TWO BITS: Gators in top five, Nelson’s upside

OGGOA NOTE: » As we mentioned on Twitter earlier, redshrit senior wide receiver Carl Moore has returned to practice. More on this later in our spring practice notes post.

1 » ESPN analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. released his top five players by position today for the 2010 NFL Draft. Among 17 positions, Kiper has a Florida Gators player ranked in the top five in four of them with three listed at the top. Cornerback Joe Haden, center Maurkice Pouncey and tight end Aaron Hernandez are all ranked No. 1, respectively, while Kiper has quarterback Tim Tebow listed fifth below Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen, Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford, Texas’ Colt McCoy and Central Michigan’s Dan LeFevour. Conspicuous by his absence? Defensive end Carlos Dunlap.

2 » Searching for 10 off-the-radar prospects who have a legitimate shot at making an NFL roster and perhaps even be drafted in the later rounds, Sports Illustrated’s Don Banks lists Gators wide receiver David Nelson as his No. 2 overall player.

“He elevated his draft stock at the Gators pro day, running 4.57 in the 40, with a 38-inch vertical leap and a broad jump of 10 feet, four inches. Though Nelson got overshadowed at times among all of Florida’s playmakers, scouts are enamored with his 6-5 height and ability to use his 217 pounds to block and give his quarterback a big target. ‘He’s a tough kid and a competitive kid,’ one NFL scout told me. ‘He’s got rare height and he catches the ball well. He runs good routes and he’s just crafty. He’ll make someone’s team.’”