One of the biggest storylines leading into fall camp was Florida’s revamped wide receiving corps, which added five new faces to the mix this past recruiting cycle and saw sparingly used wideouts like Alvin Bailey, Ryan Sousa and Raphael Andrades leave the program.

While the Gators’ wide receiver position may be improved as compared to a year ago, there are still plenty of unproven, unaccomplished options at wideouts. Five of the 11 scholarship wideouts on the roster are newcomers - four freshmen in Tyrie Cleveland, Rick Wells, Joshua Hammond and Freddie Swain, and JUCO signee Dre Massey - while Kalif Jackson is coming off of a redshirt year. Of the remaining five receivers, only Antonio Callaway (678 yards, four touchdowns on 35 catches in 2015) has tallied an individual season of at least 400 receiving yards.

During his Monday press conference, Florida head coach Jim McElwain called for more consistency from his wide receivers – and a big part of that is how UF’s four returning upperclassmen continue to handle things from here on out. Three of those receivers, senior Ahmad Fulwood and juniors C.J. Worton and Brandon Powell, have worked with the first-team offense during drills in fall camp, while senior Chris Thompson has been heavily involved with the second unit.

Powell is by far the most accomplished player from that crop, after starting 10 games in 14 appearances last season at slot receiver. At the start of the year, Powell was a reliable playmaker for the Gators, but once Treon Harris took over at quarterback – and his foot injury started to become a nagging issue – Powell suddenly became a non-factor. He wrapped up his 2015 campaign with 390 yards and three touchdowns on 29 catches while rushing for just 31 yards on 14 attempts.

After missing the spring following his offseason foot surgery, Powell has been participating from the get-go this fall, working once again as a first-teamer.

“Well, it's like this when you look at Brandon - a guy that started the season phenomenally, and then to have the injury really slowed him towards the end of the season,” Florida offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier said. “So to watch him progress back, to watch how hard he's worked, really excited to get him back out there. He brings a totally different element to the offense, and a guy that has played running back, but you put him in the slot and he can create matchups. And his ability, when he gets the ball in space, he's very difficult to put your hands on.”

One of the most notable names of that bunch is Fulwood, who hasn’t accomplished much in three seasons as a Gator despite arriving at UF in 2013 as a Rivals250 talent at No. 136 overall. Up to this point in his Florida career, Fulwood has logged just 387 yards and two touchdowns on 35 catches in three years. 2015 was his worst season from a statistical standpoint, as he recorded just 61 yards and no touchdowns on six catches in 14 appearances and two starts.

However, we’ve seen a lot of Fulwood in the wide receiver rotation since the spring. With Callaway suspended during the spring while he faced sexual assault allegations – the Miami native has since seen his suspension modified to where he can practice with the team - Fulwood took on a leadership role for the unit and saw a good number of first-team reps. He’s looked better in practices, but how that will translate to games remains to be seen.

“Obviously Ahmad Fulwood is a guy that we haven't talked about, but had a good spring,” McElwain said. “Yet, we need him to really step up and be aggressive in his play for us to be successful.”

Then, there are Worton and Thompson, who each haven’t recorded more than 70 receiving yards in a single season at Florida. Worton fell out of favor in the rotation last season but is fresh off of a strong spring where he eventually overtook Thompson for first-team duties by its end.

A skilled wideout with plenty of potential, Worton has showcased his ability in flashes during his two seasons at Florida. Perfect evidence of that was his in-traffic 46-yard touchdown catch late against Alabama in the SEC Championship Game that made for two-thirds of his 2015 receiving stats.

If Worton is able to make plays like that on a consistent basis for the Gators, then Florida’s offense would be in that much better shape moving forward.

“Really, really good off-season, and C.J., I think as much as anything, has really started to get it,” Nussmeier said. “He's really maturing as a young man. Understanding how to take the things that he learns in the classroom when it comes to the game and apply it to the field, and how to physically put himself in the best shape by what he does in the weight room and conditioning and those type of things. He's a phenomenal athlete and I think he's just starting to scratch the surface. He's got a big, big upside and really excited to see what kind of camp he'll have.”

McElwain shared the same sentiment regarding Worton.

“I'll see one thing about C.J. He is another guy that has come a long, long ways moving forward,” explained McElwain. “He's a guy that I think even when you see his body, you'll see the importance of the nutrition piece, the importance of finishing everything you do and your attention to your daily detail. It will be interesting to see where it carries over but he's had an outstanding summer; a guy that has really been a go-to guy for our guys.”

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FALL CAMP CONTENT:

Jefferson eager to build off of strong freshman season

McElwain discusses what he saw from UF's rainy Monday practice in full pads

McElwain discusses Callaway situation during Monday press conference

Injury Update: Riles (leg) goes down during Monday practice

Notebook: Johnson looking forward to bigger role as a sophomore

Brantley aiming to steer UF defensive line toward productive 2016 season

Returning from injury, Ivey confident heading into sophomore season