GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The Gators convened for Pro Day on Wednesday and the event produced some memorable moments, most notably from
Kadarius Toney,
Kyle Pitts and
Marco Wilson.
Toney's broad jump (11 feet, 4 inches), Wilson's vertical jump (43.5 inches) and Pitts' 40-yard dash (4.44 seconds) all created buzz on the SEC Network, NFL Network and on social media.
In the final update in our Pro Day blog, here is Gators head coach
Dan Mullen discussing the event's impact on the program, plus several social-media embeds with the details from several Gators' performances and measurements:
PHOTO OF DAY
Florida's Pro Day brought together the program's three winningest head coaches (win percentage) in the modern era:
Urban Meyer (left),
Steve Spurrier (center) and
Dan Mullen (right).
Noon
The featured event for fans and many NFL scouts -- the all-important 40-yard dash -- is underway at Gators Pro Day.
Let's just get straight to some of the highlights/numbers.
Kyle Pitts and
Kadarius Toney have stood out so far.
11:30 a.m.
Gators fans are very familiar with the unique physical gifts of receiver
Kadarius Toney, one of the most dynamic skill players in school history. His unique style, especially those ankle-breaking moves he performs as routinely as the rest of us brushing our teeth, have been captured on countless highlights.
Toney can broad jump, too.
In the physical testing portion of Gators Pro Day, Toney posted an 11-foot, 4-inch broad jump that caused ripples on social media. For reference, a NFL Combine cheat sheet lists "Mr. Average" at about 10-2.
Toney is no Mr. Average. He is one of those players built to test well on Pro Day and his broad jump is just one example. Look forward to see what he does in the 40-yard dash later this afternoon.
He is projected as a late first-round pick in next month's NFL Draft and a good showing today can only help improve his stock.
Meanwhile, Gators cornerback
Marco Wilson just had a moment at Pro Day. I'll get to that in a second.
First, in what is likely the best story you'll read about a Gators player on Pro Day, here is a piece by ESPN's Liz Merrill on Wilson dealing with the fallout from his shoe toss in the LSU game. I know the audience here has strong feelings about Wilson and wanted to share what I think is a very well-done story.
Now, let's get back to Wilson's moment.
Check out his vertical jump -- and his teammates' reaction -- for one of the best in the country at pro days in 2021.
***
10:50 a.m.
If there is a star attraction at Gators Pro Day, it's tight end
Kyle Pitts, projected to go as high as the fifth pick in the draft according to analysts.
Pitts has already garnered some attention this morning before ever stepping on the field.
It has to do with his wingspan.
We know he can fly past linebackers.
But can he actually fly?
10:03 a.m.
Former Gators head coach
Urban Meyer isn't the only NFL head coach in town for Florida's Pro Day.
Meyer is joined by Miami's
Brian Flores, Cincinnati's
Zac Taylor and Carolina's
Matt Rhule according to
Jim Nagy, executive director of the Senior Bowl.
All four on are on the Gators' master list of scheduled attendees.
Meanwhile, New England offensive coordinator
Josh McDaniels is also at the event. McDaniels and Patriots head coach
Bill Belichick were at Alabama's Pro Day earlier this week. Belichick has been a regular at Florida's Pro Day over the years.
If he pops in this year, we'll let you know.
9:20 a.m.
You knew it was coming. You just didn't know when.
Well, for the record, proof of former Gators head coach
Urban Meyer's return to his old stomping grounds arrived at 9:09 a.m. when current Gators head coach
Dan Mullen -- rumor has it that he and Meyer go back a ways -- posted a photo on his Twitter account.
Mullen, in his fourth season as Florida's head coach, was joined by his former boss in the football team's offices at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Meyer recently resurfaced as the first-year head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars and undoubtedly will have good intel on which Gators could help the Jags in his first year in the NFL.
The Jaguars have the first overall pick in the draft and based on the buzz, it would be a shocker if they didn't select Clemson quarterback
Trevor Lawrence. However, they have another first-round pick later in the draft from their trade of defensive back
Jalen Ramsey to the Los Angeles Rams in 2019. If Lawrence is looking for a good receiver, Florida's
Kadarius Toney could be available around that time.
Either way, the Meyer-Mullen photo in Florida's football offices stirs memories of when the Gators were kings of college football from 2006-08.
Is
Tim Tebow in the building?
8:25 a.m.
The Gators have their Pro Day today and as the morning starts, that means 16 draft-eligible players from last season's team have an opportunity to impress the NFL officials in town for the event.
This is Florida's first Pro Day since 2019. The 2020 event was canceled due to the global coronavirus pandemic and with the NFL Combine not held this spring for health and safety reasons, today is a chance for players to get their long-awaited opportunity in front of NFL decision-makers.
In fact, check-in started at 8 a.m. at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to get the day started. Once the action begins on the field, the
SEC Network and
NFL Network are broadcasting live from the Gators indoor practice facility.
Much of their coverage is certain to focus on three Gators expected to go high in the draft: tight end
Kyle Pitts, receiver
Kadarius Toney and quarterback
Kyle Trask. Pitts and Toney are projected to go in the first round, with Pitts perhaps in the top 10. Meanwhile, Trask is projected as a second- or third-round pick after his record-setting senior season as one of four Heisman Trophy finalists.
Meanwhile, here at
FloridaGators.com, we'll keep you updated on this blog with regular updates from our various team members covering the event.
First, here is a schedule of the day:
8 a.m. -- Check-in at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
9 a.m. -- Welcome/information meeting: Gators head coach
Dan Mullen, head trainer
Paul Silvestri and pro liaison
Vernell Brown will speak to the various NFL officials in town for the event.
9:30 a.m. -- Measurement and physical testing for the draft-eligible players, which includes height, weight, arm, hand, flex, vertical jump, vertical-jump reach and bench press.
11:30 a.m. -- Continuation of measurement and physical testing with the broad jump, 40-yard dash, pro shuttle, L-drill, 60-yard shuttle.
1:30 p.m. -- Position workouts with time limit of 18 minutes for each. The order of workouts: defensive line, linebackers, defensive backs, offensive line, tight ends/receivers, running backs, quarterbacks and specialists.
3 p.m. -- Lunch break.
3:30 p.m. -- Florida's seniors-to-be have an opportunity to get height/weight measurements and take a Wonderlic Test.
The end (for now). Check back for more updates.
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