Look Back At Gators NFL Draft History

With the 2025 NFL Draft set to begin on Thursday at 8 p.m., now is the perfect time to look back at the history of Florida Gators who have heard their names called. The Gators have seen a player drafted in every NFL draft since 1952, and expect that streak to continue this year.

draft week pic.twitter.com/1zjVWp5kO0

— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) April 22, 2025

First-Round Buzz

Florida has seen at least one player drafted in the first round each of the last five years, dating back to 2020. In fact, since 1997 there have only been five years where no Gator was picked in the first-round. This hot streak started with Ike Hilliard and Reidel Anthony both being selected in the first 16 picks. The pair of wide receivers being first round picks used to be a rarity, but has become more common. We have seen it happen twice in the last three years. First it was Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave from Ohio State in 2022, and then Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. from LSU in 2024. The Gators have had six wide receiver’s taken in the first round since 1997, highlighted by Percy Harvin in 2009 and Ricky Pearsall last year.

Three players were taken in the first round from the Gators in both 1989 and 2010. The 1989 class was led by 15-year pro Trace Armstrong. Armstrong played along the defensive line for the Bears, Dolphins, and Raiders during his career. The 2010 class included Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Tim Tebow, five-time Associated Press All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey, and three-time pro bowl defensive back Joe Haden. This year the Gators are not projected to have any first-round picks.

Rookie Success

Since 2021, Florida has seen three players be named to the Pro Football of America Writers All-Rookie teams. The most recent of these was guard O’Cyrus Torrence in 2023. Harvin and Emmitt Smith both took home Offensive Rookie of the Year in their first year out of Gainesville. They were not the only rookies to put up big numbers. Cris Collinsworth went for over 1,000 yards receiving and eight touchdowns as a rookie. Fred Taylor rushed for 1,223 yards at 14 touchdowns in his rookie season.

More recently, Anthony Richardson threw for 577 yards and added four rushing touchdowns in just four games played. The Gators have shown they will perform when they get to the big stage.

The 1998 Fred Taylor Rookie Jaguars Throwback

Drafted in ‘98 out of the University of Florida, Fred Taylor played for the @jaguars for a decade. Taylor would become the franchise’s all-time leading rusher with 11,271 yards.

Respected highly by his teammates and coaching… pic.twitter.com/bh0u6AaQII

— Mitchell & Ness (@mitchell_ness) August 9, 2024

The 2025 Draft

This year’s draft will likely end the streak of Gators being picked in the first round. No Gators are projected to until the fifth round, according to some mock drafts. If this happens, it will be the first time since 1993 that no Florida player was drafted in the first four rounds.

Coverage for draft weekend can be found on NFL Network, ESPN, and ABC. Coverage on Thursday is at 8 p.m., on Friday at 7 p.m., and Saturday at noon.