After declaring for the 2023 NFL draft on Friday, Florida linebacker [autotag]Amari Burney[/autotag] committed to playing in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on Jan. 28.
The bowl game will be Burney’s final appearance at the collegiate level, and it gives the soon-to-be-former Gator a chance to be scouted by nearly 200 NFL evaluators, including player personnel staff, general managers and head coaches from all 32 NFL teams. According to the game’s website, players will have a chance to take part in interviews and tape review as well.
This should help Burney get some more exposure to NFL scouts and has a chance to boost his draft stock when all is said and done. Other Gators have accepted offers to play in the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl, so fans unfamiliar with the bowl game should consider this a similar step.
🗣️ UP NEXT @amari_burney
Lit up 2022 with 79 tackles, nine tackles for loss, six passes deflected, four sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Welcome, Amari 🤝
 #NFLPABowl | #Path2Pasadena | #GoGators pic.twitter.com/dnhb7KOI3E— The NFLPA Collegiate Bowl (@NFLPABowl) December 26, 2022
Burney leaves Florida after five years and several position changes. He started off in the secondary and then shifted to the linebacker spot after a few years. He ended up starting 22 games for the Gators during his collegiate career and totaled 223 total tackles, seven sacks, 15 tackles for loss, four interceptions, 16 defended passes and two forced fumbles.
Aside from the on-the-field measurables, Burney emerged as a leader of the team during Billy Napier’s first year in Gainesville and the Gators head coach acknowledged him as such earlier in the year. Getting a chance to meet with scouts and coaches should only help Burney as he goes through the draft process.
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