Elijah Badger college stats: Exploring new Florida WR's career, notable records, achievements and more 

The Florida Gators have bolstered their wide receiver corps by securing Arizona State transfer Elijah Badger ahead of the 2024 season. He is ranked as 247Sports' top uncommitted offensive player and the No. 184 overall transfer in this cycle.

Badger's decision to join Florida followed a crucial visit to Gainesville, where he expressed enthusiasm about the Gators' vision for him:

"[They see me as] just an experienced wide receiver with abilities with the ball in my hands, and the growth I had over a period of time," Badger said.

During his tenure with the Sun Devils, Badger played in 35 games, starting 23. He amassed 135 catches for 1,579 yards and 10 touchdowns over the last two seasons.

In 2022, Badger had a breakout year, setting career highs with 70 receptions, 866 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. One of his incredible performances came against Washington, where he recorded seven catches for 53 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning score.

The 2023 season saw Badger continue to impress, leading the Sun Devils with 65 catches for 713 yards and three touchdowns. His best game of the season was against Colorado, where he tallied 12 catches for 134 yards.

Badger's top receiving yard performances in both 2022 and 2023 came against the Buffaloes. His collegiate achievements earned him All-Pac-12 honorable mention accolades in both 2022 and 2023. Before his collegiate success, the receiver was a standout at Folsom High School in Sacramento, California.

Elijah Badger prepares for major role with QB Graham Mertz

Elijah Badger is poised to become a key player for the Florida Gators, offering quarterback Graham Mertz a reliable target to help stretch the field. Florida’s deep-ball-attempt rate saw a significant drop from 19.6% in 2022 to just 10.9% this past season. It is a critical area where Badger can make an immediate impact, and Mertz has full trust in his new receiver:

"[Mertz] was just telling me how big of a part I would be to the offense, and what we could do for one another," Badger said.

Graham Mertz, the Gators' redshirt junior quarterback, returned to Florida for the 2024 season. His impressive stats from last season include 2,903 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and just three interceptions.

Beyond Mertz and Badger, the Gators have a mix of youthful talent and emerging playmakers. Wide receiver Eugene Wilson III is a notable name. As a freshman, Wilson made significant contributions and is expected to play an even larger role as a sophomore.

However, the team’s overall experience at wide receiver is limited, making Badger’s presence even more crucial.