The New York Jets sure do love their Florida Gators.
New York will have six former Gators on its roster following the 2020 NFL Draft, including safety Marcus Maye, cornerbacks Brian Poole and Quincy Wilson, defensive end Jabari Zuniga, running back La’Mical Perine and offensive lineman Jonotthan Harrison.
The Jets have taken four Gators in the last four drafts. Prior to that, they had not picked a Gainesville product since 1992 when they used a fifth-round selection on center Cal Dixon.
Zuniga and Perine became the latest Gators to join the Jets after Joe Douglas used consecutive picks on the two in the third and fourth rounds, respectively. In doing so, they became the first players from the same school taken by the Jets with back to back picks since 2012. Back then, New York used pick Nos. 202 and 203 to select two Baylor prospects — running back Terrance Ganaway and guard Robert Griffin — in the sixth round.
One veteran Jet and Florida alumnus was certainly happy with the latest picks:
The More Gators The Better 🐊🛩
— Brian Poole (@poolioo) April 25, 2020
Many of the Jets’ Florida products were college teammates. Harrison was teammates with Poole in 2012. Then Maye joined Poole in Florida’s secondary in 2013.
By 2014, Maye, Poole and Wilson were all teammates. Zuniga joined that group as a redshirt freshman in 2015. By 2016, Poole went on to the NFL, but Perine joined the group. Maye, Perine, Wilson and Zuniga were all teammates in 2016. After the 2016 season, Maye and Wilson were both drafted in the second round, leaving Perine and Zuniga through the 2019 season.
“I’m [going to] feel at home when I get up there,” Perine said after the draft, referring to all the familiar faces in New York. “So I’ll be alright.”
Now, the band is back together again. Based on Poole’s tweet and Perine’s comments, chemistry between these ex-Gators shouldn’t be an issue in New York.