Former UF standout wingback Kadarius Toney checks out his new place of employment for the first time after the New York Giants selected him in the first round of the NFL Draft. [Photo courtesy of New York Giants]
Harry Fodder: Draft Review, Draftees Preview (in their words)
Sunday, May 2, 2021 | Football, Chris Harry
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By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — When the last name had been called and the final numbers were in, the Southeastern Conference not only had more players taken in the 2021 NFL Draft, but eclipsed its previous record of total selections with a whopping 65 players, including one from each of the 14 schools.
Alabama, of course, led the way. The reigning national-champion Crimson Tide had 10 players drafted, including a record-tying six in the first round. Georgia was next with nine, just ahead of Florida with eight, but the Gators and Tide were the only schools with multiple players taken in Thursday night's first round.
SEC in 2021 NFL Draft:
65 players drafted, most by a conference in a single draft.
Led all conferences in draft selections for the 15th straight year.
All 14 schools had at least 1 player selected, the only conference that had every school with a pick. pic.twitter.com/GqSMEjvowN
The future of Kyle Pitts looks very bright. Kadarius Toney is about to learn a little something about the big city. And if any of the players chosen after the first round landed in a more ideal spot than Kyle Trask, please, we'd love to hear about it.
Anyway, here's a mini-compilation of what each of the Gators' Class of '21 draftees had to say during their introductory news conferences about the new and exciting directions each of their lives are headed.
KYLE PITTS Tight end 1st round / 4th overall / Atlanta Falcons
(What do you think about being the highest-selected tight end in NFL history?) — "I'm definitely humbled. It's a dream come true to even get drafted. To be top five, that's something special. The first tight end (to be selected that high), I mean, I don't even know how to put it into words. I'm just elated with joy. I can't even put into words how excited I am."
(How do you think you fit in with the Falcons' offense along with guys like Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, etc?) — "I'm just going to be a sponge in the beginning, learning from those guys who are going to be Hall of Famers. To be drafted to their team, to be able to learn from them, see how they go about the game, see how they win, how they go about their business is something I can't wait to see. Day 1, like I said, I'll be like a sponge soaking everything up, all the knowledge I can, all the relationships I can build. I'm excited for the journey."
(What do you feel is the biggest challenge moving from college to the NFL?) — "I'm excited for the speed. It's another level of speed. I'm excited to see how these professionals play the game, match myself against them. I look up to Travis [Kelce], Eric [Ebron], George Kittle. Those are three guys right now that are representing the position very well. I take some of their things they're using in the game, add it to mine. Not that I'm in the same league. They just bring it every weekend. Trying to be the best."
KADARIUS TONEY Wide receiver 1st round / 20th overall / New York Giants
(What does a kid from Mobile, Alabama, think about coming to play in New York?) — "I know New York is kind of big, it's crazy, the 'Big Apple.' I don't really know a lot about New York because I've never been. I never traveled a lot. But I feel like it's a lot to learn about the Giants that I don't know. I feel like I don't know anything right now. Right now, I'm trying to find the quickest thing I can learn and move forward."
(How about playing for the Giants?) — "It's kind of crazy. Growing up watching NFL football sometimes, like me just going to a team that — Eli Manning was there, Odell [Beckham Jr.] was there, Tiki Barber, everybody. A lot of people were a part of this franchise and I'm just next in line to do something special.
(We saw some highlights of some moves by you that look they were made with a video game joystick. Do you practice those?) — "My mindset is to score every time I touch the ball. Whatever I've got to do. … Some stuff I do in a game I've never done before in practice. Some things I imagine before I do them. Other things are just reaction in the moment. it's really all of the above, I guess."
KYLE TRASK Quarterback 2nd round / 62nd overall / Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(What's it like knowing you're going to play just two hours away and, of course, to get a chance to be alongside Tom Brady?) — "Staying in Florida is amazing. I loved my time at the University of Florida. To have the opportunity to continue my career right down the road is amazing. I love the state of Florida. I'm glad I get to stay there for now. … They definitely have a great system going on down there in Tampa Bay. And the opportunity to learn from one of the greats that I watched growing up, has been one of my favorites — so to have that opportunity is truly remarkable. But nevertheless, I'm going to come in, work my tail off, and do whatever I can to help this team."
(Was this the spot you expected to be picked?) — "I definitely wasn't 100 percent sure about anything just because I know how crazy the draft can be. I was just super excited when I saw that Tampa, Florida, number call me. It was a feeling like no other. ... I was just like, 'Man, it was unbelievable.'
(What about the franchise, coming off a Super Bowl-winning season and all?) — "I just think the organization's in a great spot right now. I just got along so great with all the offensive coaches in all the Zooms, and being able to talk with them at pro day and things like that along the way. So I'm just really looking forward to getting started and putting in the work and doing whatever I can to help the team."
MARCO WILSON Defensive back 4th round / 136th overall / Arizona Cardinals
— South Florida Sun Sentinel (@SunSentinel) May 1, 2021
(What did you learn from the LSU game when you threw the shoe downfield that drew a costly unsportsmanlike conduct penalty at the worst time?) — "You just have to be in control of your emotions at all times and make sure you're doing the right things. But also, silly mistakes like that affect not only just you but a lot of people around you. You just have to stay away from doing things like that."
(Who do you pattern your game after?) — "I would like to say Darrelle Revis because I always watched a lot of his film and try to do things that he does. I personally feel that he's the best to ever do it and I've been watching him ever since I was a little kid to try and pick up different things and skills to be just as good as he is."
(How will playing as a true freshman help you adapt to maybe playing early in the NFL?) — "I feel like it makes you grow up really quickly. It threw me into a leadership position at a young age of 18 in the biggest conference in college football. It made me grow up really fast and made me be able to make decisions that vets would have to make. It just really made me grow up quick and gave me a lot of experience early on. I feel like it is a natural thing to move into."
(How 'bout being the first kicker taken in the draft?) — "The first kicker off the board means a lot to me. I'm ready to get to Cincinnati, be with the team, and get to work. … Words can't describe how I feel about it. It's been a dream of mine since I started kicking, and now it's here. I'm fired up. I won't stop training until I get that starting spot. I know there's 32 jobs in the world for what I want to do, but it's a goal of mine. To have that opportunity to compete for it, I don't think anything can stop me from getting it."
(Tell us about that YouTube video when he kicked a ball from a distance and made the cap of a Gatorade bottle fall off) — "The 'bottle cap challenge' was going around at that time. I knew snappers and kickers were doing it. I wanted to do something that topped all of that and get people's attention. It took me around 30 or 40 tries. But as a kicker, you're taught to 'aim small, miss small.' I knew it was just a matter of time until it happened."
(What's the lousiest weather you've kicked in?) — "I knew that was something being talked about. Being from Alabama, it gets kind of cold here in October to December. I played football in those months. Training on my own, I've kicked in January in Alabama when its 35, 40 degrees. I know it gets colder than that in Cincinnati, but I don't think the cold weather will affect me that much. I'm sure I'll adapt to it like anything else. I will say I was spoiled down there in Florida with 70-degree weather year round. I'm excited to get to Cincinnati and get things going."
SHAWN DAVIS Safety 5th round / 165th overall / Indianapolis Colts
— Indianapolis Colts on Sports Illustrated (@ColtMaven) May 2, 2021
(Is physicality a big part of your game?) — "I'd say it's a part of my game just because at the position that I play, you have to be very physical because you are the last line of defense. If you're not physical then it's all touchdowns coming from the back end on your part, so I made being physical a part of my game and one of my physical strengths."
(What was your relationship like with the Colts throughout the pre-draft process? Did you expect that they would be interested in you?) — "I just felt like I was a great player to draft. Whoever got me knew they were getting a steal. I never knew I would end up in Indy, but it's a dream come true. I'm just ready to go and ball."
(The Colts have placed a huge emphasis on the Senior Bowl the last few years. What did you get out of that experience being able to be coached by NFL staffs and play with all that talent?) — "Just being able to play football, just another day of getting better, just another day. It was a very great experience just for me just being able to be coached by NFL coaches, seeing what it's like being coached by NFL coaches and just having the experiences of playing with different people and all the great athletes in college football."
TEDARRELL SLATON Defensive lineman 5th round / 173rd overall / Green Bay Packers
(What was it like hearing your name called?) — "It was surreal. When they called it was just a rush of excitement. When they picked me, it was a like an adrenaline rush."
(Do you prefer being called "Tedarrell" or "TJ?") — "I prefer 'TJ' because some people really can't pronounce my first name correctly."
(What do you think about the potential of playing alongside Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kevin Clark?) — "Playing in the SEC for four years was great. You get the best competition in the nation every week. Now, going up there to play with Clark, I'm just going to wait my turn and learn and take all the advice he can give me and maybe we can click together and cause a lot of disruption."
(What have the last few days been like and why do you think you wainted until the sixth round to be selected?) — "It's been a long waiting game. That's a question I kind of want to find out myself and why it took so long for everyone. I'm still grateful to get the chance and to get to hear my name called."
(What do you know about the Seahawks and Seattle?) — "I know they've got a great quarterback.They've kind of got a need for some offensive linemen guys to come in and help. I've got a former teammate there. I know they've got the ('12s') and stuff like that. Loud stadium. Coming from 'The Swamp,' it kind of translates from there. I'm just ready to compete."
(Are you close to current Seahawk wide receiver Freddie Swain?) — "That's my boy. We would hang out on the weekends back in the day. His girlfriend and my girlfriend are real good friends so it will be nice to get up there and hang out with him again."
