NFL Combine: Six Gators Receive Invitations

The University of Florida will be well represented at the NFL Combine this year as six former Gators were chosen to participate in the event February 27-March 5 at Lucal Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.   Cornerback Duke Dawson, kicker Eddy Pineiro, defensive tackle Taven Bryan, wide receiver Antonio Callaway, safety Marcell Harris and punter Johnny Townsend are the Gators who will go to the event.

Florida has had 230 players invited to the NFL Combine, which is the most in the SEC.

Duke Dawson- DB

Dawson ended his college career with 48 games played, six interceptions, three interception returns for touchdowns, 23 pass breakups and 82 total tackles. He started in all 11 games.

Dawson totaled 34 tackles, four interceptions, nine pass break-ups and two tackles-for-loss. He tied CJ Henderson for the most interceptions on the team and his four interceptions put him at number 29 on the national rankings and third in the SEC for the most interceptions.

Eddy Pineiro- K

Pineiro is ranked number one in UF history finishing his career with an 88.4% field goal conversion rate. Of his last 30 field goal attempts, he hit 29.  At 94.4 percent, he finished the 2017 season with the best field goal percentage in the nation. Pineiro was named a “First Team All-American by The Athletic, Second Team All-American by SB Nation, Third Team All-American by the AP..

I want to thank @GatorsFB and all the NFL coaches for inviting me and giving me this opportunity to showcase my skills at the NFL combine #NFLCombine2018 pic.twitter.com/eW6lKCgpc8

— Eddy Piñeiro (@EddyPineiro) February 6, 2018

Taven Bryan – DL

After starting all 11 games of the season, Bryan declared for the NFL Draft. He ended the 2017 season with 40 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, and three quarterback-hurries. He tied for the second-most sacks on the team with four and he was an Associated Press Second Team All-SEC honoree.

Antonio Callaway – WR

Callaway was one of nine players suspended for the duration of the 2017 season. He played just two seasons at Florida before declaring for the NFL after last season.  In the 2016 season, Callaway started in 11 games and appeared in 12. Callaway became the first player in school history to score a rushing, receiving, passing, punt return, and kickoff return touchdown in a career after his rushing touchdown against Georgia and a kickoff return touchdown against Missouri.

Marcell Harris – DB

Harris missed the entire 2017 season due to an injury he suffered before fall camp. He declared for the NFL after the season.  In 2016, he had 73 tackles and four tackles-for-loss, one sack, two interceptions, one pass breakup, one quarterback hurry, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Johnny Townsend- P

With 11,090 yards and 240 total punts, Townsend became Florida’s all-time leading punter in program history.

Townsend finished the 2017 season with a total of 3,043 yards on 64 punts,  averaging 47.5 yards. He was picked as a Sports Illustrated All-American and named a Second Team All-American by CBS Sports, AP, Sporting News and SB Nation.

https://twitter.com/johnnytownsend1/status/960961244646858752

Up Next

After the NFL Combine, players will return to Gainesville for the annual Pro Day when scouts can get an up close and personal look at the Gators who were invited to the NFL Combine and those that were not as well.