There are some potential headline-making Florida NFL Draft prospects in 2023, including three players potentially set to be selected inside the top 50 picks. Let’s examine the Florida scouting reports for the 2023 NFL Draft, including a potential top-10 selection.
Florida 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
Amari Burney, LB
Strengths: Athletic linebacker who flashes ability and is coming off a career season. Plays to his 40 time if not faster, gets depth on pass drops, and stays downfield with speedy tight ends. Resilient, breaks down well, and uses his hands to protect himself. Moves well laterally, is effective in pursuit, and gives effort defending the run. Uses his hands to protect himself and stays with the action.
Weaknesses: Gets caught up in the trash or easily blocked from the action. Needs a free shot to the play. Average production in coverage until last season.
Overall: Burney is a quick pursuit linebacker who really put it together as a senior. He went from draft nonentity to someone who will be signed as a priority free agent and invited to camp. Burney is more of a one-gap defender who plays with a special-teams mentality.
Anthony Richardson, QB
Strengths: Athletically gifted quarterback with tremendous upside, yet an equal amount of downside risk. Patient in the pocket, senses pressure, and steps up to avoid the rush. Quickly gets rid of the ball, puts speed on throws, and drives deep passes down the field. Possesses a big arm, shows the ability to make a lot of difficult throws, and changes his angle of release to get rid of the ball.
Easily rolls outside the pocket and keeps his eyes downfield on the move. Incredibly creative running with the ball and eludes defenders to pick up positive yardage when it seems he’s caught in the backfield. Can beat defenders into the open field then run to daylight carrying the ball.
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Weaknesses: Streaky. Late delivering passes, which gives defensive backs an opportunity to break to the throw. Misses wide-open receivers. Can be all over the place with throws and must improve his accuracy. Willingly puts the ball up for grabs in double or even triple coverage.
Overall: Richardson is a QB prospect who draws a wide variety of opinions in the scouting community. He’s an incredible athlete who delivers some amazing passes at times and does a great job leading the offense. Yet, all too often, he’s missing wide-open receivers or forcing passes into coverage.
Richardson is far from being NFL-ready and needs a lot of work on his game from start to finish. Any team that drafts him and patiently allows him to sit on the sidelines as they develop his game could come away with a terrific starting QB. However, if a franchise throws him into the fire early in his next-level career, Richardson could end up the bust many of us fear he will be.
Want more information on Richardson? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Brenton Cox Jr., EDGE
Strengths: Large, physical pass rusher who can stand over tackle or come out of a three-point stance. Plays with a nasty attitude, fires upfield, and bends off the edge rushing the passer. Plays with terrific pad level, effectively uses his hands, and stays with assignments. Forceful, keeps his feet moving, and displays a variety of techniques to protect himself. Easily changes direction and works to make plays.
Weaknesses: Displays marginal ability in pursuit and an average closing burst. Consistently blocked or out-positioned from the action out of a three-point stance. Dismissed from the Florida football program at the end of October.
Overall: Cox has flashed dominance on the football field the past three years, but he never truly took his game to the next level. He projects as a 3-4 pass-rushing LB, but Cox must start to produce on a weekly basis to have any sort of career in the NFL.
Want more information on Cox? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Brenton Cox Jr., EDGE, Florida | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Gervon Dexter, DT
Strengths: Large, powerful, game-controlling tackle who makes a lot of plays on the ball. Fires off the snap, plays with proper lean, and is impossible to move off the point. Commands double-team blocks in the middle of the line, yet still pushes opponents back to collapse the pocket.
Plays off blocks, displays good movement skills, and makes the tackle on ball handlers. Easily bull rushes opponents off the line and runs over blockers. Effectively uses his hands to protect himself. Displays good change-of-direction skills and the ability to get down the line and make the play.
Weaknesses: Lacks great first-step quickness. Average pass rusher. Can’t get out to the flanks in pursuit.
Overall: Dexter has shown himself to be a one-man wrecking crew in the middle of the line of scrimmage as a gap occupier or run defender. He has limitations to his game, yet he offers many possibilities on the inside of a four-man line or potentially as a one-gap nose tackle.
Want more information on Dexter? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Gervon Dexter, DT, Florida | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Justin Shorter, WR
Strengths: Big-bodied receiver who displays himself as a solid vertical threat. Possesses outstanding length, long arms, and big hands. Quickly releases off the line of scrimmage into pass routes and works hard even if he’s not involved in the action. Tracks the pass in the air, uses his frame to shield away defenders, and makes the difficult catch in a battle.
Possesses eye/hand coordination, extends his hands, and consistently snatches the ball away from his frame. Comes back to the ball or settles into the open spot of the field to make himself an available target. Gets vertical and adjusts to come away with the catch in a crowd.
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Weaknesses: Never had overwhelming production, nor was he the red-zone threat he should’ve been. Lacks deep speed and a second gear. Average route runner.
Overall: Shorter was a reliable wideout for Florida and comes with tremendous numbers and measurables. He offers possibilities as a fifth wideout who can be a possession receiver. Shorter could also put on 10 pounds and then be used as a move tight end. He offers a lot of untapped potential, but he must really start to pick up his game and produce on the field.
Want more information on Shorter? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Justin Shorter, WR, Florida | NFL Draft Scouting Report
O’Cyrus Torrence, G
Strengths: Massive power-gap lineman who is shooting up draft boards. Sets with a wide base, works to bend his knees, and blocks with leverage. Strong and powerful. Easily turns defenders off the line and opens up large holes for running backs. Explosive, quickly gets his hands into defenders, and controls opponents at the point. Fires out to the second level and seals linebackers from the action.
Weaknesses: Not a mobile zone-blocking prospect. Struggles to adjust on occasion. Average footwork in space.
Overall: Torrence displayed much improvement in his game after transferring to Florida and was an overwhelming force who dominated as a run blocker. He possesses next-level measurables and has the ability to start in a power-gap system.
Want more information on Torrence? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: O’Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Rashad Torrence II, S
Strengths: Outstanding run-defending safety who displays range in center field. Quickly diagnoses plays, tracks the pass in the air, and times pass defenses correctly. Effectively anticipates the action, takes good angles, and has a solid closing burst of speed. Plays faster than his Combine 40 time. Explodes to the ball out of his plant, effectively works with cornerbacks, and plays heads-up football. Fires upfield and gives a lot of effort against the run.
Weaknesses: Not a stout tackler and has ball handlers running through his arms. Disappeared for stretches at times. Poor production in coverage last year.
Overall: After a brilliant sophomore campaign in 2021, Torrence watched his game level off and even regress in some aspects last season. He possesses the size and overall ability to be a safety in the NFL, but Torrence must step up his play in coverage and be consistent on a week-in, week-out basis.
Want more information on Torrence? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Rashad Torrence II, S, Florida | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Richard Gouraige, OT
Strengths: Two-year starting left tackle who quickly sets up in pass protection, makes outstanding use of angles, and stays square. Works his hands throughout the play, correctly places them into defenders, and rides opponents from their angles of attack.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t consistently block with proper pad level, gets tall, and struggles to finish blocks. Lacks fluid footwork off the edge. Marginal athlete who gets exploited by speed rushers.
Overall: Gouraige comes off a terrific senior campaign where he improved all aspects of his game, yet in the end, he’s a marginal athlete with limited upside. He must improve his run-blocking strength and, more than anything else, Gouraige must learn to bend his knees and block with leverage to have any chance of an NFL future.
Trey Dean III, S
Strengths: Physically gifted prospect who is best facing the action. Effectively diagnoses plays, displays awareness, and has a closing burst to the action. Fires upfield to defend the run, wraps up ball handlers, and makes the tackle in space. Active run defender. Picks up coverage assignments and works hard to make plays against the pass.
MORE: 2023 NFL Draft Big Board
Weaknesses: Struggles getting his head back around in coverage and does a lot of face guarding. Cannot stay on the receiver’s hip out of breaks and makes several plays after the fact.
Overall: From a size perspective, Dean offers starting potential on paper. But on film, he looks more like a one-dimensional run defender who struggles making plays against the pass. Dean comes with an upside and offers possibilities as a zone safety, but his 40 time from the Combine (>4.70 seconds) knocks him out of the draft.
Want more information on Dean? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Trey Dean III, S, Florida | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Ventrell Miller, LB
Strengths: Undersized run-and-chase linebacker who is constantly around the action making plays. Competitive, remains disciplined with assignments, and plays much faster than his 40 time. Athletic, goes sideline to sideline, and makes several plays in space. Effective in pursuit, takes good angles, and has an explosive closing burst. Instinctive, quickly diagnoses plays, and displays great anticipation. Flows well laterally, fires upfield, and sells out to make plays.
Weaknesses: Small and not strong. Easily disrupted by blocks or handled at the point. Not a stout tackler and has ball carriers running through his arms.
Overall: Miller is an athletic, hard-charging linebacker with average size and limited growth potential. He’s a run-and-chase, one-gap defender who plays with a special-teams mentality.