GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- It was all eyes on the Florida Gators on Wednesday as they took the field for Florida's Pro Day at the Gary Condron Family Indoor Practice Facility.
Without an NFL combine this year, it was ever important for Florida's players to showcase their skills and talents that will prove to NFL scouts and coaches that they belong in the big leagues. Among the 16 draft-eligible Gators from the 2020 roster,
Kyle Pitts,
Kadarius Toney and
Kyle Trask have continued to have standout offseason performances to reinforce their draft stock going into April.
An All-American tight end, Pitts is currently predicted to go inside the top ten, with some mock drafts having him off the board as early as the second selection to the New York Jets.Going top five would make him the highest-drafted tight end in NFL history.
 On Wednesday, Pitts was committed to showing scouts why such a high draft stock is warranted.
"I wanted to run sub-4.5," Pitts said.
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Actions speak louder than words.
Pitts said it was during his sophomore year when he started to think that being a top selection in the NFL draft was within reach. Although, he said, the way things are unfolding now is a dream being realized.
"If I do happen to go top five, that would be crazy for me and my family,'' he said.
Quarterback
Kyle Trask on the other hand, after breaking the single-season school record for touchdown passes this past fall -- alongside a handful of other milestones -- is projected to go off the board in the third round.
Trask's journey to and though Florida is well-documented. It features periods in both high school and college in which Trask waited under other players as he awaited his chance to take the ball under center.
He got that chance in college when his number was called following an injury to then starting quarterback
Feleipe Franks back in 2019. And the rest is history.
But as for the future, Trask said he has learned a lot from his time on the sidelines and how he approaches self-improvement -- even when he isn't the one taking the snaps on Saturdays.
"I think I'm just not afraid to ask questions,'' he said. "I was asking probably the most questions in the room even though I wasn't playing."
After spending the last season as the head signal caller of the Gators, Trask may find himself in a similar position – back on the sidelines – if he's taken by a team with an already steady QB1.
Trask said his preparation won't change despite any situation he might find himself. And head coach
Dan Mullen echoes that statement.
"You're getting a guy that is going to prepare himself to be ready to play and lead your team to victory every single week,'' Mullen said Wednesday. "And that's what a pro is. And that's what he will do."
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Quarterback Kyle Trask drops back to pass during his workout Wednesday at Gators Pro Day. (Photo: UAA Communications)
Trask said the two things he wanted to show at Gators Pro Day was that he in fact does have a strong arm as well as mobility in the pocket.
"I wanted to show I'm not a statue back there -- that I can move."
Mullen acknowledged the criticism of the former Florida quarterback by dispelling any doubt about where Trask sits in this year's QB class.
"Ten years from now, I wouldn't be surprised if he is in the group of the top five quarterbacks in this year's draft," Mullen said.
Trask is currently sixth on veteran ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper's most recent quarterback rankings is as followed: 1. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson; 2. Justin Fields, Ohio State; 3. Zach Wilson, BYU; 4. Mac Jones, Alabama; 5. Trey Lance, North Dakota State;
6. Kyle Trask, Florida; 7. Davis Mills, Stanford; 8. Kellen Mond, Texas A&M; 9. Jamie Newman, Wake Forest/Georgia; 10.
Feleipe Franks, Arkansas.
Another Gator expected to hover around the end of the first round is
Kadarius Toney, who broke out for 70 receptions, 984 yards, and 10 touchdowns last season.
Early in Toney's Florida tenure, he was labeled as an impressive athlete but lacking the refined route running skills many receivers utilize to take their game to the next level.
Toney said he's put a lot of those questions to rest, especially with his dedication to improving his route-running this past season, which led to a career-year for the senior Gator.
A 4.38 40-yard dash on Wednesday supports the shifty and quick play Toney exemplified on the field for the Gators.
In terms of any off-the-field criticism, Toney set the record straight on Wednesday about his dedication to football with rumors circulating that his interest in creating music serves as a distraction.
"That's really got me through college as far as being able to express myself," Toney said.
He dropped his second album, "Warrior II," by his rap alias of "Yung Joka" on Jan. 1.
Toney said the comments that his music puts his future success is jeopardy is disrespectful.
"I was born to play football."
When the NFL Draft arrives April 29, all 16-draft eligible Gators will look to keep doing just that. Except next time around, in an NFL uniform.
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