The Florida Gators have had 360 players selected in all-time professional football allocation drafts, dating to the first in 1938. They're one of three programs (along with Southern California and Michigan) to have at least one player taken in every draft since 1967. UF has produced 57 all-time first-round picks (all but two since '67) and twice in the last three drafts have had players taken in the overall top five. Such won't be the case when the 2024 NFL Draft commences Thursday night in Detroit. In fact, this draft is expected to feature the fewest UF products selected certainly since 2012, when defensive lineman Jaye Howard (4th round) and running back Chris Rainey (fifth) were third-day picks, and maybe since 1980 when the Gators had just one pick after going 0-10-1. Thank goodness for Ricky Pearsall. Pearsall, the athletic and gluey-handed wide receiver who caught 98 passes for 1,626 yards and nine touchdowns in his two UF seasons, looks like he may be the lone Florida player drafted over the next three days, which speaks to the talent (of lack thereof) that Coach Billy Napier inherited in 2022 (not unlike those lone two in '12 was an indication of what Will Muschamp walked into when he took over the "broken" Urban Meyer program). By all accounts, the Gators' current talent level is on the uptick, but the last weekend in April is a time to spotlight outgoing players with a future in the bigs.
1st - Caleb Williams, USC (Chicago) 2nd - Jayden Daniels, LSU (Washington) 3rd - Drake Maye, NC (New England) 4th - Marvin Harrison Jr, tOSU (Arizona) 5th - Joe Alt, ND (LA Chargers) 6th - Malik Nabers, LSU (NY Giants) 7th - JC Latham, AL (Tennessee) 8th - Michael Penix Jr, Wash (Atlanta) 9th - Rome Odunze, Wash (Chicago) 10 - J.J. McCarthy, Mich (Minnesota) 11 - O. Fashanu, Penn St (NY Jets) 12 - Bo Nix, Ore (Denver) 13 - Brock Bowers, GA (New Orleans) 14 - Taliese Fuaga, Ore St (New Orleans) 15 - Laiatu Latu, UCLA (Indianapolis) 19 - Jared Verse, FSU (LA Rams) 21 - Chop Robinson, Penn St (Miami) 23 - Brian Thomas Jr, LSU (Jacksonville) 26 - G Barton, Duke (Tampa Bay) 31 - Ricky Pearsall, FLA (San Francisco).
atlanta signed Kirk Cousins, right? Why did they just select a QB when they have lots of other needs?
The first 14 picks we're all offensive (no offense)...a new Common Era NFL draft record. 6 QB's. 3 WR's. 4 OT's. 1 TE.
That makes 58 1st-Rounders for the Florida Gators!!! Overall, Pearsall is the 45th UF wide receiver to be taken, ranking third most in the NCAA and leading the Southeastern Conference. Since 2000, Florida has had 21 receivers drafted and six since 2020. He is the eighth Gator receiver to be drafted in the first round and last since Kadarius Toney (2021, New York Giants, 20th overall).
Maybe it's just me but almost none of these QB's scream "franchise guy", in a few years I think we look back at this as the biggest bunch of 1st round busts ever.
Jalen Kimber is making a lot of people rich tonight. He’s in a lot of highlights. I haven’t seen a Gator in this many highlights since Brett Heggie played.
