Florida Gators holding off on NFL Draft decisions

ATLANTA — Last year after the SEC Championship game Vernon Hargreaves III announced to the surprise of no one that he would forego his senior season and enter the NFL Draft. That same day linebacker Jarrad Davis, emotional after a tough loss, announced he would stay.

Saturday the Florida Gators draft-eligible players were mum about any decision regarding their futures.

Cornerbacks Teez Tabor, Quincy Wilson, offensive lineman David Sharpe and defensive tackle Caleb Brantley all balked at questions on if they had made a decision yet.

“Not yet,” Brantley said when asked if he had thought about leaving school early for the NFL Draft. “I’ll keep y’all posted.”

Additionally, Johnny Townsend (a redshirt junior) was asked and declined to address. Townsend is in a different position than the rest of the players. NFL teams only carry one punter and he’ll need to analyze who is in the NFL as well as other punters that are still in college and will be coming out this season or next.

Tabor and Wilson are both likely first round draft picks this year. They were projected as such before the season and have played at a level worthy of keeping that status. Their decisions on paper seem cut and dry, but Tabor insisted he will need some time to make the final decision.

“We got some time right here before the bowl game,” he said. “I’m just going to get with all the people that are close to me in my life and weigh my options.”

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