The Cincinnati Bengals have selected defensive lineman Zachary Carter with the 95th overall pick in the third round of the NFL Draft.
The Gators have now had at least one defensive lineman selected in the last 11 drafts.
Carter, a Tampa native, redshirted in 2017 and played sparingly in 2018 before becoming a major factor in his final three seasons. He started 25 games from 2019-21 and played in every game except for one during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
His production steadily improved from year to year, culminating in an eight-sack, 11-tackle-for-loss performance as a senior. He might have led the team in both categories if he hadn’t chosen to opt out of the bowl game.
He notched a career-high three sacks in the 2021 opener against Florida Atlantic, which earned him SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week honors.
Versatility is one of Carter’s best attributes. At 6-foot-4 and 285 pounds, he has the quickness to play defensive end on first and second downs and the strength to slide inside on passing downs.
His positional flexibility and his upward trajectory were enough to earn him a shot to play in the NFL.