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Good and bad surprises for Gators during NFL Draft
Sunday, May 11, 2014 | Football, Track and Field, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The NFL Draft was full of surprises for the Gators.
Good ones and bad ones.
Good: Dominique Easley (photo), despite playing only three games last season, going to the Patriots in the first round. Few expected Easley to go that high.
Bad: Junior cornerbacks Marcus Roberson and Loucheiz Purifoy went undrafted. While their stock dropped with sub-par performances at the NFL Combine, most projections had Roberson and Purifoy going no later than the middle rounds.
As of Sunday morning, Roberson and Purifoy remained unsigned. While neither was drafted, both will likely get an opportunity to make a team, perhaps as a priority free agent invited to rookie minicamp next week. Stay tuned.
In all, four UF players were selected: Easley (first round, No. 29 overall, Patriots), Jaylen Watkins (fourth round, No. 101 overall, Eagles), Ronald Powell (fifth round, No. 169 overall, Saints) and offensive lineman Jon Halapio (sixth round, No. 179 overall, Patriots).
Here is reaction from New Orleans coach Sean Payton on Powell, and Eagles coach Chip Kelly weighs in on selection of Watkins, and New England coach Bill Belichick likes Halapio's potential.
The Gators had 12 players available in the draft and soon after the draft concluded, reports surfaced on Twitter that several of Florida's undrafted free agents and signed with teams for tryouts at upcoming rookie minicamps.
Here is a list based on media reports and/or player tweets: Solomon Patton (Bucs), Trey Burton (Eagles), Darrin Kitchens (Bills), Damien Jacobs (Bills), Kyle Koehne (Falcons) and Jonotthan Harrison (Colts).
Congrats to #TeamIFA's @JHarrison_72 on signing with the Indianapolis Colts! pic.twitter.com/j5hCAbR76P
— The IFA (@TeamIFA) May 11, 2014
Just became the newest member of the Buffalo Bills, God is great!
— Damien Jacobs (@HallUFameDame) May 11, 2014
Extremely thankful for another opportunity to play the game I love for the @Eagles!! #FlyEaglesFly Jeremiah 29:11-12
— Trey Burton (@TreyBurton8) May 11, 2014
Congrats to 1CA client @DK_theTruth (Darrin Kitchens) on agreeing to terms with the Buffalo Bills #Bills #1stClass #NFLDraft #Gators
— 1st Class Athletes (@1CA_Agency) May 10, 2014
Florida WR Solomon Patton will sign with the Bucs as a priority free agent, per his agent, Hadley Engelhard
— Roy Cummings (@RCummingsTBO) May 10, 2014
Looks like I'm going to be trying out for the #Falcons next weekend!!
— Kyle Koehne (@KingKone64) May 11, 2014
