Florida TE Kyle Pitts declares for NFL Draft after all-time season, Gators star will skip bowl game

Football

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Image Credit: GatorsFB / Twitter

Florida Gators star tight end Kyle Pitts announced Sunday that he will forego his senior season and declare for the 2021 NFL Draft. Pitts, who broke out during his junior year, will go down as one of the greatest players in program history.

“I have many great memories during my three years at Florida, and I will continue to make Gator Nation proud throughout my career. I will forever miss running out of the tunnel on Saturdays with my brothers i front of 90,000 fans. I know it is time for me to move on to the next chapter of my life,” Pitts wrote after thanking the fans, coaching staff and university.

“After much prayer and consideration and speaking with my family, I will forego my senior season and enter the 2021 NFL Draft and will not be playing in the bowl game. I am eager to pursue my dreams of playing in the NFL, but I will always be a Gator.”

PItts this season caught 43 passes for 770 yards and a program-record 12 touchdowns (for a tight end) in just eight games after missing three due to injury. He had four touchdowns in Florida’s season opener against Ole Miss and three more against Kentucky. Pitts topped 80 yards or scored at least one touchdown in all eight games he played.

He also had a stellar sophomore season with 649 yards and five touchdowns, and he’ll finish his college career with 100 catches for 1,492 yards and 18 scores.

Pitts is a consensus first-round prospect in the NFL Draft and has a great chance of being a top 10 pick.

He could be the highest-drafted Florida player since 2015 (Dante Fowler, No. 3 overall) and highest-drafted Gators playmaker since 2001 (Travis Taylor, No. 10) or 1997 (Ike Hilliard, No. 7). Pitts will undoubtedly be the highest-drafted tight end in program history.