Florida Gators

 
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gators will be well represented at the NFL Combine later this month.
 
The NFL released its official list of invitees on Thursday afternoon and eight Florida players are invited, including five juniors or redshirt juniors who opted to forgo their final year of eligibility and enter the draft.
 
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Martez Ivey, Cece Jefferson, Fred Johnson, Vosean Joseph, Jachai Polite, Jordan Scarlett and Jawaan Taylor will be in Indianapolis from Feb. 26 – March 4 to display their skills in front of NFL personnel.
 
Overall, the Gators have had 230 players invited to the combine, which is the top number in the SEC and tied for second in the country.
                                                                 
Schools with most players invited to NFL combine, history:

• Miami (FL) – 239
• Florida – 238
• Ohio State – 237
• Florida State – 238
• USC – 231  
• Alabama – 216
• LSU – 216

 
The NFL Combine consists of more than 300 players being put through a series of drills, tests and interviews while more than 600 NFL personnel in attendance (including coaching staffs, executives, player personnel and medical staffs) look on and evaluate each of them. It amounts to a major job interview for these athletes to participate in ahead of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25-27.
 
FloridaGators.com will have more coverage of UF's NFL prospects as the draft approaches.
 
The eight Gators off the 2018 team with invites include the following:
   

DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (6-0, 208)

• Ended his collegiate career with 37 games played, nine interceptions, three INT returns for touchdowns, 12 pass breakups, 161 total tackles, 15.5 tackles-for-loss and four sacks.
• 2018: Declared for the NFL Draft after his junior season… Played in all 13 games and started 12… Totaled 71 tackles, four interceptions (two returned for a touchdown), two pass break-ups, nine tackles-for-loss, three sacks and two quarterback hurries… His four INTs ranked tied for 16th in the country and tied for second in the SEC… After he snagged a pair of interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against Michigan, Gardner-Johnson was named Defensive MVP... Also for his efforts he garnered AP All-Bowl Team honors… Notched his other interception returned for a touchdown on the first play of Florida's contest against Idaho… Member of a group that helped UF lead the nation in fourth quarter opponent passing efficiency (66.25) and rank second nationally in fourth quarter opponent completion percentage (40.5).
• 2017: Played and started in all 11 games… Totaled 58 tackles, two interceptions, seven pass breakups, 6.0 tackles-for-loss and one sack… Recorded his interceptions against South Carolina (Nov. 11) and UAB (Nov. 18) in back-to-back weeks... Ranked third on the team behind Marco Wilson (10) and Duke Dawson (9) in passes defended and second on the team in tackles behind David Reese (102)… Played safety all season following an injury to veteran Marcell Harris during the preseason.
• 2016: Appeared in all 13 games throughout the season and started Florida's final three contests against FSU, Alabama and Iowa… Began the season the season as a reserve defensive back, but ended Florida's season as one its starting safeties… Led the Gators with eight special teams tackles, as he was a key member on special teams throughout the season… Totaled 32 tackles, three pass break-ups, three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and a half tackle-for-loss… His three interceptions tied with Quincy Wilson for the second most on the team… Grabbed his first-career interception at Florida State, while making his first-career start… Tallied a career-high nine tackles against Alabama in the SEC Championship Game… Recorded two tackles and two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) in the Outback Bowl against Iowa… Tallied the first multi-interception game by a Florida freshman since Nov. 13, 2004 when Kyle Jackson had two picks against South Carolina… Was named the Outback Bowl MVP for his standout performance as he joined two-way standout Dave Hudson (1958 Gator Bowl), Tony Lilly (1983 Gator) and Ahmad Black (2011 Outback) as the only UF defensive backs to be named a bowl MVP… Became the second true freshman in program history to win a Bowl MVP Award, joining Emmitt Smith (1987)… Named to ESPN's, Sports Illustrated's and the AP's All-Bowl Team.

 

OL Martez Ivey (6-5, 306)

• 2018: Played and started in all 13 games… Florida's offensive line allowed just 18 sacks over the course of the entire season, which ranked 20th in the country and third among SEC teams… Garnered Second Team All-SEC honors from the AP and league's Coaches… Earned Third Team All-SEC accolades from Athlon Sports… Was on Outland Trophy Watch List.
• 2017: Played and started in all 11 games… Started the first nine games at left tackle and the final two contests of the season at left guard… He and Jawaan Taylor were the only two Florida offensive linemen to start each game… Named Second Team All-SEC by the league's Coaches and the Associated Press… Garnered Third Team All-SEC honors by Phil Steele.
• 2016: Played in 13 games and made 12 starts… Had recorded 19 straight starts at left guard prior to the SEC Championship Game against Alabama… Two-time SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week (UGA, South Carolina)… Named Second Team All-SEC by the league's Coaches and the Associated Press… Garnered Third Team All-SEC honors by Athlon Sports.
• 2015: Played in 12 games, starting in the last eight at left guard...Also saw time as a backup at tackle... Named to the SEC Coaches All-Freshman team.

 

DL Cece Jefferson (6-1, 252)

• Finished his career with 124 tackles, 34.5 tackles-for-loss, 10.5 sacks, four pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovered in 48 games played.
• 2018: Appeared in 11 games and started eight… Recorded 18 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, one sack, two pass breakups and one fumble recovered… Named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Ted Hendricks Award Watch Lists during the season… Picked up Preseason Second Team All-SEC honors.
• 2017: Played in all 11 games and recorded eight starts at defensive end… Totaled 47 tackles, which ranked fourth on the team…Led the team in tackles-for-loss (13.5 for 38 yards) and sacks (4.5 for 14 yards)… Totaled a career-best nine tackles against Florida State (Nov. 25)… Earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors after he registered a career-best 1.5 sacks against Kentucky… Also recorded one pass breakup and six quarterback hurries, which ranked second on the team.
• 2016: Played in 12 games and started six... Missed Florida's South Carolina due to an injury… Totaled 30 tackles, 6.5 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks and five quarterback hurries… Notched a season-high five tackles and two quarterback hurries against Missouri… Recorded three solo tackles, including one tackle-for-loss against Iowa in the Outback Bowl.
• 2015: Appeared in all 14 games, starting in four of them... Named to the SEC Coaches All-Freshman team...Named to the PFF All-Freshman Second Team...Tied for third on the team with 3.5 sacks.

 
OL Fred Johnson (6-6, 330)

• 2018: Played and started in all 13 games… Florida's offensive line allowed just 18 sacks over the course of the entire season, which ranked 20th in the country and third among SEC teams… Named to the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List for his outstanding work in the community.
• 2017: Played in all 11 games and started 10 at right guard.
• 2016: Played in 12 games and started eight… Began the season as Florida's right tackle, but finished the year as UF's starting right guard.
• 2015: Appeared in eight games, starting two at right tackle (vs. Vanderbilt, vs. Michigan).

 
LB Vosean Joseph (6-1, 226)

• Declared for the NFL Draft after his junior season… Totaled 161 tackles, 14.0 tackles-for-loss, four sacks, eight pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery during his career.
• 2018: Played in all 13 games and started 11 at linebacker… Led the team with 93 tackles… Also totaled nine tackles-for-loss, four sacks, five pass breakups, one fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry… Had a career-high 14 stops and 3.5 tackles-for-loss in Florida's win over No. 5-ranked LSU… Garnered Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week and SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against the Tigers.
• 2017: Played in all 11 games and started 10 at outside linebacker… Totaled 55 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, one interception one pass breakup, one forced fumble and one quarterback hurry… Ranked third on the team in total tackles… Notched his first career interception against South Carolina... Forced the first fumble of his career against UAB… Registered a career-best 1.5 tackles-for-loss against UAB.
• 2016: Played in all 13 games and recorded one start… Was a key member of all four special teams' units and a reserve linebacker throughout the season… Totaled 13 tackles, one tackle-for-loss, one pass breakup, and one fumble recovery… Recorded a pair of special teams' tackles during the season… Notched his lone start of the season in the Outback Bowl against Iowa where he recorded six tackles, one tackle-for-loss and one pass breakup.

 

DL Jachai Polite (6-2, 242)

• Finished his career with 78 tackles, 26.5 tackles-for-loss, 15.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles and four pass break ups in 32 games played… Became the fourth Gator in history with at least eight career forced fumbles, joining Clifford Charlton (15 –1984-87), Guss Scott (11 – 2000-03), and Alex Brown (9 – 1997-2001).
• 2018: Declared for the NFL Draft following the season… Appeared in all 13 games and started five… Recorded 45 tackles on the season and led the team with 17.5 TFL, 11 sacks and six forced fumbles… Led the FBS and tied Charlton's 1986 single-season school record with six forced fumbles… One of two players in the country to record at least five forced fumbles and 10-plus sacks… Fell just 0.5 tackles-for-loss shy of tying Alex Brown's 1999 season for the 10th-highest single-season total in school history… He and his teammate Jabari Zuniga became the first pair of Gators with at least 11 tackles-for-loss in a season since the trio of Jon Bullard (17.5), Antonio Morrison (12.0) and Jarrad Davis (11.0) all reached that mark in 2015... They are also the first pair of Gators defensive linemen to reach that total in a season since Jaye Howard (12.0) and Justin Trattou (11.0) did it in 2010… Earned SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors following Florida's win at Mississippi State after he recorded three tackles, two sacks and one pass breakup… Garnered Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week following UF's win at FSU when he totaled six tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks… Named a Semifinalist for the Bednarik Award Semifinalist… Picked up First Team All-SEC honors from the league's Coaches, AP, Athlon Sports, ESPN and Phil Steele… Garnered Third Team All-America accolades by Phil Steele… Earned Second Team All-America honors by the AP.
• 2017: Played in seven games and recorded four starts prior to suffering a season-ending injury against Georgia… Totaled 22 tackles, 5.5 tackles-for-loss, two sacks, one forced fumble and six quarterback hurries…  Ranked sixth on the team in tackles-for-loss and was one of three players to force a fumble… Registered a career-high six tackles in the season-opener against Michigan… Had one sack, one forced fumble and three quarterback hurries against Vanderbilt.
• 2016: Played in 12 games throughout the season as a reserve defensive lineman… Totaled 11 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks, one quarterback hurry and one forced fumble… In his collegiate debut against UMass, Polite recorded one tackle… Recorded a season-best two tackles against Missouri, Alabama and Iowa… Had his best game on the season in UF's SEC opener against UK as he tallied his first-career sack and forced fumble.

 
RB Jordan Scarlett (5-11, 210)

• Finished his collegiate career with 1,846 rushing yards, 344 carries and 12 touchdowns in 35 games played.
• 2018: Declared for the NFL Draft following the season… Played in all 13 contests and recorded 12 starts… Ranked second on the team with 131 carries, 776 rushing yards, five touchdowns and 860 total yards… Caught 10 passes for 84 yards… Tallied a career-high 159 rushing yards on 18 carries against South Carolina… Also recorded a 100-yard rushing performance at Vanderbilt (16-113)… Tallied 22 rushes of more than 10 yards… Bought into Dan Mullen's philosophy to spilt carries with Lamical Perine, which kept them both fresh throughout a game and the entire season…  Overall, the Gators ranked fourth in the SEC in yards per carry (5.29) and yards per game (213.15) and totaled 2,771 yards rushing on 526 attempts during the season… That mark passed the 2007 Gators (2,602) for the program's third-highest rushing yardage total since the start of 1990; only the 2008 Gators (3,326) and 2009 Gators (3,105) had higher totals… Also as a team, UF rushed for 200-plus yards nine times, which tied the 2008 Gators for the highest number of times it hit that mark in a season since the start of 1996… Perine (826) and Scarlett (776) are the first pair of Gators with at least 775 rushing yards in a season since Elijah Williams (858) and Terry Jackson (780) both hit that mark in 1995… Was one of three players (Perine, Feleipe Franks) who scored at least five rushing touchdowns, which marked the first time UF accomplished that feat since 2010.
• 2017: Spent the entire season suspended and away from the team.
• 2016: Took over the starting role late in the season and carried the load for the Gators' offense… Played in all 13 contests and started eight times… Led the team with 179 carries, 889 rushing yards and six touchdowns… Scarlett's 889 yards rushing was the most by a Florida freshman or sophomore running back since 1995… Recorded a team-best 5.0 yards per rush for players who had at least 10 attempts… Had three games of 100-plus yards on the season… Led the team in rushing yards nine times on the season, against UMass (70 yards), Tennessee (44), Vanderbilt (55), Georgia (93), South Carolina (134), LSU (108), Florida State (53), Alabama (17) and Iowa (94)… Had a career day against South Carolina, averaging 6.7 yards on 20 carries and totaling 134 yards… With his rushing touchdown against Georgia, Scarlett joined Kelvin Taylor (2015) as the only other UF running back since 2005 to score a rushing touchdown in six consecutive games… Pro Football Focus credited Scarlett with 48 missed tackles (most in the SEC/16th nationally) during the regular season (prior to the Outback Bowl)… For instance, 588 of his 795 rushing yards during the regular season were after contact, which accounted for 74 percent of his total rushing yards… That mark tied him with Georgia's Nick Chubb for the highest percentage in that category… After finishing the season with 94 rushing yards against Iowa in the Outback Bowl, Scarlett eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards for his career.
• 2015: Played in 10 games and recorded his first-career start against Vanderbilt... Finished third on the team with 181 yards on 34 carries (5.3 avg) and one touchdown... Posted career highs in rushing yards (96) and attempts (nine) versus Georgia...Broke off a career-best run of 60 yards against the Bulldogs... Recorded his first-career rushing touchdown against New Mexico State.

 
 
OL Jawaan Taylor (6-5, 328)

• 2018: Declared for the NFL Draft following the season… Played in all 13 games and started 12 at right tackle… Florida's offensive line allowed just 18 sacks over the course of the entire season, which ranked 20th in the country and third among SEC teams… Garnered Second Team All-SEC honors from Athlon Sports… Named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
• 2017: Played and started in all 11 games… Started the first nine games at right tackle and the final two contests of the season at left tackle… He and Martez Ivey were the only two Florida offensive linemen to start each game.
• 2016: Played in all 13 games throughout the season and started 12 at right tackle… Was the only Florida freshman to play on the offensive line… Garnered Freshman All-America honors by ESPN.com, FWAA and Pro Football Focus… Selected to the Freshman All-SEC Team by the leagues Coaches' and Gridiron Now… Member of ESPN All-SEC Bowl Team.