Dynamic playmaker Eric Singleton Jr. nears a return as the undefeated Gators prepare to unleash their full offensive arsenal against the Rebels in a high-stakes SEC showdown.
One of the reasons for optimism for the Florida Gators offense this year was a dangerous trio of wide receivers with Vernell Brown III, Dallas Wilson, and Eric Singleton Jr.
Brown leads the Gators in receiving with 14 receptions for 246 yards and two touchdowns. Willson is second with 12 receptions for 225 yards and two touchdowns.
Singleton has yet to record a stat after suffering an ankle injury in Florida's 66-21 win over Florida Atlantic in Week 1. He's missed the Gators' wins over Campbell and Auburn. Earlier in the week, Florida head coach Jon Sumrall said Singleton would be a game-time decision.
Per Pete Nakos of On3, that remains the case for Singleton, though the receiver appears to be trending in a good direction before the No. 21 Gators host No. 4 Ole Miss on Saturday. The receiver has run close to his "top-end speed" at practice this week. However, the Gators will be cautious about playing him if pregame warmups don't go smoothly.
If healthy, Singleton would help stretch the Ole Miss defense. He's familiar with Florida offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, who he played for at Georgia Tech in 2023 and 2024 before transferring to Auburn before the 2025 season. He's recorded 162 receptions for 2,002 yards and 12 touchdowns in his first three seasons in college.
Another playmaker at receiver would certainly help quarterback Aaron Philo push the ball downfield and make it harder for defenders to keep tabs on running back Jadan Baugh, who has 458 yards rushing and eight touchdowns on 54 carries through three games.
Florida needs to keep its edge on Saturday
Ole Miss is entering Saturday's contest coming off a huge 32-24 win over LSU and its former head coach Lane Kiffin. The contest feels like a huge trap game for the Rebels, who must find energy to play in Gainesville after winning an emotionally charged game in Week 3.
The Gators know that defeating the Rebels will put them squarely in the hunt for a spot in the College Football Playoff this year. They'll need to bring an edge with them on Saturday.
The crowd will be a huge part of that. Earlier this week, Sumrall said he expected the crowd to play a key role in making life tough for the visiting Rebels. If Florida plays with an edge, it could be 4-0 before playing No. 19 Missouri in Week 5.
