GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Brandon Powell could only smile and nod when presented with a surprising compliment from an opposing coach.

The praise?

"Florida, they have the best receivers in the SEC," an SEC offensive assistant told ESPN earlier this year.

Powell's response?

"We have playmakers everywhere," the lone senior receiver said with a grin plastered on his face. "It's going to be hard to stop us when we get it all together."

Powell didn't seem caught off guard by the statement, but to most of the outside world, that might be a little jarring. After all, it's been nearly a decade since any sort of real praise has been heaped on this receiving group. A unit with so much historical pride has fallen on hard times, as the quarterback position has deteriorated alongside.

Florida's Antonio Callaway caught 54 passes for 721 yards and three touchdowns last season. Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

But 2017 could change things for both positions. As the Gators sort through their quarterback battle, the wide receivers are making sure they do their part to help young guys Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask come along as smoothly as possible during these 15 spring practices.

"That’s definitely the deepest position on our team," Trask said. "It’s really fun to just throw it up to [Antonio] Callaway or Tyrie [Cleveland] or anyone and just watch them run under it.

"You have to take your shots where you can, especially with that speed on the outside. You have to take advantage."

There's actually enough diversity and athleticism at receiver to make this offense really take off this fall, as the seven top receivers/tight ends return from last season.

To Powell, talent wasn't an issue in 2016, desire was. This spring has been different. He says guys are practicing with more urgency, as if every position is up for grabs again. To him, it's been the most competitive time he's seen with the receivers in his four years in Gainesville.

"Even though we are all competing, we still help each other out in little things. That’s what’s going to make us better," Powell said.

Of the guys returning, Callaway is the star. He can stretch the field, play out of the backfield, or line up in the slot. He has 89 catches for 1,399 yards in his two collegiate years, and though he had what he'd probably consider a sophomore slump with only 721 yards and three touchdowns, coaches around the league believe he is hands down one of the best offensive weapons in the SEC.

He'll get outside help from rising sophomore Cleveland, the offensive jewel of Jim McElwain's second recruiting class. The former ESPN 300 member was hampered by a suspension and a hamstring early last season, but proved to be a tremendous vertical threat (hello, LSU). He averaged 21.3 yards on his 14 receptions.

The slippery Powell patrols the middle, catching 45 passes for 387 yards and two touchdowns last season, but he'll get immense help from Dre Massey, who missed nearly the entire 2016 season after suffering an ACL injury in the opener. Though he isn't going through contact this spring, Massey is running routes and Powell believes they could create a dangerous tandem underneath for Florida's quarterbacks with their speed and elusiveness. Massey, who was the No. 6-ranked junior college receiver in 2016, can also lineup at quarterback, play running back and punt.

Rising sophomores Freddie Swain and Josh Hammond, who combined to catch 22 passes last season, will also help out inside, as will tight ends DeAndre Goolsby and C'yontai Lewis. Goolsby, who caught 38 passes for 342 yards and three touchdowns last season, is more of a mismatch with his speed, but Lewis is the muscle at tight end.

Keep an eye on Rick Wells, too. He redshirted last season, but coaches think he could have a big impact this fall.

"We feel like we’re the best group of guys in the country," Hammond said.

Florida safety Nick Washington thinks this group has really grown because of the more creative looks McElwain and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier have used this spring. More multiple and intricate looks have kept defenders more flat-footed at times, and it's benefiting the offense in a way that frustrates the defense.

"[McElwain is] giving everyone opportunities to make plays on the ball," Washington said.

And the more opportunities, the better for this group. Upside for Florida's receivers is huge, but, like Powell said, for this unit to truly be special, it must match the physical with the mental.

"You could just see it at times last year," he said. "They showed it in plays that we need to win a national championship. We just gotta find a way to bring it all together to get to that ultimate goal."