Chauncey Gardner-Johnson has a career-high 66 tackles and nine tackles for loss this season. (Photo: Jay Metz/UAA Communications)
Gators DB Gardner-Johnson to Enter Draft
Monday, November 26, 2018 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Gators defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson announced Monday afternoon that he is declaring for the NFL draft.
A junior from Cocoa, Fla., Gardner-Johnson is third on the team with a career-high 66 tackles, including nine tackles for loss. Gardner-Johnson has been a regular in Florida's secondary since his freshman season, making his first career start at Florida State in 2016 and also recording his first career interception in the same game. He capped his freshman season with a pair of interceptions -- returning one for a score -- in the Gators' win over Iowa to earn Outback Bowl MVP honors.
Gardner-Johnson made his plans public on Monday via Twitter. He will play in Florida's bowl game and then depart to prepare for April's NFL draft.
The six-foot, 208-pound Gardner-Johnson played the "Star" or nickelback position in first-year defensive coordinator Todd Grantham's system. He opened the season with a career-high two sacks in Florida's win over Charleston Southern and provided veteran leadership and a physical presence for the Gators' young secondary. Gardner-Johnson has seven career interceptions, averaging 31.1 yards per return with two touchdowns.
In Saturday's 41-14 win at Florida State, Gardner-Johnson finished with a pair of tackles, including one for loss. He has two interceptions this season and returned one for a 26-yard touchdown on the opening play of Florida's 63-10 win over Idaho on Nov. 17, his final game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Gardner-Johnson celebrated Florida's first win over the Seminoles since 2012 on Saturday by hoisting a huge Gators flag around Bobby Bowden Field. He attempted to plant it at midfield, but after both head coaches intervened to prevent a potential skirmish, Gardner-Johnson ran to celebrate with the Gators fans who made the trip to Doak Campbell Stadium.
Gardner-Johnson's versatility and athleticism should help him in the draft process. He is projected as a safety at the next level and based on early mock drafts, Gardner-Johnson figures to be one of the first safeties off the board in a year that is heavy on defensive talent.
Check out Gardner-Johnson's full statement on his decision to enter the NFL draft:
A junior from Cocoa, Fla., Gardner-Johnson is third on the team with a career-high 66 tackles, including nine tackles for loss. Gardner-Johnson has been a regular in Florida's secondary since his freshman season, making his first career start at Florida State in 2016 and also recording his first career interception in the same game. He capped his freshman season with a pair of interceptions -- returning one for a score -- in the Gators' win over Iowa to earn Outback Bowl MVP honors.
Gardner-Johnson made his plans public on Monday via Twitter. He will play in Florida's bowl game and then depart to prepare for April's NFL draft.
Thank You Gator Nation !!!! pic.twitter.com/BnseLUFn08
— Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (@CGJXXIII) November 26, 2018
The six-foot, 208-pound Gardner-Johnson played the "Star" or nickelback position in first-year defensive coordinator Todd Grantham's system. He opened the season with a career-high two sacks in Florida's win over Charleston Southern and provided veteran leadership and a physical presence for the Gators' young secondary. Gardner-Johnson has seven career interceptions, averaging 31.1 yards per return with two touchdowns.
In Saturday's 41-14 win at Florida State, Gardner-Johnson finished with a pair of tackles, including one for loss. He has two interceptions this season and returned one for a 26-yard touchdown on the opening play of Florida's 63-10 win over Idaho on Nov. 17, his final game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Gardner-Johnson celebrated Florida's first win over the Seminoles since 2012 on Saturday by hoisting a huge Gators flag around Bobby Bowden Field. He attempted to plant it at midfield, but after both head coaches intervened to prevent a potential skirmish, Gardner-Johnson ran to celebrate with the Gators fans who made the trip to Doak Campbell Stadium.
Gardner-Johnson's versatility and athleticism should help him in the draft process. He is projected as a safety at the next level and based on early mock drafts, Gardner-Johnson figures to be one of the first safeties off the board in a year that is heavy on defensive talent.
Check out Gardner-Johnson's full statement on his decision to enter the NFL draft:
Gator Nation,
The opportunity to be a part of this program and play inside The Swamp for the past three seasons has been incredible. Since my arrival on campus in 2016, I have matured and become the man and player you all know today.
On the field, I now understand what football really is and the small details that help someone like myself become a force to be reckoned with. Off the field, I have grown mentally and physically as I now understand that my body is everything.
However, the more I valued my body I realized that all the individuals around me can have a positive and negative affect on who I am or viewed as in the public eye. This University and my platform as a student-athlete made me strong from the struggles of being alone at night, to waking up in the morning knowing I have a job to do in order to achieve my goals.
With that in mind, I write to you today to say that I'm ready to achieve my next goal and move on to the next chapter in my life. I have decided to forgo my senior year and declare for the NFL draft.
Along with this decision, I want Gator Nation to know that I am 100 percent committed to my team and this program as we look to finish the season strong at our bowl game next month.
But I cannot say goodbye without first saying thank you.
Without my parents, two brothers (Brandon & Boogie) and Jazzmin McCoy, I can honestly say that I wouldn't be where I am today without you all. The transition into college wasn't always easy for me, but my family was always there for me. With that, I need to thank second mom, Allison Forrest in the Hawkins Center, as she also helped me through so many tough times. Can't forget my girlfriend, Cydney, and our soon-to-be son, Cayden, who is due to be born in April.
Those two have provided me so much motivation and I can't wait to provide for them as our journey continues together.
For the fellas that I ran out of the tunnel during my time here at Florida, I'll never forget the ride we went on. Being a part of this team has been a true honor and I am proud to say you are all my brothers. Jeawon Taylor, Brad Stewart, Quincy Lenton, C.J. McWilliams, Donovan Stiner, Shawn Davis, Duke Dawson and the rest of the DB unit: Man, I just want to say thanks for fighting with me every day.
To the coaches: Thank you for constantly pushing me and elevating my game. Without Coach Ron English, Corey Bell, Randy Shannon, Chris Rumph, John Wilk, James Folston, Alex Goins and my uncle Tyrone Giscombe, I wouldn't be half the athlete I am today.
It's an exciting time for me. I've decided to do what's best for me and my family by continuing to pursue my dreams. Hopefully I'll make everyone proud and show how my passion for this game continues to shine through.
The opportunity to be a part of this program and play inside The Swamp for the past three seasons has been incredible. Since my arrival on campus in 2016, I have matured and become the man and player you all know today.
On the field, I now understand what football really is and the small details that help someone like myself become a force to be reckoned with. Off the field, I have grown mentally and physically as I now understand that my body is everything.
However, the more I valued my body I realized that all the individuals around me can have a positive and negative affect on who I am or viewed as in the public eye. This University and my platform as a student-athlete made me strong from the struggles of being alone at night, to waking up in the morning knowing I have a job to do in order to achieve my goals.
With that in mind, I write to you today to say that I'm ready to achieve my next goal and move on to the next chapter in my life. I have decided to forgo my senior year and declare for the NFL draft.
Along with this decision, I want Gator Nation to know that I am 100 percent committed to my team and this program as we look to finish the season strong at our bowl game next month.
But I cannot say goodbye without first saying thank you.
Without my parents, two brothers (Brandon & Boogie) and Jazzmin McCoy, I can honestly say that I wouldn't be where I am today without you all. The transition into college wasn't always easy for me, but my family was always there for me. With that, I need to thank second mom, Allison Forrest in the Hawkins Center, as she also helped me through so many tough times. Can't forget my girlfriend, Cydney, and our soon-to-be son, Cayden, who is due to be born in April.
Those two have provided me so much motivation and I can't wait to provide for them as our journey continues together.
For the fellas that I ran out of the tunnel during my time here at Florida, I'll never forget the ride we went on. Being a part of this team has been a true honor and I am proud to say you are all my brothers. Jeawon Taylor, Brad Stewart, Quincy Lenton, C.J. McWilliams, Donovan Stiner, Shawn Davis, Duke Dawson and the rest of the DB unit: Man, I just want to say thanks for fighting with me every day.
To the coaches: Thank you for constantly pushing me and elevating my game. Without Coach Ron English, Corey Bell, Randy Shannon, Chris Rumph, John Wilk, James Folston, Alex Goins and my uncle Tyrone Giscombe, I wouldn't be half the athlete I am today.
It's an exciting time for me. I've decided to do what's best for me and my family by continuing to pursue my dreams. Hopefully I'll make everyone proud and show how my passion for this game continues to shine through.
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