Which Gators Officially Entered the 2023 NFL Draft?

Photograph: Anthony Richardson (15) and O’Cyrus Torrence (54); Credit score: Alex Shepherd

Following Jan. 16’s deadline to use for particular eligibility, the NFL launched a listing of 69 underclass school gamers that had been granted entry into the pool of prospects for the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.

Of Florida’s ten recognized draft entrants, third-year sophomores quarterback Anthony Richardson, defensive lineman Gervon Dexter Sr. and security Rashad Torrence II certified for the draft and have formally forgone their remaining collegiate eligibility. 

There isn’t any recognized deadline for upperclassmen to enter the draft, though official prospect all-star video games will start the primary week of February and the NFL Mix will comply with from Feb. 28 to March 6.

Florida has begun its offseason program, too, which means its record of draft prospects is probably going finalized. You will discover every entrant under.

QB Anthony Richardson: A one-and-done as Florida’s beginning quarterback, Richardson entered this 12 months’s draft with constant first-round projections regardless of some inconsistent play all through the marketing campaign. 

Whereas he struggled with decision-making and accuracy at instances, Richardson’s play-making talents had been often placed on show due to one of many largest arms and two of the quickest legs in school soccer. His passing usually sharpened because the season went on, too, as he restricted his interception depend to 2 in his last six video games after seven in his first six.

Richardson completed his UF profession with 24 appearances and 13 begins, accumulating 3,105 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and 15 interceptions with a completion proportion of 54.7. He added 1,116 yards and 12 touchdowns on the bottom at 6.9 yards per rush.

At 6-foot-4, 232 kilos, with nice throwing velocity, deep accuracy, pace and energy to make performs together with his ft and polished pocket consciousness, Richardson checks the entire containers with regards to the fashionable dynamic quarterback. An NFL group will take an opportunity on his expertise earlier relatively than later within the draft because of this with the hope of creating him right into a star.

WR Justin Shorter: A five-star prospect in highschool, Shorter transferred to Florida in 2020 following two seasons at Penn State. Whereas he could not have lived as much as his recruiting standing, Shorter carved out a productive function with the Gators that soared to new heights with Richardson as his quarterback this previous season.

In three campaigns with the Gators, Shorter compiled 95 receptions for 1,395 yards and eight touchdowns. The 6-foot-4, 223-pound wideout emerged because the group’s deep-threat pass-catcher in 2022, averaging 19.9 yards per seize throughout 29 catches whereas rating second on the group in receiving yards gained.

Shorter plans to play within the East-West Shrine Bowl on Feb. 2.

LT Richard Gouraige: A seasoned veteran who thought-about a sixth season of school, Gouraige spent 5 seasons with the Gators and appeared in 50 video games, incomes 41 begins primarily at left deal with but additionally at left guard throughout his redshirt freshman 12 months. 

Professional Soccer Focus credit Gouraige together with his greatest season as a starter, out of three and a half, in 2022. He tied his profession low in sacks allowed (one) and gave up his second-fewest pressures in a beginning marketing campaign (14) whereas posting a career-high run-blocking grade (65.9).

The 6-foot-5, 308-pound Gouraige will participate within the Senior Bowl on Feb. 4.

RG O’Cyrus Torrence: One among Florida’s prized switch portal pickups within the wake of Billy Napier’s hiring as head coach over a 12 months in the past, Torrence gave the Gators a direct improve on the offensive line due to his familiarity with Napier’s scheme from his time at Louisiana and prowess each as a mauler and defending the quarterback.

Torrence completed the 2022 common season as PFF’s highest-graded run-blocking guard within the FBS, incomes a 90.2 grade out of 100, virtually a full level larger than the following eligible participant. He spent a complete of 1,327 snaps in move safety throughout his four-year, 46-start profession at Louisiana and Florida and didn’t permit a sack as soon as, per PFF, solely giving up 20 quarterback pressures in that stretch.

The 6-foot-5, 347-pound proper guard will play within the Senior Bowl on Feb. 4 and is broadly considered as a first-round prospect. 

DL Gervon Dexter Sr.: One among two consensus five-star recruits to signal with Florida below former head coach Dan Mullen, Dexter, 6-foot-6, 312 kilos, very like Richardson, is an NFL scout’s dream with regards to his bodily and athletic profile for his place. 

Whereas his stars did not essentially flip into sacks at Florida, his manufacturing off of the stat sheet and demand for double-team blocking was extremely invaluable for a UF protection that lacked its typical trench depth and play-making expertise throughout his time with this system.

In three years, 37 appearances and 23 begins with the Gators — rating because the Thirteenth-most utilized defensive lineman within the FBS in 2022 at 53 snaps per sport — Dexter compiled 120 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and 4 batted passes. He tallied a complete of 51 quarterback pressures and 61 run protection stops in that span, per PFF. 

EDGE Brenton Cox Jr. (dismissed in October): A former switch from Georgia, Cox spent virtually 4 years with the Gators together with two and a half in a beginning function earlier than his October 2022 dismissal for undisclosed disciplinary considerations. He entered the draft instantly after being kicked off the group.

Cox, 6-foot-3, 252 kilos, compiled 100 complete tackles, 12.5 sacks, 28.5 tackles for loss, 5 defended passes, one compelled fumble, one fumble restoration and 104 quarterback pressures (PFF) in his profession at Florida. He additionally earned graduate standing in August 2022. 

He’ll take part within the East-West Shrine Bowl on Feb. 2.

LB Ventrell Miller: The “alpha” of Florida’s protection in 2022 in response to Napier, Miller heads to the NFL after six seasons with this system and simply over two because the Gators’ beginning center linebacker. A season-ending damage in 2021 prevented Miller from reaching a 3rd.

The 6-foot, 221-pound Miller racked up 240 complete tackles, 7.5 sacks, 23.5 tackles for loss, an interception, eight move breakups and two compelled fumbles throughout his 49 appearances and 33 begins with the Gators. He proved to be an elite run-stopper and productive blitzer inside the function and regularly improved in protection every year, all whereas manning the inexperienced dot in Florida’s protection. 

Miller will be a part of Gouraige and Torrence on the Senior Bowl on Feb. 4.

LB Amari Burney: After altering positions a number of instances in his early years at UF which led to inconsistent play, the 6-foot-2, 228-pound Burney settled into an out of doors linebacker function with the Gators in 2022 and produced career-highs in complete tackles (79), sacks (4), tackles for loss (9), interceptions (two), passes defended (six) and fumbles compelled (two). 

He completed his Florida tenure with 223 complete tackles, seven sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions, 16 defended passes and two compelled fumbles throughout 58 appearances and 22 begins. 

Burney is about to compete within the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 28.

S Rashad Torrence II: A category of 2020 signee, Torrence instantly emerged in Florida’s security rotation as a freshman when then-starter Shawn Davis was ejected for focusing on in opposition to Ole Miss in Week 1. Torrence changed Davis within the lineup for the remainder of that sport and performed in all however two contests since. 

It got here as a little bit of a shock when Torrence entered the draft however he has the expertise and manufacturing to argue the choice as a sound one. Throughout 34 appearances with UF, the 6-foot, 202-pound defensive again tallied 196 tackles, together with 3.5 for loss, three interceptions, six defended passes and a compelled fumble.

S Trey Dean III: There was a time when Dean was considered by some Florida followers as one of many group’s subsequent nice cornerbacks, again in 2018 when an damage to Marco Wilson pushed Dean right into a beginning function as a real freshman. A number of place adjustments later, Dean did not end his UF profession with the identical hype he began with however proved over time to be productive as a downhill security with the dimensions and athletic profile NFL groups covet at defensive again at 6-foot-3, 207 kilos.

Dean accrued 255 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 4 interceptions, 24 move breakups, one compelled fumble and three fumble recoveries in 61 profession video games, producing his greatest season in 2021 with 92 tackles, 4 TFLs, one interception and ten move breakups.

Dean will play within the East-West Shrine Bowl on Feb. 2. 

The 2023 NFL Draft will start on Thursday, April 27 in Kansas Metropolis, Mo.

Keep tuned to All Gators for steady protection of Florida Gators soccer, basketball and recruiting. Comply with alongside on social media at @AllGatorsOnFN on Twitter and All Gators on FanNation-Sports activities Illustrated on Fb.

Get your Gators soccer, basketball and different sporting occasions tickets from SI Tickets right here.