Florida Gators transfer portal stock report: Chimere Dike
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The transfer portal has been open for a full week but the predicted avalanche of high-impact players entering hasn’t played out. While the Florida Gators have landed one player — preferred walk-on tight end Caleb Rillos — they are at the scholarship limit of 85 players. Florida will have to have players currently on the roster depart in order to add through the portal.
With the spring portal playing out slower than expected, Gators Online will go through the players the Gators added during the winter transfer portal. Today we take a look at Wisconsin transfer Chimere Dike.
Past Profiles
D.J. Douglas
Grayson “Pup” Howard
Asa Turner
Joey Slackman
Analysis
Stock Up
Graham Mertz has thrown thousands of passes to Chimere Dike. It started at Wisconsin when the two were on the scout team together and progressed until 2022 when the two connected on 47 passes, for 689 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Mertz is one of the main reasons Dike is in Gainesville. He recommended Dike to the coaching staff and once spring camp started was able to help him acclimate to the new offense.
Dike is a solid receiver who is in line to start this season. He’s taken one of the three starting receiver sports next to Kahleil Jackson and Eugene Wilson. While the Gators are actively looking for another receiver in the transfer portal to compete, you can expect Dike to play a ton this fall.
Quotable
Receivers coach Billy Gonzales
“I think when you’re out on the football field and you get a chance to see Graham, there’s so many reps. And I tell my players all the time, that continuity between you and a quarterback those repetitions are built over time. That quarterback gets a rhythm for who you are. Everybody runs routes a little differently. Everybody’s a little faster, some might be slower, some might be a faster step, but they’ve kind of hooked up and they got that rhythm back right now. They’re both looking really, really good.”
Chimere Dike prior to Florida
Prior to Florida
2023 at Wisconsin: Made 11 starts at wide receiver… Finished with 19 catches for 238 yards and one touchdown catch… Totaled 12 punt returns for 108 yards and 11 kick returns for 249 yards (22.6 per return)… Caught one pass for a 29-yard touchdown in the season opener against Buffalo (Sept. 2)… Had four games of three-plus catches with a season-best, three receptions for 67 yards at Purdue (Sept. 22).
2022 at Wisconsin: Started all 13 games… Led the team with 47 catches, 689 receiving yards and six touchdown catches… His six scores ranked T-7th in the Big Ten and were the most for a Badger WR since Quintez Cephus in 2019… His 14.8 yards per catch ranked 4th in the Big Ten among players with at least 40 catches… Posted a 78.8 PFF grade out of the slot, the 9th-best in the Big Ten… Had 10 catches for 185 yards and three touchdowns at Northwestern (Oct. 8) to become the first Wisconsin WR to catch three touchdowns and go for 185+ yards since Lee Evans in 2003… His 185 yards were the T-4th most for any Big Ten player in a single game in 2022… Found the endzone on the ground in the regular season finale vs. Minnesota (Nov. 22)… Returned three kicks in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl vs. Oklahoma State (Dec. 27), breaking one for 53 yards
2021 at Wisconsin: Played in all 13 games while making one start… Ranked fourth on the team in both receptions (19) and receiving yards (272)… Had two catches for 54 yards and a TD vs. No. 14 Michigan (Oct. 2)… Had three receptions in four games… Tied his career-best with a 30-yard reception on 3rd-and-12 to help the Badgers run out the clock and seal the Las Vegas Bowl win over Arizona State (Dec. 30).
2020 at Wisconsin: Appeared in seven games with six stars… Had 12 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown… Recorded 6 carries for 48 yards… Made his collegiate debut against Illinois (Oct. 23)… Made first start in a 49-11 victory at Michigan (Nov. 14) and had two catches for 29 yards and one rush for 30 yards… Posted two catches for 52 yards, including his first career touchdown, against Northwestern (Nov. 21)… Had two catches for 35 yards in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl win against Wake Forest (Dec. 30).
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