Brandon Powell began the 2015 season on a high note. C.J. Worton ended it on one.
In between, neither Florida receiver performed like he had hoped.
Injuries slowed each player, eventually leading to frustration for Worton and offseason surgery for Powell. But both third-year Gators entered preseason practices last week healthy, upbeat and poised to reach their potential.
Florida's offense is counting on it.
Outside of sophomore star Antonio Callaway, the Gators have too few proven playmakers at the receiver position yet again. And Callaway's status for the regular season remains unclear after Friday's Title IX hearing to address sexual assault allegations against him.
"We have had a question mark on us for awhile now," Worton said of Florida's receivers. "For us to step up and make a statement is going to be big this season."
During the 2015 SEC title game against Alabama, Worton finally broke his silence after two quiet seasons for the Gators.
Worton's leaping, 46-yard touchdown grab over two Crimson Tide defenders with five minutes remaining in Florida's 29-15 loss was irrelevant to the final outcome. But the play would have a lasting impact on Worton, who entered the game with just 25 receiving yards as a Gator.
"Especially in the coaches' eyes - just to see me implement what I've been doing in practice in a game," Worton said last week. "Definitely showed a lot of people I wasn't just a practice player and I can perform on the big stage when I need to. I just needed an opportunity."
Worton, a native of Homestead and brother of former UCF star J.J. Worton, broke his hand as a freshman and appeared in just three games. Last season, a nagging hamstring injury sidelined C.J., and ultimately tested his character once he returned.
"Mentally, I just took myself out of it," he recalled. "I wasn't practicing the way I needed to, and it showed when they turned on the film. I wasn't giving maximum effort. I had to dig down deep and ask myself if this is what I really wanted to do.
"I made that decision and I turned my attitude around."
Meanwhile, Florida's coaching staff has come around on Worton.
"C.J. has really started to get it," offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier said. "He's really maturing as a young man. He's a phenomenal athlete and I think he's just starting to scratch the surface. He's got a big, big upside."
Powell, on the other hand, won his coaches' confidence from the jump.
When Jim McElwain selected three Gators to unofficially kick off the 2015 season at SEC Media Days, Powell, just a sophomore, was among them.
McElwain had big plans for Powell. The Deerfield Beach product was a converted tailback with home-run speed, able to line up in a variety of spots to keep defenses guessing.
But after catching touchdowns in three of Florida's first five games, Powell began to slow down because of a foot injury dating to high school.
Powell averaged just 8.6 yards on 16 receptions and did not score a touchdown the rest of the season.
"It was disappointing because I couldn't run or cut how I wanted with that foot," he said last week. "I basically played with a broken foot."
Following offseason surgery, Powell sat out spring practices but enters fall camp at full speed.
"My foot is good," he said. "I'm just waiting to get back on that field to show people."
All-SEC cornerback Jalen Tabor has seen enough. He is a Powell believer – and predicts Gator Nation soon will be, too.
"BP is really going to explode this year," Tabor said. "People really don't know. He's small (5-9, 184), but he can do it all. He's going to be a major contributor on offense, and it's going to be a surprise.
"But it's not going to be a surprise to us."