Carter's Corner: Eager Elam, Carter or Pierce Next?, Faedo on Rise, Dressel Unplugged, More Gators Tidbits
Friday, April 29, 2022 | General, Football, Scott Carter
According to ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr., five defensive players came off board first for only the second time in draft history (1991). Overall, the first round was split — 16 offensive players, 16 defensive players.
Gators cornerback Kaiir Elam was selected by the Bills at No. 23 overall. Elam projected as a late first-round pick, early-to-mid second-round selection on most mock drafts. Elam continues Florida's historical tradition of producing first-round draft picks.
Buffalo Bills draft CB Kaiir Elam No. 23. Eighth time in nine years #Gators have first-round pick. Fourth UF CB since 2010 (Henderson, Hargreaves, Haden) to go in first round.
— Edgar Thompson (@osgators) April 29, 2022
Meanwhile, the second and third rounds are tonight, and on Saturday, the draft concludes with rounds four through seven. Defensive lineman Zachary Carter and running back Dameon Pierce are the two most likely Gators to be selected next in the draft.
As for the Gators, there is always something happening. A look at some recent headlines of interest to UF fans:
FIRST AND 10
1) "I'm coming in to compete. I don't think anything's going to be given to me, but the ability to play and learn from Tre White and the other guys in the secondary is something I look forward to. Pick their brains and try to learn as much as I can, but also on the field, I want to compete right away for everything. I just want to prove that I'll have an immediate impact right away and strive to win the Super Bowl." -- Gators CB Kaiir Elam on a video conference call after he was picked by the Bills.
Read: Bills trade up two spots, draft Florida CB Elam writes Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News.
2) According to the mock drafters, many analysts have Pierce as the next-best Gator available in the draft. One team that could be interested is the Rams.
Read: NFL Draft best available players for Los Angeles Rams: Damarri Mathis, Dameon Pierce writes Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic.
3) Carter's versatility a key attribute as teams evaluate his role in the NFL.
Read: Why a Gators' weakness raised defensive lineman Carter's draft stock writes Matt Baker of the Tampa Bay Times.
4) The name, image and likeness era is rapidly altering college athletics and Gators coach Billy Napier and wealthy supporters are being proactive in current landscape writes Andy Staples and G. Allan Taylor of The Athletic.
Florida coach Billy Napier wants an NIL war chest, and the existing grassroots collective wasn't filling it fast. So Hugh Hathcock, who earlier made the largest single donation in UF athletic department history, is trying to do it $1 million at a time.https://t.co/LYZtMzTjzE pic.twitter.com/neQnwkLfuM
— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) April 28, 2022
5) ICYMI, Gators kicker Chris Howard, who appeared in 15 games over three seasons, has entered the transfer portal ...
Thank you Gator Nation ❤️ pic.twitter.com/k0MYK5w7fH
— Chris Howard (@Chris_Howard17) April 25, 2022
6) Former Gators pitcher Alex Faedo, a star during the 2017 national championship season, is back on mound for first time since 2019 and made his Triple-A debut this week in Omaha of all places ...
Alex Faedo loves Omaha. Won the College World Series there 5 years ago, and racked up 17 swings-and-misses there tonight in his Triple-A debut. pic.twitter.com/1FeXU0nV4L
— Woodward Tigers (@WoodwardTigers) April 28, 2022
7) Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey, who filled such a vital role during the COVID-19 pandemic, apparently is not interested in replacing outgoing NCAA President Mark Emmert ...
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, asked by @CFBHeather and me if he wants to be the next NCAA president: "No, I'm busy with what I do."
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) April 27, 2022
8) Gators grad and Olympic champion swimmer Caeleb Dressel with a frank interview about his post-Olympic mental health struggles ...
9) ICYMI, Gators athletic director Scott Stricklin spoke with a group of reporters on Wednesday about parting ways with soccer coach Tony Amato after one season ...
Scott Stricklin pulls plug on soccer coach Tony Amato after one season, a first for #Gators AD as he sharpens focus on coaches able to truly connect with athletes.
— Edgar Thompson (@osgators) April 27, 2022
'That relationship piece is paramount. It's got to be a focus on every hire we make.'https://t.co/q7b5pA9qGv
10) Let's finish on an upbeat note as a young Gators fan gets a Happy Birthday wish from Gervon Dexter ...
Connecting Gator fans with their favorite Gator athletes… 🥰
— Gator Collective (@GatorCollective) April 25, 2022
Happy birthday, @WhiteBraedyn! 🎉@rwgator1 @GervonDexter pic.twitter.com/4MOFL76ubN
