...the 2014 team had plenty of talent. Too bad a large portion of it went to the NFL.
"One of the more plausible theories for Florida's disappointing 2014 football season is that the Gators simply lacked overall talent.
It makes sense. It seems like as good an explanation as any for why the Gators struggled so much on offense, why they barely won more games than they lost, why they were unable to save Will Muschamp's job.
But the NFL draft has inflicted severe damage to the lack-of-talent theory. Actually, it blew it up.
Over the three days, the Gators had eight players drafted, including two in the first round and two in the third. The total number is uncommonly high for a team that experienced the kind of season Florida did in 2014.
To put it in perspective, the 2009 Tim Tebow team, considered one of the most talented in school history, produced just one more draft pick (nine) than this one that got its coach fired.
The Florida draft record is 10, set in 1978, but there were five more rounds at that time.
Six of the Gators drafted were on offense, considered the biggest problem area on last season's team.
After defensive end/outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. and offensive tackle D.J. Humphries were taken in the first round Thursday, and offensive tackle Chaz Green and tailback Matt Jones were selected in the third Friday, four more Gators were drafted Saturday.
Center Max Garcia was selected in the fourth round by Denver, linebacker Neiron Ball in the fifth by Oakland, wide receiver Andre Debose in the seventh by the Raiders and Trenton Brown in the seventh by San Francisco.
The first Gator off the board Saturday was Garcia, who was selected in the fourth round by the Broncos with the 133rd overall pick.
Garcia, a transfer from Maryland, started 12 games at left guard and center as a junior in 2013. He made the move to center last spring and started every game at his new position, grading out consistently high.
Garcia said he feels comfortable with the Broncos' blocking scheme, which is similar to what he played in at UF.
“I think I'm a great fit for the Broncos for what they do as far as zone blocking," he said. "I feel like I can get up to that second level in combinations with the center and guard."
Garcia said he's not certain which position he'll play at the next level — guard or center.
“I'm listed as a center/guard, so I can be anywhere between the two," he said. "That's where I'm going to play at, wherever they want me, it doesn't matter."
Garcia's versatility and strong work ethic give him a chance to be a player at the next level. He said his experience at the Senior Bowl also has been invaluable.
"It made me realize that sometimes that you're not as good as you think you are, or that there are players out there that are extremely talented," Garcia said. "I kind of got that realization when I was out there.
"It increased my work ethic and gave me things I needed to work on after the Senior Bowl. I did do a good job out there. I left as the best center out there at the Senior Bowl. It was just a great opportunity to go against that type of competition."
While Garcia was projected by most to be drafted somewhere in the first five rounds, there was some doubt whether Ball would even get drafted. But that uncertainty ended when the Raiders selected him in the fifth round.
“Man, it means a lot. It's definitely a dream come true, and man, I just feel like I'm just so blessed,” Ball said. “I can't really explain the feeling that I'm going through right now.”
Ball missed the last three games of his senior season with a knee injury that required surgery. He said he's 100 percent recovered. He participated in UF's Pro Day three weeks ago and impressed scouts with his combination of size, speed and versatility. He also was an excellent special teams player for the Gators.
Ball said he's not sure where he'll be lining up when he arrives in Oakland.
“I'm trying to fit in wherever the coaches need me and whatever puts us in the best situations to win football games,” he said. “But I feel like I'm best at planting the ball, covering and pass rushing.”
Debose was drafted by the Raiders two rounds later despite the fact he had zero catches this past season. He'll have a chance to earn a roster spot on special teams. He returned a school-record four kickoffs for touchdowns during his UF career.
"Special teams is definitely my way of getting my foot in the door,” Debose said. “That's what I'm going to get thrown into. I'm perfectly fine with that, but I am also looking forward to showing what I can do as a receiver.”
"One of the more plausible theories for Florida's disappointing 2014 football season is that the Gators simply lacked overall talent.
It makes sense. It seems like as good an explanation as any for why the Gators struggled so much on offense, why they barely won more games than they lost, why they were unable to save Will Muschamp's job.
But the NFL draft has inflicted severe damage to the lack-of-talent theory. Actually, it blew it up.
Over the three days, the Gators had eight players drafted, including two in the first round and two in the third. The total number is uncommonly high for a team that experienced the kind of season Florida did in 2014.
To put it in perspective, the 2009 Tim Tebow team, considered one of the most talented in school history, produced just one more draft pick (nine) than this one that got its coach fired.
The Florida draft record is 10, set in 1978, but there were five more rounds at that time.
Six of the Gators drafted were on offense, considered the biggest problem area on last season's team.
After defensive end/outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. and offensive tackle D.J. Humphries were taken in the first round Thursday, and offensive tackle Chaz Green and tailback Matt Jones were selected in the third Friday, four more Gators were drafted Saturday.
Center Max Garcia was selected in the fourth round by Denver, linebacker Neiron Ball in the fifth by Oakland, wide receiver Andre Debose in the seventh by the Raiders and Trenton Brown in the seventh by San Francisco.
The first Gator off the board Saturday was Garcia, who was selected in the fourth round by the Broncos with the 133rd overall pick.
Garcia, a transfer from Maryland, started 12 games at left guard and center as a junior in 2013. He made the move to center last spring and started every game at his new position, grading out consistently high.
Garcia said he feels comfortable with the Broncos' blocking scheme, which is similar to what he played in at UF.
“I think I'm a great fit for the Broncos for what they do as far as zone blocking," he said. "I feel like I can get up to that second level in combinations with the center and guard."
Garcia said he's not certain which position he'll play at the next level — guard or center.
“I'm listed as a center/guard, so I can be anywhere between the two," he said. "That's where I'm going to play at, wherever they want me, it doesn't matter."
Garcia's versatility and strong work ethic give him a chance to be a player at the next level. He said his experience at the Senior Bowl also has been invaluable.
"It made me realize that sometimes that you're not as good as you think you are, or that there are players out there that are extremely talented," Garcia said. "I kind of got that realization when I was out there.
"It increased my work ethic and gave me things I needed to work on after the Senior Bowl. I did do a good job out there. I left as the best center out there at the Senior Bowl. It was just a great opportunity to go against that type of competition."
While Garcia was projected by most to be drafted somewhere in the first five rounds, there was some doubt whether Ball would even get drafted. But that uncertainty ended when the Raiders selected him in the fifth round.
“Man, it means a lot. It's definitely a dream come true, and man, I just feel like I'm just so blessed,” Ball said. “I can't really explain the feeling that I'm going through right now.”
Ball missed the last three games of his senior season with a knee injury that required surgery. He said he's 100 percent recovered. He participated in UF's Pro Day three weeks ago and impressed scouts with his combination of size, speed and versatility. He also was an excellent special teams player for the Gators.
Ball said he's not sure where he'll be lining up when he arrives in Oakland.
“I'm trying to fit in wherever the coaches need me and whatever puts us in the best situations to win football games,” he said. “But I feel like I'm best at planting the ball, covering and pass rushing.”
Debose was drafted by the Raiders two rounds later despite the fact he had zero catches this past season. He'll have a chance to earn a roster spot on special teams. He returned a school-record four kickoffs for touchdowns during his UF career.
"Special teams is definitely my way of getting my foot in the door,” Debose said. “That's what I'm going to get thrown into. I'm perfectly fine with that, but I am also looking forward to showing what I can do as a receiver.”
