Thirteen former Gators advance to the Division Round
By: Will Robinson
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Great Gator performances helped power their teams to Wild Card victories in the first round of the NFL Playoffs.
Each week of the 2025-26 season, FloridaGators.com will cover all of the best moments from the NFL stars who made a name for themselves in Gainesville.
Offense Demarcus Robinson – WR – San Francisco 49ers
Demarcus Robinson is no stranger to the playoff stage, appearing in the postseason for the 10th time in his NFL career. On the first drive of his 2025 playoff campaign against the Eagles, Robinson jump-started the 49ers offense, weaving his way through the defense for a 61-yard reception before hauling in the first score of the game just a few plays later.
Robinson finished the day with six catches for 111 yards, leading the 49ers offensively as San Francisco beat Philadelphia on the road and advanced to the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
O'Cyrus Torrence – G – Buffalo Bills
Big man doing big things! O'Cyrus Torrence powered the Bills to a Wild Card win against the Jaguars with his strength. Facing a fourth-and-short with just over a minute remaining, Torrence drove his defender off the line and helped push Josh Allen forward for a 10-yard gain down to the one-yard line. The play set up the game-winning touchdown, sealing Buffalo's playoff victory.
The third-year guard kept the pocket clean on Sunday, finishing the game unpenalized and preventing any sacks and quarterback hits from affecting the passing attack.
🐊👀Former Florida #Gators OL O'Cyrus Torrence BEASTS #Bills QB Josh Allen all the way down to the goal line in the fourth quarter. pic.twitter.com/fUdg3prWTw
— OnlyGators.com: Florida Gators news (@onlygators) January 11, 2026
Defense Gervon Dexter Sr. – DL – Chicago Bears
Dexter made an impact when it mattered most. With 22 seconds remaining on the Packers' final drive, quarterback Jordan Love had an opportunity to make the game-winning throw in the end zone, but the pass was disrupted by the presence of the nose tackle. Dexter's pressure hurried the throw, forcing an incompletion as the Bears' defense stood their ground to close out regulation.
Dexter finished the night with one solo tackle and four quarterback hurries, helping Chicago advance to the Divisional Round for the first time since 2011.
David Banks-Imagn Images
Brenton Cox Jr. – DL – Green Bay Packers
In a limited snap count, Brenton Cox Jr. made the most of his opportunity in his second career playoff appearance, generating pressure and recording a quarterback hit.
Special Teams Eddy Piñeiro – K – San Francisco 49ers
With the wind still got the win. Piñeiro remained steady in tough conditions, knocking through two extra points and a field goal in his playoff debut with the 49ers. Those five points gave San Francisco the edge they needed to secure their playoff debut victory against Philadelphia.
Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Gators Still in the Hunt
Player
Team
Position
O'Cyrus Torrence
Buffalo Bills
G
C.J. Gardner-Johnson
Chicago Bears
S
Gervon Dexter Sr.
Chicago Bears
DL
Jeremy Crawshaw
Denver Broncos
P
Tommy Townsend
Houston Texans
P
Graham Mertz
Houston Texans
QB
Trent Brown
Houston Texans
OT
DJ Humphries
Los Angeles Rams
OL
Fred Johnson
Philadelphia Eagles
OT
Ricky Pearsall
San Francisco 49ers
WR
Demarcus Robinson
San Francisco 49ers
WR
Eddy Piñeiro
San Francisco 49ers
K
Ja'Markis Weston*
Seattle Seahawks
LB
* Denotes a member of the practice squad
For a complete list of Gators in the NFL, see below. Buffalo Bills (BUF 27-24 JAX)
64 – O'Cyrus Torrence – G – 3 years
Chicago Bears (GB 27-31 CHI)
35 – C.J. Gardner-Johnson – S – 7 years
99 – Gervon Dexter Sr. – DL – 3 years (1 TOT, 1 Solo, 1 QB Hit, 3 QB Hurries)
Denver Broncos (First Round Bye)
16 – Jeremy Crawshaw – P – Rookie
Green Bay Packers (GB 27-31 CHI)
57 – Brenton Cox Jr. – DL – 3 years (1 QB Hit)
Houston Texans (HOU 30-6 PIT)
6 – Tommy Townsend – P – 6 years (3 Punts, 125 Yards, 1 IN20, Long of 60)
18 – Graham Mertz – QB – Rookie
77 – Trent Brown – OT – 11 years
Jacksonville Jaguars (BUF 27-24 JAX)
51 – Ventrell Miller – LB – 3 years
Los Angeles Chargers (LAC 3-16 NE)
35 – Marcus Maye* – S – 9 years (Practice Squad)
Los Angeles Rams (LAR 34-31 CAR)
72 – DJ Humphries – OL – 11 years
Philadelphia Eagles (SF 23-19 PHI)
74 – Fred Johnson – OT – 7 years
Pittsburgh Steelers (HOU 30-6 PIT)
53 – Jeremiah Moon – LB – 3 years
61 – David Sharpe* – OT – 6 years (Practice Squad)
San Francisco 49ers (SF 23-19 PHI)
1 – Ricky Pearsall – WR – 1 year
5 – Demarcus Robinson – WR – 10 years (6 Rec, 111 Yards, 1 TD)
18 – Eddy Piñeiro – K – 5 years (1/1 FG, Long of 36 Yards, 2/3 XP)
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