Charting the Gators: UF Position(s) in NFL Draft

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators have had 360 players selected in all-time professional football allocation drafts, dating to the first in 1938. They’re one of three programs (along with Southern California and Michigan) to have at least one player taken in every draft since 1967. UF has produced 57 all-time first-round picks (all but two since ’67) and twice in the last three drafts have had players taken in the overall top five. 
 

Such won’t be the case when the 2024 NFL Draft commences Thursday night in Detroit. In fact, this draft is expected to feature the fewest UF products selected certainly since 2012, when defensive lineman Jaye Howard (4th round) and running back Chris Rainey (fifth) were third-day picks, and maybe since 1980 when the Gators had just one pick after going 0-10-1. 

Thank goodness for Ricky Pearsall. 

Pearsall, the athletic and gluey-handed wide receiver who caught 98 passes for 1,626 yards and nine touchdowns in his two UF seasons, looks like he may be the lone Florida player drafted over the next three days, which speaks to the talent (of lack thereof) that Coach Billy Napier inherited in 2022 (not unlike those lone two in ’12 was an indication of what Will Muschamp walked into when he took over the “broken” Urban Meyer program). By all accounts, the Gators’ current talent level is on the uptick, but the last weekend in April is a time to spotlight outgoing players with a future in the bigs. 

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Pearsall, a Napier transfer portal acquisition by way of Arizona State, projects nicely as a slot receiver at the next level and is expected to come off the board during Friday’s second or third round. 

Florida has a rich history of sending wideouts to the NFL, with its 44 since the NFL and AFL merged in 1970 the most (albeit barely) at any position, with defensive backs and linebackers a single player behind, respectively. Offensive line checks in fourth and has an outside shot of adding to its all-time total if Kingsley Eguakon (a possible late-round selection) is taken Saturday. 

Here’s a look at Florida players, by position, selected by the pros since the two leagues joined forces 54 years ago.

CHARTING THE GATORS 

Most drafted position players since the NFL-AFL merger of 1970.

Selections	Position	1st-rounders	Highest pick	Best of the bunch
44	Wide receiver	7	Wes Chandler (3rd overall to New Orleans in…