One receiver who is flying under the radar is Chimere Dike, who transferred from Wisconsin. The fifth-year senior totaled 1,478 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in four seasons with the Badgers. Dike’s most productive collegiate season came in 2022, when the 6-foot-4, 195-pound wide receiver totaled 47 receptions for 689 yards and six touchdowns, which is a career high. Dike caught passes from a familiar face this season, current Gators quarterback Graham Mertz.
The connection between Dike and Mertz on the field has been evident throughout spring and fall camp. It would be difficult to find a practice session where the duo are out of step or the field commander places the ball poorly. Mertz seems to know where Dike will be at all times and serves almost as a “safety net” for him on the football field, a source told Gator Country. Mertz has a good feel for Dike’s speed and running tendencies, which makes sense considering the pair have worked together for over three years and have completed thousands of passes in the process.
“We kind of grew up together in college football,” Dike said of Mertz. “His maturity, his advancing age, his decision-making skills and his leadership qualities. Not that he didn’t have those things at Wisconsin, but they’ve just evolved and gotten better. And it’s really nice to see how comfortable he is and how much the guys support him.”
Although Dike doesn’t have the biggest frame, he’s faster than you’d give him credit for. The 6’0″, 195-pound receiver ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash at Wisconsin and improved his speed during Florida’s offseason training program. Dike has a top speed of 22 mph and has set his personal best several times this summer.
“I think I’ve had a personal best in almost every race,” Dike told the media. “I think when you see how much work you put in in the offseason, it can be pretty exhausting, but when you see the results coming, I think it motivates you to keep going and have even more faith in the coaches and the plan they have for us.”
Florida’s wide receiver corps is built for speed, and many players bring a track and field background to the football field, including Tre Wilson, Aidan Mizell and Tank Hawkins.
“I feel like you’re constantly working on it, from strength to technique,” Dike said of improving his speed. “But Coach Miles and his team work hard on us all winter and summer. And I was able to see a lot of top speeds. I also run around a lot of really fast guys. So I think iron sharpens iron, and being able to train alongside guys who ran really fast helped me a lot.”
Dike has closely observed the talent in the Gators’ wide receiver room and feels like he can learn something from each and every player.
“I think we have so much talent in the receiver room and guys that have different things,” Dike said. “I’m a student of the game and I like to take things and learn from different guys. The speed that Tre comes out of his routes, K-Jack’s ability to catch deep balls, Burke’s athletic ability to run and get over the middle. There are so many different things to take away. We push each other. Of course we compete, but I wish these guys nothing but the best. These guys are my brothers and ultimately we’re going to make each other better.”
Dike was one of two major transfers Florida made at wide receiver in the offseason, the other being Elijhah Badger from Arizona State.
“He can make every single play,” Dike said of Badger. “I think he’s a guy that works super hard, does the right things and just has playmaking ability. He’s fast, has great catching skills, a feel for the game and obviously experience. So I think he brings a lot to the table.”
Badger enrolled in the summer, which doesn’t give the 6-foot-1, 195-pound receiver much time to prepare for Florida’s first game on Aug. 31. If Badger learns the playbook and gets comfortable in Florida’s offense, the California native will make an immediate impact.
“I feel like he’s settled in really well,” Dike said of Badger’s summer enrollment. “You’d have to ask him that. But from what I can tell, he looks really relaxed and I think he’s ready for the season.”
Dike is expected to work alongside returning sophomore Tre Wilson, who was named a 2023 Freshman All-American after recording 61 catches for 538 yards and six receiving touchdowns, the most on his team.
“I’ve met some special guys, but when you have a special athlete like Tre, he’s one of a kind. And I said what I’ve never seen is his ability to accelerate. I’ve never seen that before. Honestly, it’s unbelievable,” Dike said of Wilson.
Gator Country has confirmed that Dike has been used as both a punt and kick returner throughout fall camp, a role he has experience in from his time at Wisconsin.
“I think special teams is huge, that you can make plays on special teams, impact all three phases and win all three phases of the teams,” Dike said of playing on special teams. “So I’ll do that wherever the coaches need me. I have some experience as a returner and I’m definitely something I want to add to the team.”
I expect Dike to be the WR2 for Florida to begin the season and believe he could shock some fans in his 5th collegiate season. Dike has above-average route running ability and the speed to fly down the field from the slot position.
