The Florida Gators may not have a proverbial dog in the race when it comes to the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft on Thursday but a handful of former Florida players still hope to see their childhood dreams come true this weekend.

As fans of the 32 NFL teams look on nationwide, those supporting the Gators may not be as excited about the event this time around considering there will be yet another a significant drop-off from the nation-leading nine players that were selected in 2010 (including a school-record three in the first round and six in the first two rounds). In fact, Florida is not expected to have a first-round pick for the first time since the 2006 draft when Chad Jackson was an early second-round selection by New England.

Few things are certain when it comes to the NFL Draft – trades can occur at any moment and each team views its most pressing needs and what each player brings to the table differently than analysts do. Rather than try to predict the unknown variables and tell you what could happen, we will stick with what likely will happen Thursday-Sunday.

» Cornerback Janoris Jenkins will be the only player with (close) ties to Florida to be selected in the first two rounds – probably in the latter part of round one.

Unless a team falls in love with running back Chris Rainey’s potential, Jenkins is the only name Gators fans can hope to hear on Thursday or early Friday. He has early first-round potential but what many teams apparently consider undraftable off-the-field character concerns. Reports coming out this week state that some teams have removed Jenkins from their draft boards entirely while others recognize that his talent may be too good to pass up. Many analysts even believe he has a higher upside than LSU’s Morris Claiborne, who is expected to be the first cornerback selected (somewhere in the top 10) on Thursday. With such a rush of anti-Jenkins reports, it appears as if a number of teams are trying to create a major smokescreen in the hopes that he falls to them late in the first round. Marijuana arrests and multiple children out of wedlock may matter to some front office executives, but they are not considered to be on the same level with felony arrests, for example. It is likely that someone takes a chance on Jenkins Thursday and does not let him slip into the second round where he would be an absolute steal.

Continue Reading » Florida Gators 2012 NFL Draft viewer’s guide

Tags: Chris Rainey, combine, Dan Wenger, Deonte Thompson, Dorian Munroe, Draft, Janoris Jenkins, Jaye Howard, John Brantley, Moses Jenkins, NFL, Will Muschamp, William Green

1 » The four-seed Florida Gators (22-9, 10-6 SEC) learned Thursday that they will take on the five-seed Alabama Crimson Tide (21-10, 10-7 SEC) in the second round of the 2012 Southeastern Conference Tournament on Friday at 3:30 p.m. The game, which will air live nationally on SEC Network, is the second meeting between the two teams this season. Alabama beat South Carolina 63-57 on Thursday, giving head coach Anthony Grant his second opportunity to defeat his former boss – Florida head coach Billy Donovan – this season. Donovan is 3-0 against Grant since the latter coach took over the Crimson Tide program. More information on this game will be available in Friday’s Gameday Preview here on OGGOA.

2 » Speaking with ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr. on Thursday, OGGOA was told by the NFL Draft analyst that he believes Florida Gators running back Chris Rainey raised his stock at the 2012 NFL Combine. Previously projected to be selected in the third or fourth round, Rainey may go a full round higher now, according to Kiper. “Rainey is an all-purpose guy. He’s got the big-play potential; you can utilize him in a lot of different ways,” he said. “I think he could be in that second- or third-round discussion because of the weapon he could be.” Kiper also discussed with OGGOA the future of former Florida cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who was dismissed from the team over the summer and spent the 2012 season with North Alabama.

Click to expand and read the rest of the BITS in this post.

Tags: Alabama Crimson Tide, Anthony Grant, Bill Belichick, Billy Donovan, Chris Rainey, combine, Draft, Janoris Jenkins, NFL

1 » Former Florida Gators quarterback Danny Wuerffel has been added to the ballot for induction as part of the 2012 class for the College Football Hall of Fame. Wuerffel is one of 76 players on the candidate list, which also includes eight former coaches. Should he be nominated for induction, he would be the seventh Florida player and 10th representative of the Gators (three coaches) to be placed in the hall of fame. The National Football Foundation will announce the 2012 class on May 15 and induct it at an awards dinner on Dec. 4, 2012.

2 » Speaking at the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine last Friday, Denver Broncos executive vice president of football operations John Elway had some positive comments to throw the way of Tim Tebow, who will enter the team’s training camp as the starting quarterback. “Hopefully, he can be the franchise guy for a long time, but those are things we don’t know at this time,” Elway said, according to NFL.com. “He made tremendous strides last year, and that’s without an offseason. He’s our starter going into training camp, and we have great expectations for him.” Denver will bring in two more quarterbacks to compete with Tebow but how they acquire them should give some insight into their thoughts on Tebow. If the Broncos draft a signal caller high or sign a high-profile free agent like Matt Flynn, it could be an indication they have not bought in, whereas should they sign a lower-tier free agent and draft a quarterback in the later rounds, it could speak to the opposite. Elway is confident in Tebow’s intangibles but plans to work with him on his footwork and ability to read coverages in the offseason.

Click to expand and read four more BITS in this post.

Tags: 6th Woman of the Year, ALC, All-SEC, Ashley Bruns, Chris Rainey, College Football Hall of Fame, combine, Danny Wuerffel, Deana Allen, Denver Broncos, Gabi Wiegand, Georgia Gym Dogs, Gymnast of the Week, gymnastics, Hall of Fame, Jennifer George, John Elway, Kitty Cullen, Kytra Hunter, lacrosse, Marissa King, NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers, Player of the Week, SEC, Stephen C. O'Connell Center, Tennessee Lady Vols, Tim Tebow, women's basketball

ONLY GATORS Get Out Alive continues our coverage of the three former Florida Gators players participating in the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine (National Invitational Camp) at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN.

Former Florida Gators cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who was dismissed from the team and spent the 2011 season with North Alabama, had already been weighed and measured, completed exams, met with the media, been interviewed by teams and undergone psychological tests before he completed his full workout on Tuesday afternoon. Below are the results of how Jenkins measured in and performed during his four days at the NFL Combine.

Cornerback Janoris Jenkins (Group 10, DB27)
Height: 5’10″
Weight: 193 lbs.
Arm Length: 32 in.
Hand Size: 8 1/4 in.

40-Yard Dash: 4.46 seconds (Video)
Broad Jump: 121.0 inches
Vertical Jump: 33.5 inches
Bench Press: DNP

Overview: A prototypical cornerback at the next level with immense ability and athleticism, Jenkins may very well have been a first-round pick in 2011 if a shoulder injury did not play a part in him returning to school. After being dismissed from Florida for multiple arrests for possession of marijuana, Jenkins found himself at North Alabama where he had a solid year against a lower level of competition. Character concerns and integrity issues will be the main problems Jenkins has to overcome but all the positives he brings to the table could wind up outweighing those deterrents in the long run. In addition to being a solid cover corner, Jenkins has also shown an aptitude for returning kickoffs and punts, which may given him additional value in some teams’ eyes. His speed and quickness, fluid hips, coverage skills and strength at the line of scrimmage allow him to cover in both man-to-man and zone defensive schemes.
Strengths: Coverage, athleticism, speed/quickness, fluidity, hips
Weaknesses: Character concerns, off-field issues, size

Click to expand and read the remainder of this post.

Tags: Chris Rainey, combine, Draft, Janoris Jenkins, Jaye Howard, NFL

ONLY GATORS Get Out Alive continues our coverage of the three former Florida Gators players participating in the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine (National Invitational Camp) at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN.

Florida Gators defensive tackle Jaye Howard had already been weighed and measured, completed exams, met with the media, been interviewed by teams and undergone psychological tests before he completed his full workout on Monday afternoon. Below are the results of how Rainey measured in and performed during his four days at the NFL Combine.

Defensive tackle Jaye Howard (Group 07, DL22)
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 301 lbs.
Arm Length: 33 in.
Hand Size: 9 7/8 in.

40-Yard Dash: 4.82 seconds (No. 12 time of any DL)
Broad Jump: 106.0 inches
Vertical Jump: 27.5 inches
Bench Press: 24 reps (of 225 lbs.)

Overview: With plenty of size, strength and off-the-ball quickness, Howard can impact the game at defensive tackle and proved during his senior season that he can perform well while on the field for the majority of downs. He did his best to erase concerns raised during his junior season in which he disappeared at times in games, showing that he is a durable and affecting player who can make a difference when he’s on the field. Howard became a trustworthy veteran for a team in need of leadership, but his perceived inconsistency will be something teams focus on throughout the evaluation process.
Strengths: Size, strength, durability, tackling
Weaknesses: Inconsistency, effort, blocking

Former Florida cornerback Janoris Jenkins (Group 10, DB27) will participate in NFL Combine workouts on Tuesday, while Gators running back Chris Rainey (Group 06, RB24) completed his on Sunday with some great times.

The event, which is held for six days from Feb. 22-28, consists of more than 300 players being put through a series of drills, tests and interviews while more than 600 NFL personnel in attendance (including coaching staffs, executives, player personnel and medical staffs) look on and evaluate each of them. It amounts to the final job interview these athletes will participate in before the 2012 NFL Draft commences on April 26.

Tags: Chris Rainey, combine, Draft, Janoris Jenkins, Jaye Howard, NFL

ONLY GATORS Get Out Alive continues our coverage of the three former Florida Gators players participating in the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine (National Invitational Camp) at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN.

Florida Gators running back Chris Rainey had already been weighed and measured, completed exams, met with the media, been interviewed by teams and undergone psychological tests before he completed his full workout on Sunday afternoon. Below are the results of how Rainey measured in and performed during his four days at the NFL Combine.

Running back Chris Rainey (Group 06, RB24)
Height: 5’8″
Weight: 180 lbs.
Arm Length: 30 3/4 in.
Hand Size: 9 1/2 in.

40-Yard Dash: 4.45 seconds (No. 2 time)
20-Yard Shuttle: 3.93 seconds (No. 1 time)
60-Yard Shuttle: 11.06 seconds (No. 1 time)
3-Cone Drill: 6.50 seconds (No. 1 time)
Broad Jump: 120.0 inches
Vertical Jump: 36.5 inches
Bench Press: 16 reps (of 225 lbs.)

UPDATE: Rainey’s times in the shuttles and three-cone drill are the fastest of any player who has participated in this year’s combine through Monday.

Overview: With speed and quickness rivaling or topping every other running back in the 2012 draft class, Rainey is agile and electric on the field, making him an intriguing prospect as a rusher, wide receiver or kickoff and punt returner. He is powerful for a player his size with track-like speed and top-notch elusiveness. However, he is not a polished blocker and is much more effective outside the tackles where he can make plays in space as opposed to between the tackles where he is forced to draw contact.
Strengths: Speed, quickness, agility, experience
Weaknesses: Size, blocking, next-level durability

Quote: “I’m going for the 4.1. I’m going for the big one.” – Rainey on trying to break the combine 40-yard dash record

Florida defensive tackle Jaye Howard (Group 07, DL22) and former Gators cornerback Janoris Jenkins (Group 10, DB27) will participate in NFL Combine workouts on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.

The event, which is held for six days from Feb. 22-28, consists of more than 300 players being put through a series of drills, tests and interviews while more than 600 NFL personnel in attendance (including coaching staffs, executives, player personnel and medical staffs) look on and evaluate each of them. It amounts to the final job interview these athletes will participate in before the 2012 NFL Draft commences on April 26.

Tags: Chris Rainey, combine, Draft, Janoris Jenkins, Jaye Howard, NFL

1 » Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp is set to make 10 appearances at local Gator Clubs (nine in the state of Florida and one in Atlanta, GA) as part of the team’s six-week 2012 Gator Gathering schedule. The events are open to the general public; however, tickets are sold for each speaking engagement with proceeds benefiting the individual Gator Clubs and the university. You can check out the entire schedule here.

2 » The Gators opened up the Griffin-Oakley Strength & Conditioning Complex to the media on Thursday making new director of strength and conditioning Jeff Dillman as well as a few Florida players available for interviews and to talk about how training is going heading into the 2012 season. UF released a video recap of the event, which you can view below, through their GatorVision.tv service.

ESPN explained his philosophy further:

Dillman described Olympic-style lifting as weighted plyometrics — essentially exercises with fast, powerful movements while lifting weights. It’s designed to provide a total-body workout and a cardiovascular workout in a short period of time. It includes numerous variations based on three main lifts: the power clean, the snatch and the split jerk.

Because Olympic weightlifting movements are done quickly with heavier weight, and require significant coordination and muscle control, they can help athletes with such quick movements as sprinting, jumping or firing off the line of scrimmage. They also develop a strong core, better conditioning, and better balance.

Click to expand and read two more BITS in this post.

Tags: Billy Donovan, Brady Quinn, combine, Denver Broncos, Gator Gathering, Jeff Dillman, John Fox, NFL, Tim Tebow, Will Muschamp

OGGOA has learned that three former Florida Gators players have been officially invited to participate in the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine (National Invitational Camp) at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN.

The event, which is held for six days from Feb. 22-28, consists of more than 300 players being put through a series of drills, tests and interviews while more than 600 NFL personnel in attendance (including coaching staffs, executives, player personnel and medical staffs) look on and evaluate each of them. It amounts to the final job interview these athletes will participate in before the 2012 NFL Draft commences on April 26.

The three former Gators student-athletes invited to the combine include:

Running back Jeff Demps – Group: 6; Camp: RB06
Defensive tackle Jaye Howard – Group: 7; Camp: DL22
Running back Chris Rainey – Group: 6; Camp: RB24

Former Florida cornerback Janoris Jenkins (Group: TBD; Camp: DB27) was also invited and is expected to participate in the event.

Demps, on the other hand, is unlikely to take part in the combine as he has decided to run track for the Gators and attempt to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.

The two notable names left off the invite list are those of quarterback John Brantley and wide receiver Deonte Thompson. Other draft-eligible Florida players include center/guard Dan Wenger and defensive end William Green.

Read about each player’s day-to-day schedule in Indianapolis after the jump!
Continue Reading » Three Gators invited to 2012 NFL Combine

Tags: Chris Rainey, combine, Deonte Thompson, Draft, Janoris Jenkins, Jaye Howard, Jeff Demps, John Brantley, Lucas Oil Stadium, NFL, Olympics