DALLAS – Three former Gators were taken on the third and final day of the 2018 NFL Draft, with Antonio Callaway going in the fourth round, Johnny Townsend (pictured right) coming off the board in the fifth round and Marcell Harris going in the sixth.
The Browns picked Callaway with the 105th pick of the draft. Meanwhile, Townsend and Harris were selected 173rd and 184th overall by the Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers, respectively.
Callaway, Townsend and Harris join Taven Bryan (first round, 29th overall, Jacksonville Jaguars) and Duke Dawson (second round, 56th overall, New England Patriots) to total five draft picks for UF.
The Gators were one of seven teams in the country to have at least five players drafted this year. In addition, 2018 marks the sixth time since 2010 and 33rd time in UF history that five Gators were selected in the draft.
Townsend was the first UF punter picked since Ray Criswell was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 1986 NFL Draft. In addition, Oakland has now drafted nine Gators, most recently selecting David Sharpe in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
The Orlando, Fla. native became Florida's all-time leading punter last season with 11,090 yards and 240 total punts, as he passed Eric Wilbur (9,900 yards & 231 punts) who held each record since 2006.
Offensively, Callaway (pictured above) became the ninth Florida wide receiver drafted since 2006. At 105th overall, Callaway is the highest drafted wideout since Percy Harvin went 22nd overall in 2009. In addition, the Miami, Fla. product joins Demarcus Robinson (fourth round, 2016), Andre Debose (seventh round, 2015), Riley Cooper (fifth round, 2010), Louis Murphy (fourth round, 2009) and Harvin as the only Florida wide receivers selected in the NFL Draft since 2009.
Cleveland has now drafted 11 Gators, most recently selecting Caleb Brantley in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Defensively, Marcell Harris became Florida's second defensive back taken in this draft and its seventh over the past three years when he was picked by the 49ers. The Gators have now had multiple defensive backs selected in the same draft for the third-consecutive year, which is a program record.
San Francisco has now drafted 19 Gators, which is tied for the third most among all NFL teams. The 49ers most recently selected Kelvin Taylor in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Florida has had the third most first and second round picks over the last ten years.
Alabama – 41
Ohio State – 28
Florida – 24
Florida State – 22
USC – 21
LSU – 20
Notre Dame – 17
Clemson – 15
North Carolina – 15
Missouri – 14
The Gators had multiple players selected in the first three rounds for the fourth-straight year. That is the longest streak since its streak of eight years from 1997-2004.
UF had two defensive players selected in the first two rounds of the draft for the third consecutive year, which is the longest such streak in program history.
Florida has had seven defensive backs selected in the NFL Draft since 2016, which ranks first in the country. Ohio State, Miami, LSU and Alabama all trail the Gators.
For the fourth-straight year at least five Gators were selected. In addition, this is the 11th time since 2000 that the Gators have notched five picks.
At least one Florida player has been selected in every NFL Draft since 1952, the longest streak in SEC history.
Florida has had seven defensive backs selected in the NFL Draft since 2016, which ranks first in the country.
Antonio Callaway – Cleveland Browns, 4th Round (No. 105 overall)
Declared for the NFL Draft after the season… Spent the entire season suspended and away from the team.
Appeared in 12 games and started 11… Following his rushing touchdown against Georgia and a kickoff return touchdown against Missouri, Callaway became the first player in school history to score a rushing, receiving, passing, punt return, and kickoff return touchdown in a career… He became the seventh Gator since 1996 to score a receiving, rushing, and passing touchdown in a career… Of those seven, only Callaway and Jacquez Green also scored a punt return touchdown in their careers…. With seven receptions against Iowa in the Outback Bowl, he recorded 89 total catches during his first two seasons in Gainesville; only Jabar Gaffney (138) and Percy Harvin (93) caught more in their first two seasons at UF since 1996… After going over 1,000 receiving yards during Florida's game at Tennessee, Callaway became the third-fastest player in program history to accomplish that milestone, doing so in just 17 games… In that game against UT, Callaway racked up 134 receiving yards on just four catches, making him one of eight players in the country and one of two SEC players in 2016 to amass 134-plus receiving yards against a Power Five opponent on four or fewer catches… In addition, the only other Gators to post 130-plus receiving yards on four or fewer catches since 1996 are Demarcus Robinson (2014 vs. Eastern Kentucky) and Andre Debose (2011 vs. Furman)… Became the fourth Gator since 2003 to log multiple games of 125-plus receiving yards in a season... Of the four, only Callaway and Dallas Baker (2006) had at least two such games against SEC opponents… Became the first Gator since 2009 with five-plus receptions and 70-plus yards in three straight games (2016 Citrus Bowl, first two games of 2016)... Notched his first-career kickoff return for a touchdown against Missouri with a 44-yard return…. With his two-punt return touchdowns in 2015 and his kickoff return in 2016, Debose (2011-14; 5), Brandon James (2006-09; 5) and Jacquez Green (1996-97; 4) are the only players with more than three kickoff/punt return touchdowns in program history… In addition, Green (1996-97; 4) is the only Gator with four return touchdowns in a two-year span where Callaway is tied with Debose and James with three during a two-year period… Named as a Third Team All-SEC wide receiver by Athlon Sports.
2015: Appeared in 14 games, starting 13... Named to CBS Sports First Team All-America as a punt returner... Named Freshman First Team All-America by the Sporting News and Pro Football Focus... SI.com Honorable Mention All-America... PFF First Team All-SEC... Gridiron Now Second Team All-SEC... Gridiron Now Freshman All-SEC... SEC Freshman of the Week (Tennessee) as he became the third true freshman in Gator history to record a 100-yard receiving... Hauled in five catches for a career-high 112 receiving yards against UT and caught the go-ahead 64-yard touchdown reception on fourth and 14 to give Florida the fourth-quarter comeback victory... Was the only FBS player with at least 345 punt return yards and 480 receiving yards in 2015... The third FBS player and only true freshman since 2008 to amass 435-plus punt return yards and 675-plus receiving yards in a season... Joined Oklahoma's Ryan Broyles (2009) and Central Michigan's Antonio Brown (2008) as the only underclassmen since 2008 with 400-plus punt return yards and 675-plus receiving yards in a season... Became the first true freshman in UF history and one of only six SEC true freshmen (Amari Cooper, Alshon Jeffery, Julio Jones, Christian Kirk, Calvin Ridley) since 2006 to post three 100-yard receiving games... His 678 receiving yards broke UF's true freshman record previously held by Reidel Anthony (615 yards in 1994)... Returned two punts for touchdowns (LSU, Alabama)... Recorded a team-high 1,211 all-purpose yards on 69 plays averaged out to 17.6 yards per play, the fourth-highest mark in UF history and best ever by a Gator freshman (min. 60 plays).
Prior to Florida: Named 2014 Class 4A All-State First Team…Helped Booker T. Washington to the 2014 Class 4A state title and a combined 15-0 record his senior season…Named to the 2014 All-Dade County First Team…Had 31 catches for 818 yards and 7 touchdowns in seven games as a senior…Played for Coach Tim Harris, Jr.
What's Out There?
Check out all the social media buzz around Antonio Callaway being selected by the Cleveland Browns.
With the 105th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns select ... Antonio Callaway, WR, Florida"
"We thought that 4th round is right where you get a guy like this. Because you know you have certain resources to help young men develop ... He'll understand what it is to be a Cleveland Brown ... " — GM John Dorsey on Antonio Callaway
Johnny Townsend – Oakland Raiders, 5th Round (No. 173 overall)
Became Florida's all-time leading punter in program history with 11,090 yards and 240 total punts as he passed Eric Wilbur (9,900 yards & 231 punts) who held each record since 2006... Moved into SEC history as he finished his career fifth all-time in punting yards and tied for ninth in punts... Set a new career punting average of 46.2 yards, which ranks first in SEC lore… Recorded 11 punts of over 60 yards throughout his career, which is the most by a Gator in records dating back to 1996… His average as a senior in 2017 (47.5) ranked second all-time in UF history behind his own average of 47.9 yards, which he set in 2016… Led the nation and the SEC in punting yardage during his junior and senior seasons.
Finished the season averaging 47.5 yards as he totaled 3,043 yards on 64 punts... Booted a career-long punt of 70 yards against Georgia and recorded 27 punts of over 50 yards throughout the season, including six over 60 yards... Notched 27 punts inside the 20-yard line during the season… His average of 54.4 yards per punt (7-for-381) against Georgia set a UF program for the highest average in a game (min. 7 punts)… Earned Ray Guy Punter of the Week honors after he tallied five punts for 246 yards (49.2 average) against LSU… Named a Second Team All-American by CBS Sports, AP, Sporting News and SB Nation… Picked up Fourth Team All-American honors by Phil Steele… Picked as a Sports Illustrated All-American… Garnered First Team All-SEC honors by the AP and second team accolades by the league's coaches and Phil Steele… Chosen as an SEC Community Service Team member and Campbell Trophy Semifinalist… Garnered Second Team accolades from the SENIOR CLASS Award… Named a Midseason All-American by Sporting News, CBS Sports and Sports Illustrated… Named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
2016: Garnered First and Second Team… All-America accolades by CBS Sports and Fox Sports, respectively… Tabbed as a First Team All-SEC performer by ESPN and Gridiron Now… Selected as a Second Team All-SEC punter by the leagues' Coaches, AP and Athlon Sports… One of 10 Ray Guy Award Semifinalists… Ranked first in the nation with a 47.9 yard average on 64 punts for the season… Had 29 punts of 50+ yards and 27 punts inside the 20 yard line… Named the Ray Guy Punter of the Week after his performance at Vanderbilt, which included a 51.9 yard average on seven punts with five inside the 20 yard line and a long of 62 yards… Named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
2015: Appeared in all 14 games...Named First Team All-SEC by ESPN.com and Gridiron Now... Named Second team All-SEC by Coaches, AP and Athlon... One of 10 Ray Guy Award semifinalists... Tallied 83 punts for an average of 45.4 yards, which ranked third in the country and first in the conference in net punting... Named to SEC Academic Honor Roll.
2014: Did not see any game action and redshirted... Named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
2013: Selected to the SEC All-Freshmen team by the league's coaches... Played in the final six games of the season... He averaged 42.0 yards per punt on the season, with 8 fair caught, 6 inside of the 20, 5 touchbacks and totaled 5 over 50 yards... Took over the punting duties beginning with the game at Missouri, where he averaged 45.6 yards over 8 punts in his collegiate debut... Named to the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.
Prior to Florida: Named a U.S. Army All-American… Won the 2013 Felix "Doc" Blanchard Award, given annually to the top player at the U.S. Army All-America game who best exemplifies the U.S. Army's high standard of excellence in community service, education and athletic distinction… Named to the 2012 Florida Class 8A All-State team and played in the Central Florida All-Star Game… Averaged 44.6 yards per punt as a senior… Named 2012 First Team Punter Florida Athletic Coaches Association District 11 (Orange and Osceola County Schools), All-District and to the Orlando Sentinel Super 60… Won the 2012 Nick Saban Punting Competition and 2012 Chas Henry All-American Kicking Camp Punting Competition… Also played free safety and quarterback in high school… Plays on the baseball team at Boone and was an All-Metro performer… Is an Eagle Scout… Member of the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society… Named Boone's Homecoming King in 2012… Both parents, Clay and Susan Townsend, both attended Florida… Brother, Clay, Jr., also attends UF… Chose Florida over Ohio State, Alabama and Cincinnati.
What's Out There?
Check out all the social media buzz around Johnny Townsend being selected by the Oakland Raiders.
Marcell Harris – San Francisco 49ers, 6th Round (No. 184 overall)
Declared for the NFL Draft after the season… Missed the entire season due an injury he suffered prior to fall camp.
2016: Played in all 13 games and started in eight at safety… Began the season splitting playing time with classmate Nick Washington at safety, but finished the season as one of Florida's leaders and its leading tackler… Started the final four games of the season and recorded key tackles in fourth-and-goal situations from Florida's one yard line (LSU, Iowa)… Totaled 73 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, one sack, two interceptions, one pass breakup, one quarterback hurry, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery… Scored the first touchdown of his career on special teams at FSU on a fumbled punt; that was Florida's first such score off a muffed punted since Oct. 31 2015, when Washington recovered a fumble in the end zone against Georgia… In addition, he tallied a career-high 11 tackles at Florida State… Paced the Gators in tackles against Iowa in the Outback Bowl with nine… Recorded one sack against Alabama in the SEC Championship Game… Named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
2015: Played in 12 games and recorded a start against East Carolina... Totaled 22 tackles and recorded a career-high five tallies against ECU.
2014: Played in all 12 games on the season as a key member of several special teams' units and as a reserve at safety... Totaled seven tackles on the season... Earned the Hard Hat award for his performance against Kentucky and against Georgia.
2013: Did not see any game action and redshirted.
Prior to Florida: Selected to the 2013 Under Armour All-American Game… In just eight games during his senior season, tallied 52 tackles and eight pass breakups… Participated in "The Opening", an all-star summer prospect camp held on the Nike Campus, as well as Gridiron Kings… His father, Mike Harris, was a Florida defensive back between 1994 and 1997… Chose Florida over Texas, Florida State, Oklahoma, Auburn, Miami, South Carolina, N.C. State, Notre Dame and LSU… Coached by Rodney Wells.
What's Out There?
Check out all the social media buzz around Marcell Harris being selected by the San Francisco 49ers.
DALLAS – Three former Gators were taken on the third and final day of the 2018 NFL Draft, with Antonio Callaway going in the fourth round, Johnny Townsend (pictured right) coming off the board in the fifth round and Marcell Harris going in the sixth.
