Last Thursday, former Gators had the opportunity to compete in front of NFL scouts. The Florida Gators held their annual pro day, with 20 prospects participating in the event. For many, this will be their last chance to show their skills before the Draft. Despite not having any top prospects, the Gators do have a deep draft class. In the later rounds, it is much easier to boost your draft stock after a workout. These prospects have the chance to live out their dreams, and it is all in their hands. Only nine of those 20 Gators received invitations to the NFL Combine. So, for the other 11, this is their only chance to prove themselves live and in person. As the workouts concluded, there were certainly some storylines to follow, including some Gators players who boosted their stock.
Gators Pro Day Takeaways
Under the Radar Prospects
As mentioned in the previous article, Trikweze Bridges was a player many expected to be invited to the combine. The former Oregon Duck served as a veteran presence for this upstart Gators defense. Forcing two fumbles and intercepting two passes showed his ability to affect the game. After an up-and-down debut in the SEC, he showed that he can compete with the best. One of the leaders of this defense, he is an experienced veteran. Spending five years at the collegiate level, he brings the dependability that NFL franchises desire. During the Pro Day, Bridges did well, boosting his draft stock and showing why he should have been invited to the combine. Running smoothly in drills, he ran a blistering 4.38 40-yard dash. Already a talented player, his 40 time alone should see him drafted in the later rounds.
Another player to keep an eye on is Joey Slackman. The former Penn defensive lineman did not have the SEC debut that many had hoped for. Struggling with injuries, he only participated in five games. In these games, he was mostly a nonfactor, finishing his senior season with five total tackles. Despite the poor production, there was a reason why he dominated at the Ivy League level. A physical specimen, he is doing everything he can to make it to the next level. Surprising to many Gators fans, in an attempt to boost his draft stock, he also participated in offensive line drills. Slackman mainly focuses on the interior offensive line, attempting to show his versatility. Unfortunately, the odds of Slackman being drafted are not very high. However, if he continues to show scouts his positional versatility, then he could certainly make an NFL roster.
Can’t Miss Defender
Perhaps the talk of the town during the Gators Pro Day was defensive lineman Desmond Watson. A mammoth of a man, he has become a fan favorite over the years. Weighing in at 464 pounds, the 6-6 defender has struggled with his conditioning. Often unable to stay on the field for more than a few plays, he did not quiet any doubters with his weight. Fortunately, he found another way to boost his draft stock at the Gators Pro Day. He recorded a whopping 36 bench press reps during the strength training. This would have been the most at the NFL Combine and is indicative of his pure strength. Running a sub-six-second 40-yard dash was also an impressive feat. Overall, Watson compiled an impressive workout despite weighing even more than previously documented.
40-yard dashes
Of the 20 competing prospects, 10 former Gators ran the 40-yard dash in hopes of boosting their draft stock. As previously reported, Bridges led all runners with a blistering 4.38 time. Not far behind him was Jason Marshall Jr., who ran in the low 4.4s. Marshall had little to prove, as he already aced his workout at the NFL Combine. Despite scouts raving about the strength of these Gators athletes, some of their 40s left a lot to be desired. Former running back Cam Carroll logged in a 4.95, painfully slow for his position. Receivers Ja’Markis Weston and Ja’Quavion Fraziars also ran slow for their position, with both logging unofficial 4.59s. Fortunately, converted linebacker RJ Moten showed off his speed with a 4.48. The 40-yard dash can make or break a player’s draft grade, and some Gators may find out the hard way.
Final Thoughts
The Gators Pro Day was a unique experience and allowed scouts an up close and personal view. Many Gators have already competed at the combine and thus decided to limit their positional drills. There is no doubt that the two names most mentioned were Bridges and Watson. Bridges did wonders for his draft stock with his 40, proving that he may indeed have been a Combine snub. Watson turned heads for the wrong reason when he got off the scale. However, his actual workout left many pleasantly surprised. With quarterback Graham Mertz also getting some throws in again, this was a great experience for all. These former Gators will be hoping that they left one last good impression on scouts before the NFL Draft in April.
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