Trask Headed to Tampa Bay, Drafted in the Second Round
Friday, April 30, 2021 | Football
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Former Gators quarterback Kyle Trask was selected in the second round (No. 64 overall) of this year's NFL Draft Friday night by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, becoming the first Florida quarterback to be drafted since Tim Tebow in 2010.
Trask is the fifth-highest drafted Gators quarterback, and the eighth in school history. Additionally, he is the first Florida quarterback to be selected in the second round.
"I am just super excited for this opportunity," Trask said during a zoom call following his selection. "I had some great conversations with a lot of the offensive coaches … they believed in me enough to give me this opportunity and they're going to get everything I've got."
A 2020 Heisman Trophy finalist, Trask produced one of the most historic seasons in Florida history.
The Manvel, Texas native led the FBS with a total of 46 touchdowns and 43 touchdown passes, while ranking second in passing yards with 4,283 last year.
His 43 touchdown passes broke Danny Wuerffel's 24-year-old school record of 39, and tied him for third on the SEC single-season record list. Meanwhile, his 4,283 passing yards broke Rex Grossman's single-season school record (3,896 in 2001), ranked second on the SEC single-season record list and was one of six 4,000-yard passing seasons in SEC history.
"He had a lot of receiving entities to throw to (at Florida), he took advantage of it. I liked the improvement he showed from 2019 to 2020," said ESPN Football Analyst Mel Kiper Jr. "His willingness to hang tough in the pocket is evident, game in and game out. His touch on deep throws is excellent."
Kyle Trask– Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2nd Round (No. 64 overall) Complete Bio CLICK HERE
What They're Saying
"Kyle Trask is a remarkable story in a variety of different ways. The journey from high school backup to Heisman finalist is an enormous story unto itself."
- Mike Greenberg
"He had a lot of receiving entities to throw to (at Florida), he took advantage of it. I liked the improvement he showed from 2019 to 2020. His willingness to hang tough in the pocket is evident, game in and game out. His touch on deep throws is excellent."
- Mel Kiper Jr.
UF Draft Notes:
DAY 1 RECAP - Kyle Pitts (4th overall – Atlanta), Kadarius Toney (20th overall – New York Giants)
Kyle Pitts – Atlanta Falcons, 1st Round (No. 4 overall) Complete Bio CLICK HERE
What they're saying
"He's just a matchup nightmare. You don't have linebackers that are 6'6, 240 [Lbs] and run a 4.3. You obviously don't have safeties that are that big… His ability to separate and his route running. This guy is 6'6 running a 4.3 and has movement after the catch.
-Louis Riddick
"If I had to bet on a hall of famer from this draft, it would be him. The most unique tight end prospect I have evaluated in 20 years. Matt Ryan just got the greatest gift of this draft… he knows exactly when to use his hands right at the end of routes to get that separation."
- Kirk Herbstreit
Kadarius Toney – New York Giant, 1st Round (No. 20 overall) Complete Bio CLICK HERE.
What they're saying
He's a playmaker. We talked about it. The NY Giants needed to add a playmaker on the offense. I get it. But can you get a guy that has home run hitting potential. When I get you the ball in the open field you can make a play. We saw Kadarius Toney in the slot, we saw him running jet sweeps. We saw contact bounce off of him. Give him the football, it takes several people to bring you down. There is 6 guys from South Carolina and they couldn't bring him down. He's a playmaker, may not be the best wide receiver. Elijah Moore probably a little bit more better kept, but here's what you have with Toney. He's a special guy with the speed and space in the NFL now, he's a playmaker with the ball in his hands."
-Booger McFarland
Welcome to Tampa Bay, @ktrask9! #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/v130nt8F5L
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) May 1, 2021
Trask is the fifth-highest drafted Gators quarterback, and the eighth in school history. Additionally, he is the first Florida quarterback to be selected in the second round.
"I am just super excited for this opportunity," Trask said during a zoom call following his selection. "I had some great conversations with a lot of the offensive coaches … they believed in me enough to give me this opportunity and they're going to get everything I've got."
That moment you find out you are a Tampa Bay Buccaneer! #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/gfaUynFFR9
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) May 1, 2021
A 2020 Heisman Trophy finalist, Trask produced one of the most historic seasons in Florida history.
The Manvel, Texas native led the FBS with a total of 46 touchdowns and 43 touchdown passes, while ranking second in passing yards with 4,283 last year.
His 43 touchdown passes broke Danny Wuerffel's 24-year-old school record of 39, and tied him for third on the SEC single-season record list. Meanwhile, his 4,283 passing yards broke Rex Grossman's single-season school record (3,896 in 2001), ranked second on the SEC single-season record list and was one of six 4,000-yard passing seasons in SEC history.
Earned not given.
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) May 1, 2021
Congratulations, @ktrask9! #GatorMade pic.twitter.com/psBfkyOCXN
"He had a lot of receiving entities to throw to (at Florida), he took advantage of it. I liked the improvement he showed from 2019 to 2020," said ESPN Football Analyst Mel Kiper Jr. "His willingness to hang tough in the pocket is evident, game in and game out. His touch on deep throws is excellent."
| Gators QBs Drafted since 1967 | |||||
| Season | Rnd | Pick | Overall | Team | Player |
| 2021 | 2 | 32 | 64 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Kyle Trask |
| 2010 | 1 | 25 | 25 | Denver Broncos | Tim Tebow |
| 2003 | 1 | 22 | 22 | Chicago Bears | Rex Grossman |
| 2001 | 4 | 30 | 125 | New York Giants | Jesse Palmer |
| 1997 | 4 | 3 | 99 | New Orleans Saints | Danny Wuerffel |
| 1988 | 7 | 15 | 180 | Miami Dolphins | Kerwin Bell |
| 1972 | 1 | 14 | 14 | Philadelphia Eagles | John Reaves |
| 1967 | 1 | 3 | 3 | San Francisco 49ers | Steve Spurrier |
Kyle Trask– Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2nd Round (No. 64 overall) Complete Bio CLICK HERE
What They're Saying
"Kyle Trask is a remarkable story in a variety of different ways. The journey from high school backup to Heisman finalist is an enormous story unto itself."
- Mike Greenberg
"He had a lot of receiving entities to throw to (at Florida), he took advantage of it. I liked the improvement he showed from 2019 to 2020. His willingness to hang tough in the pocket is evident, game in and game out. His touch on deep throws is excellent."
- Mel Kiper Jr.
UF Draft Notes:
- The Gators have had 12 first round picks in the last nine drafts.
- Florida has had at least a first-round pick in 13 of the last 15 years.
- UF has had 15 players selected in the top 10 of the NFL Draft since 1967, while five have been drafted in the top 5.
- Since 2007, the Gators have had 20 first-round picks, which is the fourth-most among all schools nationally.
| First Rnd. Picks since 2007 (NCAA) | ||
| Rk. | College | No. |
| 1. | Alabama | 39 |
| 2. | Ohio State | 24 |
| 3. | LSU | 22 |
| 4. | Florida | 20 |
| 5. | USC | 16 |
| 6. | Clemson | 16 |
| 7. | Georgia | 14 |
| 8. | Florida State | 12 |
- UF has had the fifth-most first-round draft picks (53) among NCAA schools and the second-most in the Southeastern Conference in the Common Draft era (since 1967).
| First Rnd. Picks since 1967 (NCAA) | ||
| Rk. | College | No. |
| 1. | Ohio State | 72 |
| USC | 72 | |
| 3. | Alabama | 64 |
| 4. | Miami (FL) | 62 |
| 5. | Florida | 53 |
| 6. | Florida State | 45 |
| 7. | Notre Dame | 44 |
- UF ranks tied for second in the SEC and tied for 9th in the nation among schools with most players selected in the first 10 overall picks of the NFL Draft since 1967. Texas A&M's picks prior to 2012 included.
| Top 10 picks since 1967 (NCAA) | ||
| Rk. | College | No. |
| 1. | USC | 35 |
| 2. | Alabama | 28 |
| 3. | Ohio State | 24 |
| 4. | Penn State | 19 |
| 5. | Notre Dame | 17 |
| 6. | Miami (FL) | 16 |
| Oklahoma | 16 | |
| 8. | Texas | 15 |
| 9. | Florida | 14 |
| Florida State | 14 | |
| Texas A&M | 14 | |
| LSU | 14 | |
| 13. | Georgia | 12 |
- UF leads in-state rivals Miami and Florida State with the most players selected in the first round since 2010.
| First round picks since 2010 | ||
| Rk. | College | No. |
| 1 | Florida | 16 |
| 2 | FSU | 11 |
| 3 | Miami | 6 |
- In the SEC, Florida ranks tied with Alabama for most years with multiple players selected in the first round with 14.
- Florida (14 years) – 2021 (2); 2016 (2); 2015 (2); 2013 (2); 2010 (3); 2007 (2); 2001 (2); 1999 (2); 1998 (2); 1997 (2); 1995 (2); 1989 (3); 1986 (2); 1985 (2)
- Alabama (14 years) – 2021 (6); 2020 (4) 2019 (3); 2018 (4); 2017 (4); 2014 (2); 2013 (3); 2012 (4); 2011 (4); 2010 (2); 2000 (2); 1993 (3); 1979 (2); 1978 (2)
- At least one Florida player has been selected in every NFL Draft since 1952, the longest streak in SEC history.
DAY 1 RECAP - Kyle Pitts (4th overall – Atlanta), Kadarius Toney (20th overall – New York Giants)
- First time the Gators have had two offensive skill-position players drafted in the top 20 since 1997, when receiver Ike Hilliard went seventh overall pick to the Giants and Reidel Anthony was taken 16th overall by the Buccaneers.
- First time since 2016 (Keanu Neal and Vernon Hargreaves III) that multiple Gators were selected in the first round, and 14th time in school history.
- Third time in school history that UF has back-to-back top 10 selections.
| Gators selected in the top 10 in consecutive years | ||||
| Year | Pick | Team | Player | Pos |
| 2021 | 4 | Atlanta Falcons | Kyle Pitts | TE |
| 2020 | 9 | Jacksonville Jaguars | CJ Henderson | CB |
| 2001 | 3 | Cleveland Browns | Gerard Warren | DT |
| 2000 | 10 | Baltimore Ravens | Travis Taylor | WR |
| 1998 | 9 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Fred Taylor | RB |
| 1997 | 7 | New York Giants | Ike Hilliard | WR |
Kyle Pitts – Atlanta Falcons, 1st Round (No. 4 overall) Complete Bio CLICK HERE
- Highest-drafted tight end in history.
- First SEC tight end to be drafted in the top 10.
- Seventh SEC tight end to be drafted in the first round.
- 14th tight end in the nation to be drafted in the top 10 since 1967, and second in the top 5.
| Highest-drafted tight ends since 1967 (by pick) | ||||||
| Season | Rnd | Pick | Overall | Team | Player | College |
| 2021 | 1 | 4 | 4 | Atlanta Falcons | Kyle Pitts | Florida |
| 1972 | 1 | 5 | 5 | Denver Broncos | Riley Odoms | Houston |
| 2006 | 1 | 6 | 6 | San Francisco 49ers | Vernon Davis | Maryland |
| 2004 | 1 | 6 | 6 | Cleveland Browns | Kellen Winslow II | Miami (FL) |
| 1973 | 1 | 6 | 6 | Philadelphia Eagles | Charle Young | USC |
| 1970 | 1 | 6 | 6 | Philadelphia Eagles | Steve Zabel | Oklahoma |
| 1980 | 1 | 7 | 7 | Atlanta Falcons | Junior Miller | Nebraska |
| 1978 | 1 | 7 | 7 | San Francisco 49ers | Ken MacAfee | Notre Dame |
| 1974 | 1 | 7 | 7 | St. Louis Cardinals | J.V. Cain | Colorado |
| 1969 | 1 | 7 | 7 | San Francisco 49ers | Ted Kwalick | Penn State |
| 2019 | 1 | 8 | 8 | Detroit Lions | T.J. Hockenson | Iowa |
| 1996 | 1 | 9 | 9 | Oakland Raiders | Rickey Dudley | Ohio State |
| 1995 | 1 | 9 | 9 | New York Jets | Kyle Brady | Penn State |
| 2014 | 1 | 10 | 10 | Detroit Lions | Eric Ebron | North Carolina |
| Gators Tight Ends Drafted since 1967 (by pick) | |||||
| Season | Rnd | Pick | Overall | Team | Player |
| 2021 | 1 | 4 | 4 | Atlanta Falcons | Kyle Pitts |
| 2004 | 2 | 8 | 40 | Tennessee Titans | Ben Troupe |
| 1969 | 2 | 21 | 47 | Detroit Lions | Jim Yarbrough |
| 2000 | 3 | 6 | 68 | Tennessee Titans | Erron Kinney |
| 2013 | 3 | 23 | 85 | Washington Redskins | Jordan Reed |
| 2010 | 4 | 15 | 113 | New England Patriots | |
| 1983 | 4 | 24 | 108 | Dallas Cowboys | Chris Faulkner |
| 2009 | 5 | 17 | 153 | Philadelphia Eagles | Cornelius Ingram |
| 2003 | 5 | 26 | 161 | San Francisco 49ers | Aaron Walker |
| 1976 | 6 | 1 | 157 | Seattle Seahawks | Alvis Darby |
| 1983 | 9 | 5 | 229 | San Francisco 49ers | Mike Mularkey |
| 1977 | 12 | 3 | 310 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Jimmy Stephens |
What they're saying
"He's just a matchup nightmare. You don't have linebackers that are 6'6, 240 [Lbs] and run a 4.3. You obviously don't have safeties that are that big… His ability to separate and his route running. This guy is 6'6 running a 4.3 and has movement after the catch.
-Louis Riddick
"If I had to bet on a hall of famer from this draft, it would be him. The most unique tight end prospect I have evaluated in 20 years. Matt Ryan just got the greatest gift of this draft… he knows exactly when to use his hands right at the end of routes to get that separation."
- Kirk Herbstreit
Kadarius Toney – New York Giant, 1st Round (No. 20 overall) Complete Bio CLICK HERE.
- First Gators wide receiver to be selected in the first round since Percy Harvin was taken 22nd overall by the Minnesota Vikings in 2009.
- *Highest-drafted wide receiver since Travis Taylor was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 10th overall pick in 2000. (Correction from Day 1 recap)
- Fifth-highest drafted wide receiver in Gators history
| Gators Wide Receivers Drafted in the first round since 1967 (by pick) | |||||
| Season | Rnd | Pick | Overall | Team | Player |
| 1978 | 1 | 3 | 3 | New Orleans Saints | Wes Chandler |
| 1997 | 1 | 7 | 7 | New York Giants | Ike Hilliard |
| 2000 | 1 | 10 | 10 | Baltimore Ravens | Travis Taylor |
| 1997 | 1 | 16 | 16 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Reidel Anthony |
| 2021 | 1 | 20 | 20 | New York Giants | Kadarius Toney |
| 2009 | 1 | 22 | 22 | Minnesota Vikings | Percy Harvin |
| 1987 | 1 | 27 | 27 | Denver Broncos | Ricky Nattiel |
What they're saying
He's a playmaker. We talked about it. The NY Giants needed to add a playmaker on the offense. I get it. But can you get a guy that has home run hitting potential. When I get you the ball in the open field you can make a play. We saw Kadarius Toney in the slot, we saw him running jet sweeps. We saw contact bounce off of him. Give him the football, it takes several people to bring you down. There is 6 guys from South Carolina and they couldn't bring him down. He's a playmaker, may not be the best wide receiver. Elijah Moore probably a little bit more better kept, but here's what you have with Toney. He's a special guy with the speed and space in the NFL now, he's a playmaker with the ball in his hands."
-Booger McFarland
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