Eric Singleton Jr. brings speed, smarts, big-play ability to UF offense
GAINESVILLE — New Florida receiver Eric Singleton Jr. arrived with unfinished business and ground to gain after a detour at Auburn didn’t go as planned.
He decided to try closing his college career on a high note and boost his draft stock in an offense where he once thrived — surrounded by familiar faces and a coach able to fully capitalize on Singleton’s potential.
The 20-year-old transfer set aside NFL aspirations to reunite with offensive coordinator Buster Faulker , some former teammates from Georgia Tech and even a couple of Gators from Singleton’s youth football days in Atlanta, including star tailback Jadan Baugh.
In return, the Gators landed their top acquisition among 29 transfers and a player capable of elevating a talented unit into an potentially elite one.
“He’s a home run threat all the time,” first-year head coach Jon Sumrall said.
Singleton brings a level of speed and production unmatched by any returning Gator.
Rising second-year stars Vernell Brown III and Dallas Wilson can stretch the field, but neither possesses the blazing speed of Singleton — a former Georgia 6A state champion at 100 and 400 meters.
“Eric Singleton is a dog; I ain’t going to lie,” Wilson marveled last month. “He hit 23 mph on the Catapult (GPS tracking vest). I’m like, ‘This guy is flying; that boy was flying.’”
Singleton has been a blur since he first stepped on the field as a 7-year-old defensive back in the same youth league as Baugh.
“But as time kept going on, I started seeing on Instagram and stuff, in there playing receiver,” Baugh recalled. “It took off from there,”
More than just fleet-footed, Singleton is cerebral, allowing him to capitalize on both his athletic ability and familiarity with Faulker’s complex system.
“My best attribute is probably my IQ, just my knowledge of the game,” he said.
Faulkner , who coached Singleton at Georgia Tech in 2023 and 2024, concurs.
“He’s one of the smartest football players that I’ve ever been around,” said Faulkner, who began coaching in 2005. He came in as a true freshman and he learned the offense — and this is not an easy offense to learn. It’s like he never left. I don’t think he’s had an MA (missed assignment) yet.
“Glad to see him back out there.”
Singleton initially had his sights set on this month’s NFL draft, but reconsidered.
The 2025 season at Auburn failed to fully spotlight Singleton’s speed and versatility as he’d hoped while lined up alongside star sophomore Cam Coleman . Oklahoma transfer quarterback Jaxson Arnold underwhelmed, finishing with just six touchdown throws and the lowest passer rating among SEC starters (121.75) for an offense ranked 15th of 16 SEC teams — leading the school to fire coach Huge Freeze.
In 12 games with the Tigers, Singleton recorded a career-high 58 catches but averaged just 9.2 yards, down from 14.1 on 104 receptions during two seasons at Georgia Tech.
Under Faulkner at Georgia Tech, Singleton had 11 catches of 40 yards or longer. At Auburn, he had just one.
“I just wasn’t really satisfied with how my last season went,” he said. “I feel like I have a lot more to prove.”
Besides Faulkner, Singleton will join forces again with quarterback Aaron Philo , receiver Bailey Stockton and tight Luke Harpring — all Georgia Tech transfers.
“He’s extremely explosive,” Philo said of Singleton. “He’s smart, and he understands everything.”
When Singleton backed out of the draft, Stockton reached out.
“He’s a really cool guy. We call him White Chocolate,” Singleton said. “He was straightforward; he was just telling me: ‘C’mon, let’s go win, let’s win a natty.’”
If nothing else, Singleton will deliver big plays — and Faulkner offensive fireworks — for Florida fans starved for excitement after a 4-8 season during which Billy Napier’s attack averaged 17.6 points in SEC play.
“He knows how to use me,” Singleton said of Faulkner. “He knows what I am good at, so just showcasing that on the field.”
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
