It’s been more than five weeks since we’ve had live sports so if the impending 2020 NFL Draft looks like an oasis in the middle of a desert to you, you’re not alone.
The Florida Gators are fresh off of their second consecutive New Year’s Six Bowl win and you don’t win those kinds of games without studs on your roster. The Gators have a number of draft prospects this year and we sat down with the University of Florida graduate and The Draft Network analyst, Trevor Sikkema, to break down the Gators’ class.
Q: Despite teams being able to hold individual workouts, CJ Henderson seems to be rising up draft boards. Why do you think that is?
Trevor Sikkema: “Rising” and “falling” are typically misused terms because the reality is most of the time it’s less moving up or down boards and more just the media catching up to what the NFL has been thinking in terms of players’ outlooks. For Henderson, I do think a little “rising” was involved, but I think that the league has been high on his talent for the last year or so. They love the athleticism and all the strength he has in a smaller frame. Potential CB1 cover corners will always be held to high draft value. Henderson fits the mold, even if he has a ways to go to achieve his full potential.
Q: What round does Jabari Zuniga end up in? Is he a guy that is very scheme dependent at the next level?
TS: I believe he’ll be a round 3 or 4 player. He’s incredibly explosive for a player of his size, and the league knows that. He isn’t the most savvy rusher in terms of snap anticipation and counter moves, but his rare athletic ability will still make him a mid-round player, I think. I wouldn’t say he’s scheme dependent, but he is a hand-in-the-dirt kind of player. He can still be versatile by playing 5-tech in a 4-3 or even some 3-tech.
Q: How much did not having pro days hurt Josh Hammond and Freddie Swain?
TS: Both of those guys were able to showcase their stuff at the East-West Shrine Bowl, so I honestly wouldn’t say not having a Pro Day hurt them much. If they didn’t have that all-star game opportunity, I would have said they might be an afterthought in this class. But being at that event helped them.
Q: Of the Gators receivers (Van Jefferson, Tyrie Cleveland, Josh Hammond, Freddie Swain) who will have the best pro career?
TS: Easy answer here is Van Jefferson. With his route running ability and his football background, he’s the kind of player who, even if he never becomes an all-pro, can have a long and successful career.
5. I think we’re all expecting to hear Henderson, Greenard, Zuniga, Jefferson, Cleveland and Perine’s names during the draft but do you think one of the other guys (Shuler, Hammond, Swain, Reese, Townsend, Buchanan) could be a late round pick?
TS: Swain would probably be next on the list. He was more of the standout at the Shrine Bowl. Townsend will get a look with a team, but will most likely be as an undrafted free agent.
We asked Trevor for just a name here, no explanation, his opinion on these four criteria:
First drafted: CJ Henderson
Quickest impact: Van Jefferson
Longest career: Van Jefferson
Best value for where they will be drafted: Lamical Perine