The Florida Gators are young, but that shouldn’t be too surprising, considering Dan Mullen departed after the 2021 season. Billy Napier is at the helm now, and the roster has almost completely flipped in a little over a year since his arrival.
Barring a miracle, the Gators won’t be competing for SEC East superiority, and there’s a chance that the team must scratch and claw to find bowl eligibility. But what does Florida have to offer in terms of NFL Draft prospects, and what does the future look like?
Florida Gators Roster and Depth Chart Changes
Texas A&M saw a mass exodus via the transfer portal this offseason, but Florida wasn’t too far behind. In total, 23 players entered the portal as of Jan. 19, and of the 109 players that were on the roster for Mullen’s final game, more players have entered the portal (38) than are still on the roster (37).
Florida recruited well this offseason, at least according to recruitment sites. Rivals believes they had the third-best class in college football, while sites like On3 and 247 Sports believe they rank inside the top 15. Either way, the Gators appear to be on the right track moving forward.
Florida Gators NFL Draft Prospects
Jason Marshall Jr., CB
On the surface, Jason Marshall Jr. is everything you could ask for in a cornerback. In a game shifting toward slimmer receivers and defensive backs, Marshall is stacked together with outstanding density and the ideal amount of length. It should come as no surprise that the Miami native was one of the top CB recruits from his class.
Marshall is tailor-made to be a man-to-man cornerback. He possesses smooth feet that transition without wasted movement, and his ability to mirror off is impressive. However, Marshall must improve his consistency as a tackler and learn to play more physically along the route stem and at the catch point if he wants to hear his name called early in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Princely Umanmielen, EDGE
The Gators don’t have many surefire 2024 NFL Draft prospects, but they do field some really intriguing fliers. Princely Umanmielen has the baseline talent necessary to be a difference-making outside linebacker at the NFL level. However, the Florida Gator better have been in the lab tinkering with his rush plan, hand usage, and strength training.
The natural athletic ability is there. While he’s not always in a position to show it off, Umanmielen has shown he can flex his ankles and run under the table. He’s flashed a little long arm to convert speed to power, and he’s equal parts explosive and agile. But Umanmielen’s functional strength leaves a lot to be desired, and he needs to tighten up his rush plan to become more consistent.
Montrell Johnson, RB
Being a running back in 2023 is tough, but players are still able to make a career from it. Montrell Johnson is a well-built back with strong creation skills. He tends to run a bit high at times in his pursuit of breaking a big run, but he shows that he’s able to bounce and slide off less-engaged tackle attempts.
The biggest boost to Johnson’s draft stock after another year with Florida would come from proving that he can be a volume target in the passing attack and that he’s able to pass protect. As a runner, he possesses the patience and decisiveness to attack downhill.
Other Notable Names
- Ricky Pearsall, WR
- Jaydon Hill, CB
- Scooby Williams, LB
Florida Gators Schedule
- Week 1
Aug. 31 at Utah Utes - Week 2
Sept. 9 vs. McNeese Cowboys - Week 3
Sept. 16 vs. Tennessee Volunteers - Week 4
Sept. 23 vs. Charlotte 49ers - Week 5
Sept. 30 at Kentucky Wildcats - Week 6
Oct. 7 vs. Vanderbilt Commodores - Week 7
Oct. 14 at South Carolina Gamecocks - Week 8
BYE - Week 9
Oct. 28 vs. Georgia Bulldogs (neutral site) - Week 10
Nov. 4 vs. Arkansas Razorbacks - Week 11
Nov. 11 at LSU Tigers - Week 12
Nov. 18 at Missouri Tigers - Week 13
Nov. 25 vs. Florida State Seminoles - Week 14
BYE - Week 15
BYE
