The offensive tackles who helped Florida to win the 2008 national championship both will have a chance to carve out National Football League careers.
Jason Watkins and Phil Trautwein, who went undrafted during the two-day, seven-round NFL Draft last weekend, didn’t waste any time signing free-agent contracts.
The 6-6, 310-pound Watkins, who started his last 27 games with the Gators, the first 13 at left tackle when Trautwein was injured in 2007, signed with the Houston Texans.
The 6-6, 310-pound Trautwein started all 14 of Florida games last season at left tackle after sitting out the 2007 with a stress fracture in his foot. He signed with the St. Louis Rams.
In addition to Watkins and Trautwein, Florida had three players selected in the two-day draft. Wide receiver/running back Percy Harvin was the 22nd player selected in the first round by the Minnesota Vikings. Wide receiver Louis Murphy was taken in the fourth round by the Oakland Raiders and tight end Cornelius Ingram was drafted in the fifth round by the Philadelphia Eagles.