Though they were not fortunate enough to be selected in the 2010 NFL Draft, three former Florida Gators players have already signed professional contracts as undrafted free agents.
Kick returner Brandon James was picked up by the Indianapolis Colts, wide receiver David Nelson found a home with the Buffalo Bills and linebacker Ryan Stamper agreed to a deal with the Detroit Lions.
1 » It’s official: Five-star 2010 guard recruit Brandon Knight (Fort Lauderdale, FL) has committed to the Kentucky Wildcats, and four-star 2010 point guard recruit Ray McCallum, Jr. (Detroit, MI) has committed to play for his dad w/ the Detroit Mercy.
2 » On a conference call with reporters Wednesday, NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock expressed concerns about former Florida Gators defensive end Carlos Dunlap‘s position in the 2010 NFL Draft. “In my opinion, he’s got a substantially below average motor,” Mayock said. “He only plays a certain percentage of plays hard. When you’re doing that, you’re going to get dinged pretty badly by the NFL. Carlos Dunlap is a beautiful body with a tremendous physical skill set, but he doesn’t play every play hard. I think he’s going to fall midway to late in the second round, and maybe to the third. He’s definitely got ability, but how much money to you want to pay a guy who doesn’t play hard every play?”
Mayock also said that he expects quarterback Tim Tebow to be a starter in the league within in three years. He has always been one of the talking heads who has supported Tebow the most throughout the process.
3 » Former Gators tight end Aaron Hernandez is meeting with the Detroit Lions today according to a report by the National Football Post. Some are concerned with Hernandez’s personality off the field, something that may have him fall from the second to the third round next week.
4 » In addition to being in the running for three-star point guards Brandon Young (Washington, D.C.) and Chris Denson (Columbus, GA) as well as three-star power forward Will Yeguete (Melbourne, FL), Florida has secured an in-home visit with three-star PF Marcus Thornton (Atlanta, GA), according to The Gainesville Sun.
1 » With the 2010 NFL Draft closing in, former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow is making his final in-house trip today to the Denver Broncos. Coming the same day as the team has traded wide receiver Brandon Marshall to the Miami Dolphins, Tebow’s visit has raised questions about the possibility of Denver packaging some picks to move back into the first round and draft him. The Broncos now have the No. 11, No. 43 and No. 45 overall picks (as well as an extra second-rounder from Miami in 2011) and could very well take Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant early and Tebow later in this year’s first-round. Just food for thought. By the way, Marshall’s No. 15 is now vacant…and their uniforms are orange and blue. Just a thought.
2 » Speaking of Florida quarterbacks, the Palm Beach Post caught up with Montreal Alouettes back-up Chris Leak while he was in town for the 2010 Orange & Blue Debut last weekend. Leak spoke on a variety of subjects but, most importantly, touched on why he was there – to work with redshirt junior John Brantley on the player’s request. “I’m going to be a coach after I’m done playing, which is many, many years away from now,” Leak said. “Me and John have been talking for a while now. He wanted me to come out and watch him, and I just came out here to support him and watch him grow as a quarterback. He did an awesome job [Saturday]. His feet looked great, his decision-making is excellent, he really showed a lot today.”
3 » According to The Florida Times-Union, the Jacksonville Jaguars “have shown some interest” in former Gators wide receiver Riley Cooper, who could be a target for them in the second or third round (should he fall). Cooper would fit in nicely with Jacksonville, which needs a compliment for Mike Sims-Walker.
4 » Former Florida cornerback Lito Sheppard, most recently with the New York Jets after spending most of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, has scheduled a workout with the Detroit Lions for the next two days, according to Pro Football Talk.
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