Tag: Kingsley Eguakun

Two Gators among CBS Sports’ latest mock NFL draft selections

Ricky Pearsall and Kingsley Eguakun are the two lone former Gators on CBS Sports’ NFL draft big board.

The 2024 NFL draft is just around the corner as professional franchises and formerly amateur players alike prepare for the annual selection process. The sports media is also abuzz with prognostications for the marquee event set to take place at the end of April.

The University of Florida’s football program has a long and storied history of placing its former players in the National Football League and that tradition will continue this spring — albeit in a bit of a truncated form from former years. The Gators are expected to have just two of its alumni taken in the seven-round draft but both have the potential to be impact players at the next level.

CBS Sports recently published its latest mock draft that includes all 257 picks, with wide receiver [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] being plucked by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round at No. 51 overall. Interior offensive lineman [autotag]Kingsley Eguakun[/autotag] is expected to follow him in the fifth round at No. 166 to the New York Giants in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers.

The 2024 NFL draft kicks off on Thursday, April 25, at 8 p.m. ET in Detroit, Michigan, at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza. It continues on Friday at 7 p.m. ET, concludes on Saturday starting at noon ET and will be broadcast on the NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes.

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Analyzing Ricky Pearsall’s scouting combine performance

Two former Florida Gators were at the 2024 NFL scouting combine over the weekend, and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall performed very well.

Former Florida wide receiver [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] and center [autotag]Kingsley Eguakun[/autotag] participated in the 2024 NFL draft combine over the weekend, and Pearsall was one of the biggest standouts of the entire event

Pearsall finished with a 40-yard dash time of 4.41 seconds, putting him in a three-way tie for the 21st-best time of all combine participants and a tie for ninth-best among receivers.

His 10-yard split was the fourth-worst of any receiver at 1.57 seconds, which means he’s a player who needs to hit his stride to reach top speed. Pearsall made up for that poor showing with a 42-inch vertical, the third-best number among receivers and sixth-best overall. His broad jump of 10 feet 9 inches is in a three-way tie for the seventh-best figure among receivers.

The former Gator finished second overall in the 3-cone drill with a time of 6.64 seconds. Only Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter beat him (6.62 seconds). He also finished sixth in the 20-yard shuttle with a time of 4.05 seconds.

The only combine event former Florida center Kingsley Eguakun participated in was the bench press. His 26 reps are good for a three-way share of the 12th-best number among offensive linemen. Pearsall’s 17 reps were tied for seventh-best among receivers.

There should be little doubt left among NFL scouts that Pearsall has some of the best feet and change of direction in the draft pool. NextGen Stats ranked him eighth among wide receivers at the 2024 combine. His total score of 77 was 17th among receivers.

NFL.com gives Pearsall a prospect grade of 6.26, which translates to “will eventually be an average starter,” on a scale where 8.0 is “the perfect prospect.”

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Pair of former Gators get NFL scouting combine invitations

These two former Gators will be Florida’s representatives at this year’s NFL scouting combine.

The National Football League officially announced its invitations to this year’s scouting combine on Tuesday, which included a pair of former Florida Gators in offensive lineman [autotag]Kingsley Eguakun[/autotag] and wide receiver [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag].

Eguakun is a five-year veteran of the Gainesville gridiron, having spent a fair portion of time as a Gator at center — most notably in 2021 and 2022 when he was the starter at the position over that stretch. However, he was slowed by a high ankle sprain he sustained midway through preseason camp, limiting the Jacksonville, Florida, product to just four appearances in 2023.

Despite a year of eligibility remaining, he participated in this year’s Senior Day event and is entering the draft.

Pearsall made a mark for himself in Gainesville after transferring from the Arizona State Sun Devils two seasons ago. The prolific pass-catcher hauled in 98 receptions for 1,626 yards and nine touchdowns while also 175 rushing yards and three scores on the ground.

The senior from Chandler, Arizona, snagged 65 catches for 965 yards in 2023 — both career highs — but failed in his quest to break the 1,000-yard barrier. However, his professional stock has risen considerably since his ASU days.

Florida has had a total of 269 players invited to the combine all-time, which ranks second in the SEC since 1987.

A total of 321 prospects will partake in this year’s NFL scouting combine, which is scheduled to begin Feb. 26 and run through March 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Live drills begin on Thursday, Feb. 29 at 3 p.m. ET; coverage will be provided by the NFL Network and NFL+.

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

List of National team offensive linemen at 2024 Senior Bowl

List of National team offensive linemen at 2024 Senior Bowl

As we continue getting a quick look at the Senior Bowl players this year, we now check out the offensive linemen for the National team. With offensive line a major need for the Jets this offseason, this group could be heavily focused on by general manager Joe Douglas and company. A good week in Mobile for these guys will go a long way toward deciding where and when they will ultimately get drafted.

Included in this group is a name already tagged as potential option at No. 10 for the Jets, Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga. He has a chance to really stand out this week and solidify his standing among the top offensive tackles in this class.

Coaching the National team offensive line this year are Chris Cook of the Cardinals and Jim Dray of the Bears.

Vikings 2024 7 round mock draft 1.0: What if they can’t say no to a WR?

What would the Minnesota Vikings do if Malik Nabers was available at 11th overall? The first of many 2024 NFL mock drafts explores that idea

The Minnesota Vikings have a lot of different ways they can go in the NFL draft. There will be some discussion on what needs are most important but the Vikings can address most of them through both free agency and the NFL draft.

Each week throughout the leadup to the NFL draft, I will be doing different seven round mock drafts for the Vikings as a way to explore different scenarios. You never know who might fall to you and how that could cause a ripple effect and being ready for those situations is paramount come draft weekend.

In the first rendition, LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers somehow falls to 11th overall and that could change the way the Vikings address their roster and draft picks.

NFL draft-bound Gators center accepts Senior Bowl invitation

This former Gator is headed to one of the preeminent pre-draft showcases next month.

Former Florida football starting center [autotag]Kingsley Eguakun[/autotag] accepted his invitation to play in the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl, according to a tweet on the event’s official account Monday night.

Eguakun was an important presence on the offensive line this season when he was on the field, helping to anchor a corps that struggled with consistency. However, the redshirt junior was limited to four starts at center while taking 246 total snaps on the O-line, which left the Gators high and dry at times; even when he played, he was usually not at 100%.

In both 2021 and 2022, the 6-foot-3-inch, 300-pound lineman started all 13 games at center, helping Florida build a veritable wall at the line of scrimmage for the offense to operate behind. The 2021 squad finished with a top-16 offense line that only allowed 14 sacks/1.08 per game — tied for the seventh-lowest in FBS and second in the SEC; the 2022 edition was renowned for its quarterback protection.

The Senior Bowl is scheduled for Feb. 3 at the University of South Alabama’s Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. Kickoff time is set for 1 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on the NFL Network.

“The Reese’s Senior Bowl is widely regarded as the preeminent college football all-star game and the first stage in the NFL draft process,” according to the official website. “The longest continual-running all-star game has taken place in Mobile, Alabama the past 74 years. More than 900 NFL personnel, including key decision-makers from all 32 teams, and over 1100 media members from around the country were credentialed this year.

“This past April, the game produced 100 total picks for the third straight year, representing 40% of the entire NFL draft, including 40 selected on the first two days.”

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Florida football’s starting center declares for 2024 NFL draft

Florida Gators center Kingsley Eguakun will take a shot to go pro, and enter the 2024 NFL draft.

Members of the Florida Gators roster are departing one-by-one, whether it be in the transfer portal or a player going to the pros.

Florida center [autotag]Kingsley Eguakun[/autotag] announced on Tuesday that he’s declaring for the 2024 NFL draft, ending his collegiate career as a junior. Eguakun made a statement by posting on X and Instagram, with an interesting caption.

“The comeback is personal, it’s an apology to myself,” Eguakun wrote, with a “rising stock” emoji at the end.

The junior’s post also included his list of “Thank You’s” to all the important figures in his life, and exclaimed that he enjoyed his experience at UF.

“Dear Gator Nation, My time at The University of Florida has been nothing short of amazing,” Egukun said. “Although this season didn’t go as planned I’m blessed to call myself a Gator Alumnus and will cherish the memories I’ve made forever!”

“Gator Nation is second to none and it’s been an honor sporting the orange and blue, I’m forever grateful!,” Eguakun wrote. “Most importantly, I would like to give all glory to God for blessing me with the talent and opportunity to achieve my dreams and bringing me through the ups and downs of life. I would also like to thank everybody throughout my life that has played a role in me getting to this point, especially my family.”

The Gators center thanked both of the head coaches that he learned under, current Florida head coach Billy Napier and former coach Dan Mullen.

“Additionally, I would like to thank both Coach Mullen and his staff for giving me the chance to be a Gator and Coach Napier and his staff for allowing me to continue on my journey! Finally, I would like to give a huge shoutout to all my teammates for sticking together through the adversity we’ve been through! And helping me grow over the years along this journey! With that being said, I will be declaring for the 2024 NFL draft!”

Eguakun isn’t the only one who announced his departure from the Gators roster. Sophomore defensive lineman Keenan Landry and tight end Andrew Savaiinaea announced they will enter the transfer portal during the offseason.

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Shrine Bowl announces some exciting early commitments

The East-West Shrine Bowl has announced some intriguing 2024 NFL draft prospect commitments for the classic all-star game

The first few commitments for the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl are starting to get out. The postseason all-star game is attracting some exciting prospects to the week of practices and the Shrine Bowl game, which has moved to the Dallas Cowboys training complex in Frisco, Texas for the first time.

One of my personal favorites is Boston College IOL Christian Mahogany. The intense competitor is one of the best on-the-move blockers in the draft class. Mahogany is in the Wyatt Teller mold of physical guard and could be a late Day 2 pick. He’s currently my No. 63 overall player.

One of the top candidates for the fastest player in the draft has also committed. TCU safety Mark Perry, a former Pac-12 100m sprint champion at Colorado while also playing football, can absolutely fly to the point of attack. Perry is a productive tackler who aggressively attacks the run and short passes, and is generally regarded as a late-round prospect at this point.

Looking for a Day 3 sleeper at center? Kingsley Eguakun from Florida is a good one. Eguakun has NFL-ready skills in the pivot, but he’s been out of the scouting spotlight because he missed most of 2023 with an injury. He’s ready to roll in the Shrine Bowl and could be one of the biggest risers of the practice week.

Finally, South Dakota State RB Isaiah Davis figures to be one of the top FCS-level prospects in the draft. I haven’t seen Davis yet in 2023, but he made quite an impression in the 2022 FCS playoffs with his ability to run through tackles and balance after contact. At 220 pounds, Davis is a load to try and tackle in space and he’s shown he can catch the ball out of the backfield, too.

Florida updates depth chart ahead of Georgia, Eguakun set to return

Here’s a look at who is available for this weekend’s big game.

The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party is set to take place Saturday afternoon and the Florida Gators released their Week 9 depth chart.

The Gators are going to need all hands on deck as they challenge the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs. Even without its main source of offensive production, tight end Brock Bowers, UGA can still inflict a beatdown on whoever comes across their path.

Florida will have a few returning pieces to the lineup, including a vital part of the offensive line, center [autotag]Kingsley Eguakun[/autotag]. The redshirt junior will snap the ball after recovering from a lingering ankle injury this fall.

UF head coach Billy Napier said it’s been hard to manage Eguakun’s snaps after sustaining an injury back on Oct. 11. The center has been ruled out five times in the past seven games.

“Kingsley, man, this is the hard thing about injuries, man,” Napier said. “It’s one of the tougher things that you experience as a player or coach, especially in the back end of your career.”

Wide receiver Andy Jean will return to the lineup after missing out on the Gators’ road win over the South Carolina Gamecocks on Oct. 14. The freshman was out with a lower-body injury but will resume his position as the No. 3 wideout behind senior Ricky Pearsall and redshirt sophomore Taylor Spierto.

On the opposite spectrum of the injury report, sophomore wide receiver Caleb Douglas is still listed as “out” with a lower-body injury.  Douglas has been injured since Sept. 30 with Kentucky. Fellow wideout Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman joins the injury list with an “out” label, no thanks to a lower-body injury.

Florida tight end Jonathan Odom is listed as “out” on the depth chart with an upper-body injury. Freshman tight end Arlis Boardingham will continue to lead the tight end room on Saturday.

The showdown between the Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs is set to kick off at 3:30 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports.

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Billy Napier provides status updates on two key Florida linemen

The Florida Gators were missing a good chunk of their offensive line against Charlotte, but the unit could be back at 100% for Kentucky.

Florida spent the first half of Saturday’s game against Charlotte without three of its starting offensive linemen.

Right tackle Damieon George Jr. and right guard Micah Mazzccua were suspended for the first half of the game after getting too rough with the Tennessee players after a late hit a week ago. George came back in to play the second half alongside tight end Dante Zanders, also suspended for the brawl, but Mazzccua sat the entire game.

Napier explained on Saturday that it was a little bit of “in-house discipline,” and confirmed that Mazzccua would be back on Saturday.

The biggest question mark is still the man in the middle, though. Center Kingsley Eguakun sat against Charlotte to rest an ankle injury he suffered during fall camp. Eguakun played against Tennessee after missing the first two games of the year, and he’s expected to participate in practices for the rest of the week.

Still, Napier isn’t speaking as if it’s a certainty that Eguakun plays on Saturday.

“I think it’s to be determined,” Napier said Monday. “I think that he’s made progress. We anticipate him practicing tomorrow. I’ll be able to let you know Wednesday.”

If Eguakun can’t go, Jake Slaughter should start in his place at center once again.

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.