than a recruitment.
“Eric’s first offer in high school came from Troy - I was the head coach there,” Sumrall said. “Then he put up some crazy track times in the 100, and his recruitment really took off.
He ended up at Georgia Tech, where he played for Trent McKnight and Buster Faulkner, who are both on our staff now. Then he transferred to Auburn and played under Marcus Davis - also on our staff.”
That kind of familiarity isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a game-changer when it comes to recruiting and development. Sumrall and his staff already knew what made Singleton special - and more importantly, how to unlock it.
Right Time, Right Fit
Initially, it looked like Singleton was headed for the NFL Draft. He’d been invited to the Senior Bowl, and Florida figured that door was closed.
But then came the whispers. Drew Fabianich, who helps run the Senior Bowl and has ties to the Gators’ staff, gave Sumrall a heads-up: Singleton might be considering a return to college.
That was all Sumrall needed to hear.
“We were like, if he’s coming back, we need to be ready,” Sumrall said. “It came down to us and a couple other schools, but I think our familiarity with him really helped. When you can eliminate the unknowns, it makes the decision easier.”
And what exactly does Singleton bring to the table? In Sumrall’s words: “top-end speed.”
“He’s Olympic-fast,” Sumrall said. “He can flat-out run.
We’re working on some change-of-direction stuff with him, but he can take the top off a defense. You get the ball in his hands, and it’s like - can anyone tackle him in space?
It’s hard.”
A Dangerous Trio in Gainesville
Singleton’s résumé backs up the hype. He posted back-to-back 700+ yard seasons at Georgia Tech before adding another 500+ yards at Auburn last year - all while maintaining his track-star speed.
His personal best in the 100-meter dash? A blistering 10.32 seconds.
He even placed fifth in the 2024 ACC Track & Field Championships in the event.
That kind of speed doesn’t just stretch a defense - it warps it.
Now, pair Singleton’s wheels with Vernell Brown III’s quick-twitch explosiveness and Dallas Wilson’s size and catch radius, and you’ve got a trio that’s going to give defensive coordinators sleepless nights. Brown can beat you underneath, Wilson can win contested balls, and Singleton can blow the lid off the top.
In a conference where elite receiver play is often the difference between 7-5 and a shot at Atlanta, Florida’s suddenly stacked receiver room could be the X-factor in Sumrall’s first season.
The Gators needed a spark. With Eric Singleton, they may have found a fuse.