Florida Gators
2020 NFL Draft Prospects
Nick Buchanan, C
Career Snapshot: Two-year starter at center.
Positives: Hard-working center who gets the most from his ability. Fires off the snap into blocks, keeps his feet moving and stays square. Keeps his head on a swivel, works to block with proper pad level and plays through the whistle. Effective with the shotgun snap.
Negatives: Bends at the waist and struggles to adjust. Late with his hands, stiff and lumbers around the field.
Analysis: Buchanan was a solid center for Florida, but he comes with average size and athleticism and minimal upside. His intelligence and approach to the game give him an outside shot at the next level.
Tyrie Cleveland, WR
Career Snapshot: Two-year starter who made two starts and caught 25 passes for 351 yards and one touchdown as a senior in 2019. Made 18 receptions for 212 yards and a career-high three touchdowns as a junior. Caught 22 passes for a career-best 410 yards and two TDs as a sophomore. Made four starts and caught 14 passes for 298 yards and two scores as a true freshman.
Positives: Nice-sized pass catcher who showed improvement the past three seasons. Smoothly releases off the line of scrimmage, displays terrific quickness in and out of breaks and comes back to the ball to make himself an available target. Uses his frame to protect the pass, adjusts to the errant throw on crossing patterns and looks the ball into his hands. Consistently settles into the open spot in underneath coverage and makes himself an available target.
Negatives: Unnecessarily lets the ball get inside him too much. One-speed wideout who doesn’t play to his forty time. Average production at the college level.
Analysis: Cleveland offers solid size, reliable hands and upside. He’s unlikely to get drafted, but I would expect Cleveland to make a practice squad this summer.
Jonathan Greenard, DE
Career Snapshot: Transfer from Louisville who started his lone season at Florida. Earned First Team All-SEC Honors and made 52 tackles (15.5 for loss) with 9.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and four pass breakups as a senior in 2019. Missed the majority of the 2018 season at Louisville after he suffered a season-ending wrist injury on the first defensive series of the season. Started five games and made 48 tackles (15.5 for loss) with seven sacks as a sophomore in 2017.
Positives: Super-productive college pass rusher who gets the most from his ability. Plays with excellent pad level, works his hands throughout the action and keeps his feet moving. Easily bends off the edge, immediately changes direction and alters his angle of attack to flatten from the backside.
Displays a solid inside move and the ability to slice inside blockers, viciously attacks opposing quarterbacks and shows the ability to rush the passer out of a three-point stance and standing over tackle. Rarely off his feet, plays with balance and gives great effort. Works his hands and shows a variety of pass-rushing moves to get off blocks.
Negatives: Shows nothing in the way of pursuit speed or an explosive closing burst. One-speed defender with average athleticism. Struggled during Senior Bowl week and really did not live up to expectations.
Analysis: Except for the few games he struggled with injury, Greenard was a pass-rushing terror for Florida and haunted opposing quarterbacks. He lacks great upside, but he understands how to get up the field and makes the most of his ability, and Greenardshould be a solid pass-rushing specialist at the next level.
Josh Hammond, WR
Career Snapshot: Three-year starter who caught 27 passes for 346 yards and two touchdowns as a senior in 2019. Set career highs across the board with 28 receptions for 369 yards and four TDs as a junior.
Positives: Consistent pass catcher who also has return potential. Plays with balance and body control, effectively uses the sidelines and displays terrific focus andhand-eye coordination. Adjusts to the errant throw, looks the ball into his hands and turns upfield after the catch. Makes the difficult reception with defenders draped on his back.
Negatives: One-speed receiver who lacks burst. Marginally productive at the college level.
Analysis: Hammond is a consistent underneath receiver who should also be a solid punt returner at the next level, and the latter is the primary way he’ll make a roster in the NFL.
C.J. Henderson, CB
Career Snapshot: Two-year starter who earned First Team All-SEC honors and made 33 tackles with 11 pass breakups as a junior in 2019. Earned Second Team All-SEC honors and made 38 tackles (five for loss) with three sacks, two interceptions and seven PBUs as a sophomore. Started five games as a true freshman and intercepted a career-high four passes. Missed three games in 2019 due to an ankle injury.
Positives: Athletic, explosive shutdown corner with tremendous upside. Quickly flips his hips off the line of scrimmage, loses nothing in transition and smoothly runs with opponents down the field. Displays good route recognition in zone, possesses a burst of closing speed and recovers quickly.
Gets his head back around to track the pass in the deep field and displays a nice move to the throw. Physical, mixes it up with receivers throughout the route and aggressively defends the run. Very sudden and flashes on the scene. Rarely challenged by opposing quarterbacks.
Negatives: Can get a little grabby at times, which will result in penalties at the next level. Character issues have raised red flags with NFL teams.
Analysis: Henderson is a physically talented cornerback with solid ball skills. Though he was rarely challenged by opposing quarterbacks, he possesses tremendous upside and could develop into a starter if you keeps his focus on the field and matures as a person.
Van Jefferson, WR
Career Snapshot: Transfer from Ole Miss who started both his seasons at Florida. Made 49 catches for 657 yards and six touchdowns as a senior in 2019. Caught 35 passes for 503 yards and six TDs as a junior. One-year starter for the Rebels who made 49 receptions for 543 yards and three touchdowns as a redshirt freshman in 2016.
Positives: Quick, swift and sure-handed receiver who also doubles as a punt returner. Sells routes, displays terrific quickness and footwork into breaks and separates from defenders. Nicely makes the reception in stride, adjusts to the errant throw and extends his hands to snatch the ball from the air. Immediately turns upfieldafter the catch, effectively follows blocks and keeps the play in bounds.
Makes the difficult catch at top speed and possesses solid hand-eye coordination. Comes away with the downfield over-the-shoulder reception and displays timing. Shows good awareness, settles into the open spot of the defense and comes back to the ball.
Negatives: Occasionally does some unnecessary body-catching, which leads to drops. Will struggle in battles and needs space to work. Lacks a second gear.
Analysis: Jefferson possesses a lot of natural receiving skills and is able to get separation through his route running and come away with the catch. He’s also been a dependable punt returner and someone I’ve regarded highly since his days in Mississippi. I expect Jefferson to be snatched off the board somewhere in a fourth or possibly thirdround and go on to produce at the next level as a slot receiver and punt returner.
Lamical Perine, RB
Career Snapshot: Two-year starter who rushed 132 times for 676 yards and six touchdowns and caught 40 passes for 262 yards and five TDs as a senior in 2019. Started one game and carried 134 times for 826 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior. Rushed 136 times for 562 yards and a career-high eight TDs as a sophomore.
Positives: Tough, hard-charging ball carrier who also displays the ability to create yardage. Patient, works runs and will pick and choose his spots on the inside. Instinctive, displays the ability to quickly cut back against the grain and does not lose momentum when he changes direction.
Keeps the play in bounds, runs north and south and falls forward when tackled. Solid pass catcher out of the backfield who extends his hands and grabs the throw away from his frame. Nicely adjust to the errant throw and looks the ball into his hands.
Negatives: More of a one-speed back who cannot run to daylight. Struggles to turn the perimeter. Best between the tackles.
Analysis: Perine is a productive ball carrier who fights and scratches for every yard and is very effective as a pass catcher out of the backfield. He should be productive as a situational ball carrier on Sundays.
David Reese, ILB
Career Snapshot: Three-year starter who made 94 tackles (6.5 for loss) with two sacks as a senior in 2019. Made 102 tackles (10 for loss) with 1.5 sacks as a sophomore in 2017. Missed three games in 2018 due to an ankle injury. Underwent surgery on both wrists in the offseason before the 2017 campaign.
Positives: Explosive run-defending linebacker who is best as a two-down player. Fires up the field, explodes through the gaps and gives effort against the run. Breaks down well, squares into tackles and wraps up tackling. Remains disciplined with assignments and keeps the action in front of him.
Negatives: Stiff. Struggles to redirect and finish tackles. Possesses average skill in coverage and comes with average ball skills.
Analysis: Reese possesses the build and style to be a middle linebacker, but he has limitations.
Adam Shuler, DT
Career Snapshot: Graduate transfer from West Virginia who started both his seasons at Florida. Made 30 tackles (six for loss) with 3.5 sacks as a senior in 2019. Made 39 tackles (3.5 for loss) with 1.5 sacks as a junior. One-year starter for the Mountaineers who posted 37 tackles (eight for loss) with three sacks as a sophomore.
Positives: Explosive first-step lineman who flies around the action to make positive plays. Plays with excellent pad level, effectively uses his hands and keeps his feet moving. Fires off the snap and plays through the whistle. Shows the ability to get down the line of scrimmage to make plays on the ball carrier.
Negatives: Stiff and shows no closing burst of speed. Lacks size and gets outpositioned from the action.
Analysis: Schuler is a high-effort defender who comes with minimal physical skills, which will make it difficult for him to get out of camp this summer.
Freddie Swain, WR
Career Snapshot: First-year starter who made 38 catches for 517 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior in 2019. Caught 14 passes for 265 yards and five touchdowns and returned 22 punts for 224 yards and one TD as a junior.
Positives: Consistent pass-catching target who also displays ability as a punt returner. Displays terrific recognition and awareness, adjusts to the errant throw and looks the ball into his hands. Runs sharp routes, separates from defenders and snatches the ball away from his frame. Gives effort after the catch and picks up positive yardage. Makes the difficult catch in the middle of a crowd and does not go down without a fight.
Negatives: One-speed receiver who lacks deep burst and cannot get vertical separation. Turned in average production at Florida.
Analysis: Swain offers decent size and pass-catching skill and could end up as a fifth receiver who also doubles as a punt returner.
Tommy Townsend, P
Positives: Fluid punter with a next-level leg. Has a smooth stroke, gets excellent hang time on punts and places them well. Allows coverage teams to get down the field and make plays on the returner. Can flip the field when necessary. Effectively handles poor snaps.
Negatives: Has had punts blocked in the past. Must get the ball off his foot quicker. Possesses a thin frame and may struggle to make tackles at the next level.
Analysis: Townsend was a very consistent punter the past two seasons at Florida and comes with a next-level leg. He does the little things well at the position and needs only to fill out his frame to become an NFL punter.
Jabari Zuniga, DE
Career Snapshot: Two-year starter who made 14 tackles (seven for loss) with six sacks, missed six games due to an ankle injury and was limited in several others as a senior in 2019. Made 45 tackles (11 for loss) with 6.5 sacks as a junior. Missed one game in 2017 due to an ankle injury.
Positives: Hard-working defensive lineman who displayed development and the ability to play three downs last season. Fires off the snap with an explosive first step, plays with terrific pad level and possesses a closing burst.
Effectively uses his hands to protect himself and get off blocks, possesses solid movement skills and viciously goes after opponents. Easily changes direction, moves well laterally and gets down the line of scrimmage to make plays. Relentless and finds ways to defeat blocks. Turned in a sensational Combine workout.
Negatives: Lacks great power and size. May be a liability against the run at the next level. Average athlete.
Analysis: Zuniga was a terrific defensive lineman at Florida and offers possibilities as a defensive end in a four-man front who can occasionally kick inside to tackle. He must physically mature and improve his strength at the point of attack, but Zuniga’s approach to the game and fundamentals will help him succeed at the next level.
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