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Thursday, March 28, 2024
NEWS  |  CAMPUS

Analysts anticipating unusually quiet day for former Gators at NFL Draft

<p>Former Florida running back Chris Rainey hauls in a catch during the Gators’ pro day on March 13. Rainey is projected as high as a third- or fourth-round pick in Thursday’s draft.</p>

Former Florida running back Chris Rainey hauls in a catch during the Gators’ pro day on March 13. Rainey is projected as high as a third- or fourth-round pick in Thursday’s draft.

For the first time since 2006, no Florida players are projected to be picked in the first 32 picks of Thursday’s NFL Draft.

That means no handshakes or hugs with Roger Goodell. No smiles inside Radio City Music Hall. And for Gators coach Will Muschamp, no satisfaction.

After winning 49 games and two national championships from 2006-09, Florida had 23 players selected, including seven in the first round and three in 2010 alone.

“We need to do a better job recruiting, need to do a better job evaluating, need to do a better job developing our players and coaching, that’s the bottom line,” Muschamp said. “We need more guys involved in that, and that self-evaluation sometimes is a hard thing, evaluate where you are as a program. But that’s the facts, and that’s the way it is.”

Coming off a 7-6 season, Florida’s best draft-eligible prospect is do-everything running back Chris Rainey.

After amassing nearly 1,500 all-purpose yards as a fifth-year senior, Rainey is looking to show potential suitors he is multi-dimensional and can help out in the pass game as well as out of the backfield.

He led an anemic Gators offense in receptions last season, hauling in 31 catches for 381 yards, and has put in extra work with Tom Shaw in Orlando in hopes of tailoring his game after New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker or former teammate and current Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin.

Rainey ran a 4.3 40-yard dash at Florida’s pro day on March 13, leading Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Mike Mularkey to say he thought Rainey and Harvin possess similar attributes. Rainey said he felt he impressed onlookers during the workout, saying he wanted to “prove I had hands.”

Still, at 5-foot-8, 180 pounds, Rainey is not likely to be selected in the first two rounds, according to ESPN analyst Mel Kiper.

“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. This is today’s football. Today’s NFL is different,” Kiper said. “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.”

Defensive tackle Jaye Howard is just outside that projection, with most analysts having Howard slotted as a fifth- or sixth-round talent. At 6-foot-3, 301 pounds, Howard faces criticism for his inconsistency and a lack of strength and sound technique. Battling injuries and the depth chart, he struggled to stay on the field until his senior year.

After fighting to dispel the lazy tag that, at times, accompanied him, Howard said he realizes this is his one shot to prove otherwise.

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“You have to look at it like that,” he said. “It’s do or die. You only get one opportunity.”

But for wide receiver Deonte Thompson and quarterback John Brantley, their only chance is likely to come as an undrafted free agent. Thompson ran hand-timed 40-yard dash times of less than 4.3 seconds at UF’s pro day and his speed should attract teams, but anything more than a late-round flier would be surprising.

“I know I didn’t have the numbers some of these guys had, but I know what I can do,” Thompson said “I’m going to play in the league for a long time.”

For Muschamp, that’s the goal: Developing his players to play at the next level. And after taking over a depleted roster in his inaugural season, Muschamp is working to once again have the first round littered with Gators. After all, he said, it’s part of the job.

“That’s why we run the systems we run from a standpoint of offense and defense and special teams,” he said. “When they watch our tape there are no projections, there are no, ‘I wonder if he can do this with our offense or our defense.’ That’s part of the continual 365 days of preparing our players on and off the field for life after the University of Florida.”

Contact Matt Watts at mwatts@alligator.org.

Former Florida running back Chris Rainey hauls in a catch during the Gators’ pro day on March 13. Rainey is projected as high as a third- or fourth-round pick in Thursday’s draft.

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