2021 NFL DRAFT DAY 3: Five Gators Selected on Final Day of NFL Draft
Saturday, May 1, 2021 | Football
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Five former Florida Gators received the call on the final day of the 2021 National Football League Draft. In total, eight Gators were selected in this year's draft. The eight total selections were the most for the program since 2017.
The Gators that were selected on day three were: DB Marco Wilson (4th RD, 136 overall) by the Arizona Cardinals, K Evan McPherson (5th RD, 149 overall), Cincinnati Bengals, DB Shawn Davis (5th RD, 165 overall), Indianapolis Colts, DT Tedarrell Slaton (5th RD, 173 overall), Green Bay Packers and OL Stone Forsythe (6th RD, 208 overall), Seattle Seahawks.
For the sixth time since 2010, UF had multiple defensive backs selected in the same draft as Wilson and Davis heard their names called in the 2021 draft. Wilson was the first Gator to get the call on Saturday as he went in the fourth round (136th overall) to the Arizona Cardinals. Davis was in the 21st pick in the fifth round (165th overall) by the Indianapolis Colts.
Slaton became the sixth defensive tackle to be drafted since 2012 and the first since Taven Bryan was selected in the first round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2018.
SEC Kicker since 2001 ---- McPherson is the second-highest drafted kicker in the SEC since 2002 and the 14th highest all-time. Gators' Jeff Chandler is the highest since 2001, picked 102 overall in 2002 by 49ers. Florida has the most kickers drafted since 2001 with three, Georgia has 2.
The Gators rank fourth nationally and third in the SEC with 17 defensive backs drafted since 2010 as Wilson and Davis will suit up in the NFL this upcoming season.
Forsythe is the 12th Gators lineman selected since 2010, the 41st in the common draft era and the first since 2019.
The West Orange, Florida native, finished his career at Florida with 40 games played, including 28 starts. In 2020, he protected Trask's blind side to help the Gators lead one of the most explosive offenses in the country.
The Gators rank tied for fourth in the NCAA and second in the SEC with 12 offensive linemen drafted since 2010.
Marco Wilson – Arizona Cardinals, 4th Round (No. 136 overall) Complete Bio CLICK HERE.
Evan McPherson – Cincinnati Bengals, 5th Round (No. 149 overall) Complete Bio CLICK HERE.
Shawn Davis – Indianapolis Colts, 5th Round (No. 165 overall) Complete Bio CLICK HERE.
Tedarrell Slaton – Green Bay Packers, 5th Round (No. 173 overall) Complete Bio CLICK HERE.
Stone Forsythe – Seattle Seahawks, 6th Round (No. 208 overall) Complete Bio CLICK HERE.
UF Draft Notes:
DAY 2 RECAP – Kyle Trask (64 overall – Tampa Bay)
Kyle Trask–Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2nd Round (No. 64 overall) Complete Bio CLICK HERE
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
Kadarius Toney – New York Giant, 1st Round (No. 20 overall) Complete Bio CLICK HERE.
The Gators that were selected on day three were: DB Marco Wilson (4th RD, 136 overall) by the Arizona Cardinals, K Evan McPherson (5th RD, 149 overall), Cincinnati Bengals, DB Shawn Davis (5th RD, 165 overall), Indianapolis Colts, DT Tedarrell Slaton (5th RD, 173 overall), Green Bay Packers and OL Stone Forsythe (6th RD, 208 overall), Seattle Seahawks.
For the sixth time since 2010, UF had multiple defensive backs selected in the same draft as Wilson and Davis heard their names called in the 2021 draft. Wilson was the first Gator to get the call on Saturday as he went in the fourth round (136th overall) to the Arizona Cardinals. Davis was in the 21st pick in the fifth round (165th overall) by the Indianapolis Colts.
| Gators DBs Drafted since 2010 | |||||
| Season | Rnd | Pick | Overall | Team | Player |
| 2021 | 4 | 31 | 136 | Arizona Cardinals | Marco Wilson |
| 2021 | 5 | 21 | 165 | Indianapolis Colts | Shawn Davis |
| 2020 | 1 | 9 | 9 | Jacksonville Jaguars | CJ Henderson |
| 2019 | 4 | 3 | 105 | New Orleans Saints | Chauncey Gardner-Johnson |
| 2018 | 2 | 24 | 56 | New England Patriots | Duke Dawson Jr. |
| 2018 | 6 | 10 | 184 | San Francisco 49ers | Marcell Harris |
| 2017 | 2 | 7 | 39 | New York Jets | Marcus Maye |
| 2017 | 2 | 14 | 46 | Indianapolis Colts | Quincy Wilson |
| 2017 | 2 | 21 | 53 | Detroit Lions | Teez Tabor |
| 2016 | 1 | 11 | 11 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Vernon Hargreaves III |
| 2016 | 1 | 17 | 17 | Atlanta Falcons | Keanu Neal |
| 2014 | 4 | 1 | 101 | Philadelphia Eagles | Jaylen Watkins |
| 2013 | 1 | 32 | 32 | Baltimore Ravens | Matt Elam |
| 2013 | 6 | 1 | 169 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Josh Evans |
| 2011 | 5 | 20 | 151 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Ahmad Black |
| 2010 | 1 | 7 | 7 | Cleveland Browns | Joe Haden |
| 2010 | 3 | 11 | 75 | Chicago Bears | Major Wright |
Slaton became the sixth defensive tackle to be drafted since 2012 and the first since Taven Bryan was selected in the first round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2018.
| Gators DTs Drafted since 2012 | |||||
| Season | Rnd | Pick | Overall | Team | Player |
| 2021 | 5 | 29 | 173 | Green Bay Packers | Tedarrell Slaton |
| 2018 | 1 | 29 | 29 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Taven Bryan |
| 2017 | 6 | 1 | 185 | Cleveland Browns | Caleb Brantley |
| 2017 | 7 | 10 | 228 | Dallas Cowboys | Joey Ivie |
| 2013 | 1 | 23 | 23 | Minnesota Vikings | Sharrif Floyd |
| 2012 | 4 | 19 | 114 | Seattle Seahawks | Jaye Howard |
| McPherson was the only kicker selected in the 2021 draft as he went to the Bengals in the fifth round. He was selected 149th overall and became the first Gator kicker drafted since 2013. FLORIDA KICKERS DRAFTED SINCE 1967 |
|||||||
| Season | Rnd | Pick | Overall | Team | Player | Pos | College |
| 2021 | 5 | 5 | 149 | Cincinnati Bengals | Evan McPherson | K | Florida |
| 2013 | 5 | 33 | 166 | Miami Dolphins | Caleb Sturgis | K | Florida |
| 2002 | 4 | 4 | 102 | San Francisco 49ers | Jeff Chandler | K | Florida |
| 1982 | 10 | 2 | 253 | New England Patriots | Brian Clark | K | Florida |
| 1977 | 9 | 16 | 239 | San Francisco 49ers | David Posey | K | Florida |
SEC Kicker since 2001 ---- McPherson is the second-highest drafted kicker in the SEC since 2002 and the 14th highest all-time. Gators' Jeff Chandler is the highest since 2001, picked 102 overall in 2002 by 49ers. Florida has the most kickers drafted since 2001 with three, Georgia has 2.
| Season | Rnd | Pick | Overall | Team | Player | Pos | College |
| 2021 | 5 | 5 | 149 | Cincinnati Bengals | Evan McPherson | K | Florida |
| 2018 | 5 | 30 | 167 | Minnesota Vikings | Daniel Carlson | K | Auburn |
| 2014 | 7 | 13 | 228 | Washington Redskins | Zach Hocker | K | Arkansas |
| 2013 | 5 | 33 | 166 | Miami Dolphins | Caleb Sturgis | K | Florida |
| 2012 | 5 | 26 | 161 | Houston Texans | Randy Bullock | K | Texas A&M |
| 2012 | 6 | 5 | 175 | Minnesota Vikings | Blair Walsh | K | Georgia |
| 2009 | 7 | 47 | 256 | Kansas City Chiefs | Ryan Succop | K | South Carolina |
| 2008 | 7 | 28 | 235 | Seattle Seahawks | Brandon Coutu | K | Georgia |
| 2002 | 4 | 4 | 102 | San Francisco 49ers | Jeff Chandler | K | Florida |
| 2001 | 5 | 29 | 160 | New York Giants | John Markham | K | Vanderbilt |
The Gators rank fourth nationally and third in the SEC with 17 defensive backs drafted since 2010 as Wilson and Davis will suit up in the NFL this upcoming season.
| Most Drafted DBs since 2010 (NCAA) | ||
| Rk. | College | No. |
| 1 | Alabama | 20 |
| 2 | LSU | 19 |
| 3 | Ohio State | 18 |
| 4 | Florida | 17 |
| 5 | Clemson | 14 |
| 6 | Virginia Tech | 13 |
| Florida State | 13 | |
| 8 | Miami (FL) | 11 |
| Utah | 11 | |
| Texas | 11 | |
| USC | 11 | |
| Georgia | 11 | |
Forsythe is the 12th Gators lineman selected since 2010, the 41st in the common draft era and the first since 2019.
The West Orange, Florida native, finished his career at Florida with 40 games played, including 28 starts. In 2020, he protected Trask's blind side to help the Gators lead one of the most explosive offenses in the country.
| Gators Linemen Drafted Since 2010 | |||||
| Season | Rnd | Pick | Overall | Team | Player |
| 2021 | 6 | 24 | 208 | Seattle Seahawks | Stone Forsythe |
| 2019 | 2 | 3 | 35 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Jawaan Taylor |
| 2017 | 4 | 23 | 129 | Oakland Raiders | David Sharpe |
| 2015 | 1 | 24 | 24 | Arizona Cardinals | D.J. Humphries |
| 2015 | 3 | 27 | 91 | Dallas Cowboys | Chaz Green |
| 2015 | 4 | 34 | 133 | Denver Broncos | Max Garcia |
| 2015 | 7 | 27 | 244 | San Francisco 49ers | Trent Brown |
| 2014 | 6 | 3 | 179 | New England Patriots | Jon Halapio |
| 2011 | 1 | 15 | 15 | Miami Dolphins | Mike Pouncey |
| 2011 | 2 | 31 | 63 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Marcus Gilbert |
| 2011 | 7 | 14 | 217 | Washington Redskins | Maurice Hurt |
| 2010 | 1 | 18 | 18 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Maurkice Pouncey |
The Gators rank tied for fourth in the NCAA and second in the SEC with 12 offensive linemen drafted since 2010.
| Most Drafted OLs since 2010 (NCAA) | ||
| Rk. | College | No. |
| 1 | Alabama | 17 |
| 2 | Ohio State | 13 |
| Wisconsin | 13 | |
| 4 | Michigan | 12 |
| Florida | 12 | |
| Georgia | 12 | |
| 7 | Notre Dame | 11 |
| Oklahoma | 11 | |
| 9 | Florida State | 10 |
| Iowa | 10 | |
| LSU | 10 | |
| USC | 10 | |
| GATORS 2021 NFL DRAFT CLASS | |||||
| Player | Pos | Rnd | Pick | Overall | Team |
| Kyle Pitts | TE | 1 | 4 | 4 | Atlanta Falcons |
| Kadarius Toney | WR | 1 | 20 | 20 | New York Giants |
| Kyle Trask | QB | 2 | 32 | 64 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Marco Wilson – Arizona Cardinals, 4th Round (No. 136 overall) Complete Bio CLICK HERE.
Evan McPherson – Cincinnati Bengals, 5th Round (No. 149 overall) Complete Bio CLICK HERE.
Shawn Davis – Indianapolis Colts, 5th Round (No. 165 overall) Complete Bio CLICK HERE.
Tedarrell Slaton – Green Bay Packers, 5th Round (No. 173 overall) Complete Bio CLICK HERE.
Stone Forsythe – Seattle Seahawks, 6th Round (No. 208 overall) Complete Bio CLICK HERE.
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 2 RECAP – Kyle Trask (64 overall – Tampa Bay)
Kyle Trask–Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2nd Round (No. 64 overall) Complete Bio CLICK HERE
- First Florida quarterback to be drafted since Tim Tebow in 2010
- Eighth QB drafted in school history.
- Fifth-highest drafted Gators signal-caller.
- First UF QB to be selected in the second round.
| 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 |
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 |
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 |
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