2016 NFL Draft: Tampa Bay selects Vernon Hargreaves

Vernon Hargreaves is going home.

University of Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III became the first Florida Gators football player selected in the 2016 NFL Draft when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted him No. 11 overall in the first round.

Hargreaves surprised no one when he elected to forego his final year of eligibility at Florida and his selection in the first round supports hi decision. Rated as one of the top cornerbacks in the entire country coming out of Wharton High School in Tampa.

Hargreaves announced himself early; picking off passes in his first two collegiate games and three as a freshman. He started the final 10 games of the 2013 season and continued in the role as a starter the rest of his career. Hargreaves left Florida with 121 career tackles, 10 interceptions and a forced fumble.

Hargreaves became Florida’s first unanimous All-American since Joe Haden in 2009 following his junior season.

Nick de la Torre
A South Florida native, Nick developed a passion for all things sports at a very young age. His love for baseball was solidified when he saw Al Leiter’s no-hitter for the Marlins live in May of 1996. He was able to play baseball in college but quickly realized there isn’t much of a market for short, slow outfielders that hit around the Mendoza line. Wanting to continue with sports in some capacity he studied journalism at the University of Central Florida. Nick got his first start in the business as an intern for a website covering all things related to the NFL draft before spending two seasons covering the Florida football team at Bleacher Report. That job led him to GatorCountry. When he isn’t covering Gator sports, Nick enjoys hitting way too many shots on the golf course, attempting to keep up with his favorite t.v. shows and watching the Heat, Dolphins and Marlins. Follow him on twitter @NickdelatorreGC