Most of the preseason NFL draft hype directed at Florida has been aimed at quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag], but it’s defensive lineman [autotag]Gervon Dexter[/autotag] that’s the highest-ranked Gator in ESPN’s Todd McShay’s preseason rankings of the 2023 draft prospects.
Dexter cracked the top 50 with a grade of 80 (out of 100), but he’s still the seventh-ranked defensive tackle in the class. Despite totaling just 2.5 sacks last year, McShay likes his quiet disruptiveness and sees him as a player that could take a huge step forward this season.
“While he needs to be more consistent with his snap anticipation, he does a good job of getting into offensive linemen’s pads with good leverage and then using his strong lower body to walk them back into the quarterback. Against the run, he uses very good leverage to stand linemen up and gain early control. He has long arms and strong hands to control blocks, and his disengage skills continue to improve.”
Richardson is in a four-way tie for the No. 62 spot on the list, unofficially. He’s the second-highest rated Gator at 77, but he could end up getting drafted earlier than Dexter as a top-five quarterback with room to grow. A strong season could move him closer to the Tyler Van Dyke (88) and Will Levis (89) range.
Louisiana offensive line transfer [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag] could be an even hotter commodity come the draft. He’s the No. 2 guard on McShay’s position rankings and could easily take over the No. 1 spot if he leads Florida to a dominant rushing game. Torrence came to UF to prove that he could do it in the SEC, so he’s ready for the challenge.
Linebacker [autotag]Brenton Cox Jr[/autotag]. and safety [autotag]Trey Dean[/autotag] both skipped the draft to come back for an extra year in the Swamp and enter the season with a 70 grade from McShay. Cox has ambitions of breaking the school sack record, and Dean should be a much-needed veteran presence for a relatively young secondary that just lost [autotag]Kaiir Elam[/autotag] to the NFL.
McShay has Cox has the No. 7 outside linebacker in the country and Dean as the No. 8 safety in the class.
Finally, [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag] is the No. 18 receiver on McShay’s board. His 59 grade leaves a lot to be desired, but he could move up significantly if Richardson finds him in the end zone often this season.
The 2021 season marked the first time in seven years that the Florida Gators failed to send five or more players to the NFL via the draft. ESPN believes the team will bounce back to its typical rate of NFL-talent production, but another down year could hurt badly on the recruiting trail.
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