Univ. of Florida Football Program

[SHOWTIME15]

Can someone help me out? I am very happy about the draft. One thing has me worried, however. We all know the Florida football program is very strong at the college level. Nonetheless, there are very few really good players out of Florida in the league right now (Maybe I am wrong about this). I know in the past Florida has produced Jevon Kerse, Emmitt Smith and Lito Sheppard. But is the dearth of really good Florida players in the NFL something to worry about in light of our draft? Thanks.

 

[Pessimistic Pete]

During the BB-era, the following Florida players have been drafted before this year.

Chad Jackson
Guss Scott
Jeremy Mincey

 

[jmt57]

BB's just doing this to keep Fred Taylor happy ... (j/k)

The Gators may not have a lot of NFL Hall of Famers, but they've sent their share of decent players to the NFL over the last few years.

NFL Players who Attended University of Florida - databaseFootball.com

 

[Bertil]

Jack Youngblood...now THERE was a player!

 

[Bledsoe11]

Lets not forget the awesome receiving duo of Reche Caldwell and Jabar Gaffeny got their start at Florida.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Recall that this was only Urban Meyer's 5th season at Florida, and the first year he came in late enough that he did not have a full recruiting class of "his own guys" so this year's graduating seniors are in essence the first group fully recruited, trained, and coached by his staff. Ron Zook was not as good a recruiter or coach, and neither was Spurrier in his later years.

 

[capetide]

You can name just about any major college football program in the country and come up with great NFL players, mediocre talent, and draft busts.

 

[JonVaughnTD]

The past has nothing to do with the present. They are completely different people.

 

[PatsFanInEaglesLand]

Last years draft was the first year that Urban Meyer's Florida players were coming in the NFL.

Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy, not to shabby, IMO.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Last years draft was the first year that Urban Meyer's Florida players were coming in the NFL.

Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy, not to shabby, IMO.

yeah and we targeted percy harvin last year. instead the stupid vikings traded up one slot ahead of us to draft him.

 

[DarrylS]

Not confident you can generalize about a specific college producing an NFL prototype.. these guys look more like coincidence than intent to pick Florida football players....

For example, Spikes is dating Doc Rivers Daughter.. and he vouched for his character...

At best this whole thing is a crapshoot...

 

[Ice Cold Bruschi]

I don't think BB is hung up on the UF program as much as he is on the SEC in general (at least in the 1st 3 rounds)

Off the top of my head Spikes, Cunningham, Hernandez, Mayo, Seymour, Watson, Marquise Hill, Scott, Jarvis Green, Wilhite,

 

[Brady2Welker]

What college they come has little impact on how good they are in the pros. Dedication and hard work, combined with natural talent does that.

LSU won't produce only busts cause of Jamarcus Russel.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

What college they come has little impact on how good they are in the pros. Dedication and hard work, combined with natural talent does that.

LSU won't produce only busts cause of Jamarcus Russel.

i would prefer not to take players who were in spread offenses in college.

 

[Brady2Welker]

i would prefer not to take players who were in spread offenses in college.

So your concern is with Hernandez? I'm concerned with this pick only because I wonder how well our team could change it's offensive schemes to implement a H-back. I think he's definitely an athletic specimen, what's yet to be seen is if he can adjust to a pro offense. I hope to God he can, his skillset alongside of Gronk and other possible wideouts would be very potent.

 

[jeffbiologist]

In the Spurrier era there seemed to be a few constants:
QBs had light arms
WRs never made a pro bowl
DEs always over drafted

As far as Hernandez goes, he may simply be the newest version of David Thomas. We all know he didnt really pan out for us.

 

[BrockSolid]

curious why cunningham was drafted mid 2nd round - he was graded pretty low.

was it a reach by BB?

ESPN (I know I know) graded him quite low.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Can someone help me out? I am very happy about the draft. One thing has me worried, however. We all know the Florida football program is very strong at the college level. Nonetheless, there are very few really good players out of Florida in the league right now (Maybe I am wrong about this). I know in the past Florida has produced Jevon Kerse, Emmitt Smith and Lito Sheppard. But is the dearth of really good Florida players in the NFL something to worry about in light of our draft? Thanks.

All of the guys that you're thinking of were pre-Urban Meyer. Meyer, IMO, prepares his players for the pro game better than any other coach in the NCAA, so I'm psyched that we got a good haul of his players. Rather than looking just at the program's history, which becomes irrelevant everytime the coaching regime changes, look at the coach's track record.