Offensive lineman O'Cyrus Torrence followed Gators head coach Billy Napier from Louisiana. (Photo: Randy Mickens/UAA Communications)
Buffalo Picks Gators OL O'Cyrus Torrence in Second Round
Friday, April 28, 2023 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Gators offensive lineman O'Cyrus Torrence, while in high school in his small Louisiana hometown, used to wait for phone calls on Thursday nights from Billy Napier. He waited for another important call on Friday night, this one from the NFL.
When it finally arrived, Torrence was informed that the Buffalo Bills had selected him in the second round of the NFL Draft.
"I'm back home at Louisiana,'' he said. "It was a surreal moment, a lot of excitement and screaming and yelling. It was fun."
Torrence is the highest-drafted UF offensive lineman since the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Jawaan Taylor with the 35th overall pick in the second round during the 2019 draft.
The move paid off in a big way for Torrence, whose place in UF history is marked by an All-American brick outside of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
"I feel it was very important to not only show people I could play in the SEC, but dominate at an FBS school,'' he said. "It showed my ceiling is higher than people thought. I can see myself play any of the three interior positions."
Torrence played in 48 games during his college career, including 11 starts for the Gators in 2022. The 6-foot-5, 330-pound Torrence helped the Gators rank 24th nationally in rushing in Napier's first season and solidified Torrence's status as a plug-and-play interior lineman in the draft.
He was also never credited for allowing a sack in his college career after earning all-state honors at St. Helena Central (La.) High School. Napier gave Torrence a chance to play at Louisiana and he didn't disappoint, earning All-Sun Belt Conference honors as a junior.
He instantly became the anchor of Florida's offensive line as the starting right guard, and did not commit a penalty last season according to Pro Football Focus.
Buffalo showed heavy interest in Torrence during the draft process.
"I took a trip up there," he said. "It felt tight. I felt like I was the right fit for them."
Torrence impressed scouts at the NFL Combine with his upper-body strength and held his own in battling Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter, selected ninth overall by the Eagles in Thursday night's first round, in his only Florida-Georgia game.
Torrence's grade at the combine was second only to UF quarterback Anthony Richardson among the nine UF players in attendance, and earned him the label of "eventual plus starter."
Torrence is the 34th UF offensive lineman selected in the common draft era (since 1967) and the highest-draft guard since Burton Lawless in 1975 (second round, 44th overall).
When it finally arrived, Torrence was informed that the Buffalo Bills had selected him in the second round of the NFL Draft.
"I'm back home at Louisiana,'' he said. "It was a surreal moment, a lot of excitement and screaming and yelling. It was fun."
Torrence is the highest-drafted UF offensive lineman since the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Jawaan Taylor with the 35th overall pick in the second round during the 2019 draft."Couldn't be happier for Cybo. So proud of him,'' said Gators offensive line coach Rob Sale, who worked with Torrence at Louisiana and Florida. "I've been lucky to witness his development into the player he is today and I know a lot of work and commitment has gone into it. It truly makes me proud to have been a small part of that process. Happy for him and his family, and the best is yet to come. The Bills are getting an outstanding football player and teammate in Cybo, and even a better person."
Torrence, who was named an All-American last season for the Gators, played three seasons at the University of Louisiana before transferring to Florida when Napier left the University of Louisiana to take over the Gators.The move paid off in a big way for Torrence, whose place in UF history is marked by an All-American brick outside of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
"I feel it was very important to not only show people I could play in the SEC, but dominate at an FBS school,'' he said. "It showed my ceiling is higher than people thought. I can see myself play any of the three interior positions."
The moment @78_KingBo got the call.#NFLDraft | @BuffaloBills pic.twitter.com/dPmT1iEJNc
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) April 29, 2023
Torrence played in 48 games during his college career, including 11 starts for the Gators in 2022. The 6-foot-5, 330-pound Torrence helped the Gators rank 24th nationally in rushing in Napier's first season and solidified Torrence's status as a plug-and-play interior lineman in the draft.
He was also never credited for allowing a sack in his college career after earning all-state honors at St. Helena Central (La.) High School. Napier gave Torrence a chance to play at Louisiana and he didn't disappoint, earning All-Sun Belt Conference honors as a junior.
He instantly became the anchor of Florida's offensive line as the starting right guard, and did not commit a penalty last season according to Pro Football Focus.
Buffalo showed heavy interest in Torrence during the draft process.
"I took a trip up there," he said. "It felt tight. I felt like I was the right fit for them."
Torrence impressed scouts at the NFL Combine with his upper-body strength and held his own in battling Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter, selected ninth overall by the Eagles in Thursday night's first round, in his only Florida-Georgia game.
Torrence's grade at the combine was second only to UF quarterback Anthony Richardson among the nine UF players in attendance, and earned him the label of "eventual plus starter."
Torrence is the 34th UF offensive lineman selected in the common draft era (since 1967) and the highest-draft guard since Burton Lawless in 1975 (second round, 44th overall).
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