Trio of Gators Taken on Day Three of 2017 NFL Draft

Seven Gators have been selected in NFL Draft. (File photo)

Trio of Gators Taken on Day Three of 2017 NFL Draft

Saturday, April 29, 2017 | Football

Florida has had at least one player selected in every NFL Draft since 1952.

By: Will Pantages

PHILADELPHIA – Three former Gators were taken on the third and final day of the 2017 NFL Draft, with David Sharpe going in the fourth round, Caleb Brantley coming off the board in the sixth round and Joey Ivie going in the seventh.

The Oakland Raiders picked Sharpe with the 129th pick of the draft. Meanwhile, Brantley and Ivie were selected 186th and 228th overall by the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys, respectively.

Sharpe, Brantley and Ivie join Jarrad Davis (first round, 21st overall, Detroit), Marcus Maye (second round, 39th overall, New York Jets), Quincy Wilson (second round, 46th overall, Indianapolis), Teez Tabor (second round, 53rd overall, Detroit) and Alex Anzalone (third round, 76th overall, New Orleans) to total eight draft picks for UF.

Brantley and Ivie are the seventh, and eighth UF defensive linemen taken in the last six NFL Drafts, joining Jonathan Bullard (third round, 72nd overall, 2016), Alex McCalister (seventh round, 240th overall, 2016), Dante Fowler Jr. (first round, 3rd overall, 2015), Dominique Easley (first round, 29th overall, 2014), Sharrif Floyd (first round, 23rd overall, 2013) and Jaye Howard (fourth round, 114th overall, 2012).

Ivie's selection alongside Brantley makes this the second-straight year in which the Gators had a pair of defensive linemen chosen. Prior to that, UF last had this happen in 2010.

Sharpe is the sixth UF offensive linemen taken in the last four NFL Drafts, joining Trenton Brown (seventh round, 244th overall, 2015), Max Garcia (fourth round, 133rd overall, 2015), Chaz Green (third round, 91st overall, 2015), D.J. Humphries (first round, 24th overall, 2015) and Jon Halapio (sixth round, 179th overall, 2014).

Sharpe is the eighth Gator the Raiders selected and the first since Oakland picked Neiron Ball and Andre Debose in 2015. Ivie is the 15th Gator picked by the Cowboys and the first since Chaz Green in 2015.

Meanwhile, Brantley is the 10th Gator selected by the Browns and the first since Joe Haden in 2010.

NFL Draft Coverage on FloridaGators.com

Gators 2016 NFL Draft Notes

This marks the fourth time since 2010 and seventh time in UF history that eight Gators were selected in the draft.
Only Florida, Alabama (9), Ohio State (6) and LSU (5) had at least five players drafted in the first three rounds.
This is the first time since 2010 and second time in school history, five Gators were taken within the first 76 picks.
- In addition, the is the first time since 2010 and second time in program history that five UF defensive players were taken within the first 76 picks.
Florida had four players selected in the first 53 picks. It's most since 2010.
For the first time since 2010, second time since 1999, and third time in program history at least five Gators were drafted in the first three rounds.
For the third-straight year at least five Gators were selected. In addition, this is the ninth time since 2000 that the Gators have notched five picks.
The Gators have had eight first round picks in the last five drafts.
- Florida has had a first round pick in 10 of the last 11 years.
- UF had now had four true linebackers selected in the first round:
  - Glenn Cameron (1975)
  - Wilber Marshall (1984)
  - Clifford Charlton (1988)
  - Jarrad Davis (2017)
Overall, UF has had 51 first-round selections in its storied history and has totaled 16 first-round picks since 2007, which is third most among all schools nationally (Alabama, 23; Ohio State 16).
- Florida's 51 all-time first round picks are the sixth-best total in the nation and second among SEC programs, trailing only Alabama (55).
- The Gators had five first round picks on defense in the last four years, which is tied for second behind Ohio State for the top total in the nation.
- UF has had the fourth-most first-round draft picks (49) among NCAA schools and the most in the Southeastern Conference in the Common Draft era (since 1967).
  - Southern California (68), Ohio State (64) and Miami (FL) (59) are the three programs in front of Florida. Behind the Gators sit Alabama (47) and Notre Dame (41).
Marcus Maye, Quincy Wilson and Teez Tabor and the third, fourth and fifth UF defensive backs selected in the top two rounds of the 2016 and 2017 drafts. They join Vernon Hargreaves III (first round, 11th overall, 2016) and Keanu Neal (first round, 17th overall, 2016).
- Florida is tied for the most defensive backs taken in the first two rounds of the 2016 and 2017 drafts. Ohio State is tied with the Gators, while Washington trails the Gators and Buckeyes with three defensive backs selected.
Marcus Maye, Quincy Wilson and Teez Tabor became the first trio of Florida defensive backs selected in the same round.
This is the fourth time in UF history that the Gators had two linebackers drafted in the first three rounds.
Davis and Anzalone are the seventh and eighth UF linebackers taken in the last five NFL Drafts, joining Antonio Morrison (fourth round, 125th overall, 2016), Dante Fowler Jr. (first round, 3rd overall, 2015), Neiron Ball (fifth round, 161st overall, 2015), Ronald Powell (fifth round, 169th overall, 2014), Jon Bostic (second round, 50th overall, 2013), and Jelani Jenkins (fourth round, 104th overall, 2013).
At least one Florida player has been selected in every NFL Draft since 1952, the longest streak in SEC history.

SEC 2017 NFL Draft Notes (complete SECSports.com release)

The SEC led the nation's conferences in draft picks for the 11th consecutive year in 2016. The last time that the SEC did not top the conference draft list was in 2006, when the ACC had 52, the Big Ten had 41 and the SEC had 37.
The nation-leading 53 NFL Draft picks are the third most in SEC history, trailing only the 63 in 2013 and 54 in 2015.
A total of 21 SEC players were taken in first two rounds of the 2017 NFL Draft , the most by a single conference through the first two rounds in common draft era.
The SEC has averaged over 50 selections per draft since 2006.
Twelve SEC programs saw at least one player taken in the 2017 NFL Draft, with nine of those schools seeing multiple selections.

David Sharpe – Oakland Raiders, 4th Round (No. 129 overall)

2016: Declared for the NFL Draft after his junior season… Started all 13 games at left tackle for the Gators… Was one of two Gators to start every game throughout the season.
Played in all 14 games, starting 13 at left tackle.
2014: Played in six games as a true freshman, working his way into the offensive line rotation… Saw action at left tackle in a reserve role.

Caleb Brantley – Cleveland Browns, 6th Round (No. 186 overall)

2016: Declared for the NFL Draft after his redshirt junior season… Selected to the All-SEC Second Team by the leagues' coaches, AP, Athlon Sports, Gridiron Now and Pro Football Focus… Appeared in all 13 games and started 11 at defensive tackle… Finished with 31 total tackles and led the team with 9.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks… Also had three quarterback hurries and a forced fumble… Recorded a sack and three total tackles in his final game as a Gator in the Outback Bowl against Iowa.
2015: Appeared in 13 games, starting 10...Named to Pro Football Focus' Second Team All-America... Totaled 29 tackles with 6.5 tackles-for-loss... Recorded a career high tying six tackles against LSU... Notched a pair of quarterback hurries during the season and recorded a sack at Missouri and South Carolina.
2014: Played in all 12 games and started at defensive tackle in the bowl victory over East Carolina... Totaled 21 tackles with 4.0 tackles-for-loss... Had three quarterback hurries... Forced two fumbles and recovered a fumble... Posted three-or-more tackles five times on the season, with a season-high four at Alabama.
: Did not see any game action and redshirted... Earned Most Valuable Offensive Scout Team Award... Named to the SEC First-Year Honor Roll.

Joey Ivie – Dallas Cowboys, 7th Round (No. 228 overall)

2016: Appeared in 11 games and started 10 throughout the season... Missed a pair of games due to a broken thumb… Totaled 26 tackles, 2.5 sacks and seven QB hurries… Notched his first-career blocked field goal at Florida State late in the season.
2015: Played in 10 games and started five times at defensive tackle… Had a career-high 27 tackles with four tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks… Forced one fumble on the year.
2014: Played in all 12 games as a member of the defensive line rotation… Earned his first career start in the bowl win over East Carolina… Posted a career-high six tackles against Eastern Kentucky, including his first career sack… Named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
2013: True freshman saw action in three of the final five games… Totaled three tackles, all against Georgia Southern, while seeing time in the defensive line rotation… Named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll…Enrolled in January of 2013.