Here’s what SEC coaches think about Florida’s 2023 draftees

Florida had the fifth-most players drafted of any college program this year, and that surprised many coaches around the league.

The 2023 NFL draft is in the books and there is no shortage of analysis and post-event commentary. ESPN recently caught up with coaches from around the NCAA to talk about various draft topics, and the Florida Gators came up more than once.

Of course, [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] was the first topic to come up. The [autotag]Indianapolis Colts[/autotag] made him the fourth overall pick of the draft despite just 13 starts on record at Florida.

“He’s a great talent, and if they can get him to improve the accuracy and the decision-making, then he’ll turn out to be incredible,” a defensive coordinator who faced Richardson told ESPN.

One SEC coordinator compared Richardson to a “bigger version of Mike Vick,” and noted that Shane Steichen’s scheme in Indianapolis should fit the new quarterback’s skillset. The goal is to repeat the success Steichen has with Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia as an offensive coordinator.

Richardson wasn’t the only reason Florida came up in the draft conversation, though. The Gators saw six players selected in the 2023 draft, which was good for the fifth-best number overall nationally. Florida was nowhere near a top-five team on the field last year, which naturally led to questions from coaches.

“It’s an interesting situation to study,” an SEC coordinator said. “You can say coaching or whatever you want, but Napier at Lafayette was a phenomenal coach. Are there other factors that don’t allow a team like that to win? … How do you have three guys drafted off a defense that was one of the worst in the country?”

One defensive player coaches see succeeding is linebacker Ventrell Miller, who is staying in the Sunshine State after being picked by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“He’s a mauler,” said a defensive coordinator who faced Florida. “He’s a big, physical player, really good.”

The end of the draft cycle marks the end of a whirlwind first year at the University of Florida under head coach Billy Napier. Increased stability within the program is expected as Napier’s culture change takes over (it already has), so next year’s draft should be a bit more traditional.

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Former Gators EDGE signs UDFA contract with Green Bay Packers

After being released from the program midseason, this former Gator still managed to sign on with an NFL team.

Former Florida Gators edge defender [autotag]Brenton Cox Jr[/autotag]. did not hear his name called during the 2023 NFL draft which concluded on Saturday but did manage to sign on with a professional franchise after the amateur selection process ended.

The 6-foot-3-inch, 252-pound linebacker/lineman hybrid player signed on with the Green Bay Packers on Monday after two-and-a-half seasons with the Gators. Cox was originally recruited by the Georgia Bulldogs but transferred to Gainesville midway through the 2019 season, for which he took a redshirt. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Education Sciences last summer from UF.

Over the course of 33 games played for the Orange and Blue, Cox amassed 118 total tackles (62 solo, 56 assisted) along with 13.5 sacks and seven passes defended, plus a forced fumble and fumble recovery.

The former Gator is the fourth undrafted free agent for Billy Napier’s program, along with offensive lineman Richard Gouraige (Buffalo Bills), safety Rashad Torrence II (Los Angeles Rams) and safety Trey Dean III (New York Jets)

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New York Jets sign S Trey Dean III as UDFA

Trey Dean III might not have heard his name called during the draft, but he quickly signed a free-agent deal with the New York Jets to start his pro career.

The New York Jets are taking a chance on longtime Florida safety [autotag]Trey Dean III[/autotag] as an undrafted free agent signing.

Dean’s five years with the Gators featured plenty of ups and downs, but he leaves the program with 259 total tackles (141 solo), 24 pass deflections, 13.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, four interceptions and a forced fumble.

During UF’s pro day, Dean explained that he’d been dealing with labral hip tears that would require surgery. Plenty of teams still met with Dean leading up to the draft, but it looks like no one was willing to risk a pick on a player with healthy concerns heading into the offseason.

It might take some development to turn Dean into an NFL-caliber player, but he’s a dynamic defensive back that hits hard and tackles better than most fans give him credit for.

Dean is the second Gator to sign as an undrafted free agent following [autotag]Richard Gouraige[/autotag] to the Bills. Six former Florida football players heard their names called during the draft.

The Indianapolis Colts selected quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] with the fourth overall pick. Defensive lineman [autotag]Gervon Dexter Sr[/autotag]. (Chicago) and Torrence came off the board in the second round. Linebackers [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag] (Jacksonville) and [autotag]Amari Burney[/autotag] (Las Vegas) went in the fourth and sixth rounds, respectively.

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Former Florida safety Rashad Torrence II signed as UDFA by Rams

The Los Angeles Rams are bringing in former Florida safety Rashad Torrence II as an undrafted free agent.

The Los Angeles Rams wasted little time reaching out and signing former Florida safety [autotag]Rashad Torrence II[/autotag] following the conclusion of the 2023 NFL draft.

Torrence made 25 starts over the final two seasons of his Florida career and leaves Gainesville with 196 total tackles (111 solo), six pass deflections and three interceptions. He’s likely to play as a free safety in the NFL and put up decent coverage numbers throughout 2022, according to Pro Football Focus.

A member of the high school class of 2020, Torrence spent just three years at Florida and declared as an underclassman. Although his 40-yard dash time isn’t as high as many scouts would like, he’s a young, moldable piece that the Rams could use as depth in the secondary until he matures.

Torrence is the third Gator to sign as an undrafted free agent following Richard Gouraige to the Bills and Trey Dean III to the Jets. Six former Florida football players heard their names called during the draft.

Indianapolis Colts selected quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] with the fourth overall pick. Defensive lineman [autotag]Gervon Dexter Sr[/autotag]. (Chicago) and Torrence came off the board in the second round. Linebackers [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag] (Jacksonville) and [autotag]Amari Burney[/autotag] (Las Vegas) went in the fourth and sixth rounds, respectively.

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Buffalo Bills sign Florida OT Richard Gouraige as UDFA

The Buffalo Bills like bringing in former Florida Gators, and offensive tackle Richard Gouraige is the latest to join the team as an undrafted free agent.

After the draft concluded on Sunday, undrafted players were free to sign with NFL teams, and former Florida offensive tackle [autotag]Richard Gouraige[/autotag] agreed to terms with the Buffalo Bills.

Gouraige will join one of his fellow former Florida offensive linemen in Buffalo as the Bills drafted offensive guard [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag] in the second round. They also picked wide receiver [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag] in the fifth round and have cornerback [autotag]Kaiir Elam[/autotag] from the 2022 draft.

The Bills seem to prefer bringing in former Gators, and Gouraige was signed within an hour of the draft wrapping up. There’s no guarantee he makes the team next season, but it’s a good sign that the Bills were so quick to bring him in.

He spent five years with Florida, starting 42 games for the Gators, mostly at left tackle. He could end up moving back to the interior in the pros, which makes sense given his high run-blocking grades.

Gouraige was the first undrafted free agent off the board for Florida after six selections in the 2023 draft.

The Indianapolis Colts selected quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] with the fourth overall pick. Defensive lineman [autotag]Gervon Dexter Sr[/autotag]. (Chicago) and Torrence came off the board in the second round. Linebackers [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag] (Jacksonville) and [autotag]Amari Burney[/autotag] (Las Vegas) went in the fourth and sixth rounds, respectively.

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Las Vegas Raiders select LB Amari Burney in 6th round of 2023 NFL draft

Amari Burney is headed to Las Vegas! The former Florida linebacker was selected by the Raiders with 203rd overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft on Sunday.

The Las Vegas Raiders have drafted former Florida linebacker [autotag]Amari Burney[/autotag] with the 203rd overall pick in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft.

Burney began his career as a defensive back at Florida. He played both safety and the STAR position for a bit but switched to linebacker as an upperclassman.. A notable NFL combine snub, Burney’s Pro Day performance and 2022 tape was enough for the Raiders to take a chance on him.

He finished his super-senior season with 79 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He played over 2,500 snaps for Florida throughout his five years with the Gators.

The biggest moment of Burney’s Gator career came in the home opener against Utah. He made a diving interception with less than a minute remaining on the clock to secure the win.

Florida has now had six players selected in the 2023 NFL draft. Quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] came off the board first at pick No. 4 overall to Indianapolis, and [autotag]Gervon Dexter Sr[/autotag]. (Chicago) and O’Cyrus Torrence (Buffalo) were Day 2 selections.

[autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag] was the first player selected on Saturday at No. 121 overall to Jacksonville, which means both of Florida’s starting middle linebackers have been drafted. Wide receiver [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag] is also headed to Buffalo after being the Bills’ fifth-round pick.

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Buffalo Bills select Justin Shorter in 5th round of 2023 NFL draft

Justin Shorter is headed to Buffalo! The former Gator will reunite with his Florida teammate O’Cyrus Torrence to play for the Bills after being drafted in the fifth round.

The Buffalo Bills drafted wide receiver [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag] with the 150th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL draft.

Shorter is the second Florida Gator selected by Buffalo in this draft after the Bills used their second-round pick to draft offensive lineman [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag]. They also took cornerback [autotag]Kaiir Elam[/autotag] in the first round of last year’s draft.

The former Florida receiver will join a wide receiver room that features some of the nation’s best. Stefon Diggs is the No. 1 pass catcher on the team and former UCF receiver Gabe Davis is a strong second option for Josh Allen, who is one of the top quarterbacks in the league.

Shorter joined the Gators as a transfer in 2020 after spending two years with Penn State. Once [autotag]Kadarius Toney[/autotag] and [autotag]Kyle Pitts[/autotag] moved on from the program, he stepped into a starting and more prominent role with the team.

In his final year of collegiate play, Shorter hauled in 29 receptions for 577 yards and two touchdowns. He start all nine games he played in while healthy. He finished with 1,395 career receiving yards and eight touchdowns over 34 games.

Florida has now had five players selected in the 2023 NFL draft. Quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] came off the board first at pick No. 4 overall to Indianapolis, and [autotag]Gervon Dexter Sr[/autotag]. (Chicago) and O’Cyrus Torrence (Buffalo) were Day 2 selections. [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag] was the first player selected on Saturday at No. 121 overall to Jacksonville.

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Jacksonville Jaguars select LB Ventrell Miller in 4th Round

This sixth-year senior finally heard his name called after years of tears and toil.

Former Florida linebacker [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag] was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the No. 121 pick in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft on Saturday. The 6-foot, 221-pound defender is the fourth Gator selected in the draft so far, joining quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag], defensive lineman [autotag]Gervon Dexter[/autotag] and offensive lineman [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag], respectively.

The sixth-year senior earned his bachelor’s degree in Family, Youth and Community Sciences in the Fall of 2022 to wrap up a solid but injury-marred collegiate career with the Orange and Blue. Miller was suspended during his freshman year in 2017 but managed to become a significant presence on the field from 2018-20. The injury bug struck in 2021 limiting him to just two games but he returned for 11 matchups in 2022.

The Lakeland, Florida, product amassed 238 total tackles (124 solo, 114 assisted) while logging 7.5 sacks, a pair of forced and recovered fumbles, and an interception over 43 games played for the Gators. The last time the Jaguars selected a Florida product in the draft was in 2020 when they selected cornerback [autotag]CJ Henderson[/autotag] with the ninth pick overall in the first round.

The final day of the NFL draft continues on Saturday afternoon starting and can be followed on ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network.

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College Sports Wire’s take on Florida’s players picked in NFL draft 2nd round

Here’s College Sports Wire’s analysis of the Gervon Dexter and O’Cyrus Torrence selections.

The first three rounds of the 2023 NFL draft are said and down with three former Florida Gators already taken in the annual amateur election process. First off the board was quarterback Anthony Richardson who was selected on Thursday night by the Indianapolis Colts with the fourth overall pick — highest since Kyle Pitts in 2021 — in the 2023 NFL draft, continuing the university’s all-time streak of successfully sending players to the draft.

On the following day, two more erstwhile members of the Orange and Blue heard their names called in the late second round. College Sports Wire’s Patrick Conn took a look at both the second- and third-round results on Friday night for his instant analysis.

Here is what Conn had to offer on the first Gator taken on Friday night — [autotag]Gervon Dexter[/autotag] by the Chicago Bears in a pick acquired via a trade with the Baltimore Ravens at No. 53 overall.

The Bears are finally getting some help on the interior of the defense. Dexter can plug up the interior of the offensive line, allowing linebackers to flow to the ball. Dexter will make his fair share of splash plays.

Here is a look at what Conn thinks about the second Florida alumnus taken off the board — [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag] by the Buffalo Bills at No. 59 overall.

The Bills Mafia add an absolute mauler on the interior with O’Cyrus Torrence. He will open holes for the running game.

The NFL draft concludes on Saturday afternoon starting at noon p.m. EDT and can be followed on ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network.

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USA TODAY Sports analyzes both Florida players picks in NFL draft 2nd round

Here’s USA TODAY Sports’ analysis of the Gervon Dexter and O’Cyrus Torrence selections.

The first three rounds of the 2023 NFL draft are in the rearview mirror, and so far, three former Florida Gators were taken in the annual amateur election process. First off the board was quarterback Anthony Richardson who was selected on Thursday night by the Indianapolis Colts with the fourth overall pick — highest since Kyle Pitts in 2021 — in the 2023 NFL draft.

On Friday, two more erstwhile members of the Orange and Blue were picked in the late second round. USA TODAY Sports writer Nate Davis took a look at both the second- and third-round results on Saturday morning for his instant analysis. Here is what he had to offer on the first Gator taken on Friday night.

53. Bears (from Baltimore Ravens) – DT [autotag]Gervon Dexter[/autotag]

Reinforcements on the way for a Chicago defense that allowed the most points in the NFL in 2022. At 6-6, 310 pounds (with sub 4.9 speed), Dexter should be a disruptive force if his talents are harnessed.

Here is a look at what Davis thinks about the second Florida alumnus taken off the board.

59. Buffalo Bills – G [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag]

A 6-5, 330-pounder who excels at paving holes in the ground game and should add a nice shot of attitude for this front five.

The NFL draft concludes on Saturday afternoon starting at noon p.m. EDT and can be followed on ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network.

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