Florida’s draft class a sign of program’s decline – Swamp Things – Gators Blog – Orlando Sentinel

The NFL Draft’s first round on Thursday night will almost certainly come and go without a Florida player being selected. the same thing could happen Friday, when second- and third-round selections are made.

With only two players expected to be drafted this year – RB Chris Rainey and DT Jaye Howard – the Gators’ draft prospects look pretty dim until rounds 4-7 on Saturday.

Since the end of the season, coach Will Muschamp has repeated a familiar refrain that team’s are often best measured in April. after the program has gone 15-11 in the past two years, including 7-6 during Muschamp’s first season, it should come as little surprise then that the draft reflects that decline.

“I’m not asking for anybody to be patient. I’m asking for somebody to be realistic,” Muschamp said last week. “We’ve dipped in talent.”

The Gators aren’t alone. Schools in the state of Florida are expected to be shut out of the first round for the first time since 1980.

But if only two UF players are chosen, it would be only the third time since 1990 that has happened. since Steve Spurrier was hired as coach that year, the Gators have had a total of 115 players drafted for an average of about five per year.

UF had two chosen in 1993 and 2008. six times in that 22-year span, the program had at least eight players chosen.

While Muschamp expressed optimism about the team’s current players and most recent signing class, the second-year coach said, “Again, let’s be realistic on why we’re 15-11 in the last two years.”

So where should UF’s eligible draft prospects expect to be taken? ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. says Rainey is a third- or fourth-round pick while Howard will likely go in the later rounds.

“when you look at Rainey, I think there’s speed and versatility, and he gives you the ability to do some things with him in this game,” Kiper said. “when you get a kid that can move around like Rainey can be moved around in offense and present some real matchup issues with his speed and help you on special teams as well, I think he’s a third, fourth rounder.”

As for Howard, inconsistency throughout his career seems to be holding him back from being chosen in earlier rounds. Kiper said the 6-foot-3, 301-pound DT needs to get a little stronger and coached up on technique and could be taken in the fifth or sixth round.

“we kept waiting for him to really come on,” Kiper said. “He did produce better this year. …. He had some games where he kind of made some things happen.”

Florida’s draft class a sign of program’s decline – Swamp Things – Gators Blog – Orlando Sentinel