Jonathan Bullard is the fourth UF defensive lineman selected in the last five NFL Drafts.
Bullard Chosen by Bears in Third Round of 2016 NFL Draft
Friday, April 29, 2016 | Football
Jon Bullard is the third Gator from the defensive side of the ball taken in this year's draft
CHICAGO -- Former Gator defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard was selected in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, who chose him with the 72nd overall pick.
Bullard joins defensive backs Vernon Hargreaves III (first round, 11th overall, Tampa Bay) and Keanu Neal (first round, 17th overall, Atlanta) to total three draft picks for the Gators this year. Through the first three rounds of this year's NFL Draft, the Gators are one of nine teams in the country to have at least three players drafted.
You can read about how Hargreaves' and Neal's top-20 selections made school history here.
This marks just the sixth time in school history three defensive players were taken in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft. The Gators' 2013 draft class was the last to feature a trio of defenders to come off the board before the end of the third round, as defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd went 23rd overall to Minnesota, safety Matt Elam went 32nd overall to Baltimore, and linebacker Jon Bostic went 50th overall to Chicago.
Bullard is the fourth UF defensive lineman taken in the last five NFL Drafts, joining Dominique Easley (first round, 29th overall, 2014), Sharrif Floyd (first round, 23rd overall, 2013), and Jaye Howard (fourth round, 114th overall, 2012).
"He's tremendously versatile; he can play inside or out, great in pursuit," ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. said following Chicago's pick. "He's going to have a lot of value."
Bullard is the 20th player in program history to be chosen by the Chicago Bears, who've chosen the second-most Gators in the history of the NFL Draft, and the first since Bostic's selection in 2013. Only the Pittsburgh Steelers (24) have chosen more UF players.
Gators 2016 NFL Draft Notes
Jonathan Bullard – Chicago Bears, 3rd Round (No. 72 overall)
Bullard entered the NFL Draft following the conclusion of his four-year career with the Gators. As a senior this past season, the Shelby, N.C. native was named a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, a first-team All-American by CBSSports.com and Pro Football Focus, and was a unanimous first-team All-SEC selection. Bullard appeared in 50 games and made 36 starts
Bullard joins defensive backs Vernon Hargreaves III (first round, 11th overall, Tampa Bay) and Keanu Neal (first round, 17th overall, Atlanta) to total three draft picks for the Gators this year. Through the first three rounds of this year's NFL Draft, the Gators are one of nine teams in the country to have at least three players drafted.
You can read about how Hargreaves' and Neal's top-20 selections made school history here.
This marks just the sixth time in school history three defensive players were taken in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft. The Gators' 2013 draft class was the last to feature a trio of defenders to come off the board before the end of the third round, as defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd went 23rd overall to Minnesota, safety Matt Elam went 32nd overall to Baltimore, and linebacker Jon Bostic went 50th overall to Chicago.
Bullard is the fourth UF defensive lineman taken in the last five NFL Drafts, joining Dominique Easley (first round, 29th overall, 2014), Sharrif Floyd (first round, 23rd overall, 2013), and Jaye Howard (fourth round, 114th overall, 2012).
"He's tremendously versatile; he can play inside or out, great in pursuit," ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. said following Chicago's pick. "He's going to have a lot of value."
Bullard is the 20th player in program history to be chosen by the Chicago Bears, who've chosen the second-most Gators in the history of the NFL Draft, and the first since Bostic's selection in 2013. Only the Pittsburgh Steelers (24) have chosen more UF players.
Gators 2016 NFL Draft Notes
- In addition to Florida, other programs with at least three players selected through the first three rounds are Ohio State (10), Alabama (7), Notre Dame (6), Clemson (4), Boise State (3), Ole Miss (3), Penn State (3), and USC (3)
- For the fourth time since 2010, 10th time since 1998, and 17th time in program history at least three Gators were drafted in the first three rounds.
- This year already marks the 21st time in the last 23 NFL Drafts at least three Gators were selected.
- In Thursday night's first round, Vernon Hargreaves III and Keanu Neal became the fourth pair of collegiate defensive backs from the same team to both be top-20 picks since the start of the common and modern draft eras (1967)
- The other three duos to do so were Alabama's Mark Barron and Dre Kirkpatrick (2012), Texas' Michael Griffin and Aaron Ross (2007), and USC's Ronnie Lott and Dennis Smith (1981)
- At least one Florida player has been selected in every NFL Draft since 1952, the longest streak in SEC history.
Jonathan Bullard – Chicago Bears, 3rd Round (No. 72 overall)
Bullard entered the NFL Draft following the conclusion of his four-year career with the Gators. As a senior this past season, the Shelby, N.C. native was named a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, a first-team All-American by CBSSports.com and Pro Football Focus, and was a unanimous first-team All-SEC selection. Bullard appeared in 50 games and made 36 starts
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