The draft is always full of surprises, but if there's a sure thing for the Gators, it's that Kyle Pitts will become the highest-drafted tight end in school history. Pitts is projected as a top-10 pick and some mock drafts have him going in the top six.
Ben Troupe (second round, 40th overall selection in 2004) is the highest-drafted tight end the Gators have produced, followed by Jim Yarbrough, Detroit's second-round pick in 1969 (47th overall pick) and the first tight end to get drafted in school history.
The 6-foot-6, 265-pound Yarbrough was an oddity in his day, athletic enough to catch passes downfield and big enough to block at the line of scrimmage. He finished his career with 51 catches for 685 yards and five touchdowns.
Still, the Lions moved him to offensive tackle his rookie season.
Despite his athleticism and 51 receptions at Florida, tight end Jim Yarbrough was forced to move to the offensive line in the NFL. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Tribune archives)
"I hoped I'd be drafted by a team that wanted me as a tight end,'' Yarbrough told the Tampa Tribune during his first year in the NFL. "But all the teams seemed to want me as a blocker, rather than a pass catcher, and they said I was too big for tight end."
Of course, the move worked out for Yarbrough, who eventually became a starter on the offensive line and spent nine seasons in the NFL, all with the Lions.
The 6-foot-6 Pitts, listed at 246 pounds last season with the Gators, doesn't have to worry about a position change once he gets to the NFL. Pitts is considered the most polished tight end available in the draft in the last several years. He is ranked as high as the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2021 draft behind Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence by multiple analysts, including Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network.
Barring unforeseen developments between now and April 29, the first round of the draft, Pitts is nearly certain to become Florida's highest-drafted offensive skill player since receiver Travis Taylor went No. 10 overall to Baltimore 21 years ago.
More draft rumblings …
-- Gators receiver Kadarius Toney's stock continues to rise. Based on the latest projections, Toney has a chance to be a late first-round pick. Veteran ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper ranked Toney the No. 24 overall prospect Tuesday in his latest Big Board ($), a spot ahead of Alabama running back Najee Harris. Maybe you saw that coming. I didn't.
-- Quarterback Kyle Trask is ranked sixth among available quarterbacks according to Kiper. Lawrence, Ohio State's Justin Fields, BYU's Zach Wilson, Alabama's Mac Jones and North Dakota State's Trey Lance are Nos. 1-5.
What's it like playing with prospect TE @kylepitts__?
-- A representative for Gators cornerback Marco Wilson sent an email this week to Florida's beat writers to inform them that Wilson is using his Pro Day as a platform to support Uplifting Athletes' campaign "2021 Reps For Rare Diseases." According to a press release, more than 150 players have participated in this campaign through either the NFL Combine or Pro Day workouts since its inception in 2015.
-- I'm no draft analyst and, no, I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Still, I've always thought highly of Gators receiver Trevon Grimes as an NFL talent. To me, he has just tapped his potential if he stays healthy at next level. Grimes is projected by most as a second-day pick ...
-- Kicker Evan McPherson, who entered the draft after his junior season, is ranked No. 2 at the position behind Miami's Jose Borregales by Kiper.
-- Former Gators offensive lineman Martez Ivey, defensive tackle Adam Shuler and receiver Kalif Jackson are expected to participate in UF's Pro Day. Ivey went undrafted in 2019, signed briefly with New England and spent the 2020 season with the XFL's Tampa Bay Vipers. Shuler had a brief stint with the Cardinals and 49ers as an UDFA last season, and Jackson, who started his career at UF, finished at Grambling State.
-- Safety Shawn Davis is the leading candidate to continue the Gators' streak of having a defensive back drafted in each draft since 2016. A closer look at Davis' draft profile via ProFootballNetwork.com.
-- For more on Florida's prospects in this year's draft, check out these scouting reports from Tony Pauline, who is Pro Football Network's chief draft analyst.
