Carter's Corner: A Look at Gators in NFL Draft

What: NFL Draft | When: Thursday-Saturday | Starts: 8 p.m., Thursday | TV: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — If the three-day NFL Draft plays out as expected starting Thursday night, defensive tackle Caleb Banks will be the first UF player off the board.

Banks attended UF Pro Day last month but did not participate due to recent foot surgery, which has raised questions about his ceiling and floor in the draft. Some draft experts consider Banks a late first-round pick; others have him going as late as the end of the second round or the start of the third due to medical concerns.

What isn't up for debate is that Banks, when healthy, is viewed as a first-round talent by the majority of draft analysts.

Draft Day‼️

🗓️ April 23-25
⏰ 8 p.m. ET
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— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) April 23, 2026

In a comprehensive draft guide published this week by The Athletic, the final paragraph of its evaluation of Banks concisely sums up the overview.

"Banks has a rare combination of size, raw power and big-man twitch, all of which lead to big-time flashes and glimpses of his ceiling. However, the absence of a healthy senior season complicates his projections, and his draft grade will depend on each team's appetite for risk."

Banks isn't the only UF player who will hear his name called in the draft. Cornerback Devin Moore, center Jake Slaughter, offensive lineman Austin Barber, receiver J. Michael Sturdivant and defensive linemen Tyreak Sapp and George Gumbs Jr. are other top prospects.

Meanwhile, kicker Trey Smack and punter Tommy Doman, if not drafted, will find homes as undrafted free agents.

Before we take a look at the Gators individually, here are some of the latest mock drafts by prominent draft experts for your perusal: Dane Brugler/The Athletic | Field Yates/ESPN | Matt Miller/ESPN | Todd McShay/The Ringer | Daniel Jeremiah/NFL.com | Mike Renner/CBSSports.com

DT CALEB BANKS

HT/WT: 6-6/327
My Projection: Early to middle second round
Why: Banks is an elite athlete when healthy with the frame and burst that make scouts drool. It all comes down to which team takes a risk and what his latest medicals say.

C JAKE SLAUGHTER

HT/WT: 6-5/303
My Projection: Third or fourth round
Why: He is rated the No. 1 center available by many and is a get-down-and-dirty type of player. "I love football. I play hard for my guys,'' Slaughter said at Pro Day when asked what he tells teams to sell himself. Slaughter is far from a physical freak, but he is the kind of building block that could last a decade in the middle of an NFL offensive line.

CB DEVIN MOORE

HT/WT: 6-3/198
My Projection: Third or fourth round
Why: Moore battled injuries at UF but put together a solid senior season and has the size and ball skills to develop into a solid NFL cornerback. He is my sleeper pick among the Gators in the draft and could sneak into the top 100 picks.

OL AUSTIN BARBER

HT/WT: 6-7/318
My Projection: Third or fourth round
Why: Barber had his ups and downs with the Gators but was a bedrock of the O-line with his versatility. He played both tackle spots and based on scouting reports, could be better suited as a guard in the NFL. He will be selected in the draft and don't be surprised if he goes higher than Slaughter.

DL GEORGE GUMBS JR.

HT/WT: 6-4/245
My Projection: Fifth or sixth round
Why: Gumbs is a late bloomer and remains raw in his pass-rushing skills, but he has speed and athleticism to get around the edge and pressure the quarterback. He needs work on his technique but expect a team to take a chance on him late with an eye toward development.

DL TYREAK SAPP

HT/WT: 6-2/273
My Projection: Sixth or seventh round
Why: Sapp has a muscular frame and uses power to get into the backfield, but he was inconsistent as a senior following a breakthrough late in his junior season. Look for a team to select Sapp late as a roster filler, hoping he becomes something more.

WR J. MICHAEL STURDIVANT

HT/WT: 6-3/207
My Projection: Seventh round or UDFA
Why: Spent final season with Gators after transferring from UCLA. Best used as a vertical down-field threat in the deep passing game. Sturdivant is the type of player who, if selected by the right team and injected into the right scheme, could be productive at the next level.

K TREY SMACK

HT/WT: 6-1/188
My Projection: Seventh round or UDFA
Why: Smack is ranked the top kicker available by ESPN, which adds intrigue to whether he will get drafted. He has a big leg and made 10 of 13 field goals from 50-plus yards, setting a program record for most career field goals of 50 or more yards. If Smack is selected, it won't be a shock.

P TOMMY DOMAN

HT/WT: 6-4/214
My Projection: Seventh round or UDFA
Why: Doman transferred from Michigan and averaged 44.0 yards per punt. He is ranked the No. 3 punter available in the draft and, if drafted, would make it two years in a row that Florida has a punter picked (Jeremy Crawshaw was taken in the sixth round by Denver in 2025).

LS ROCCO UNDERWOOD

HT/WT: 6-3/230
My Projection: UDFA
Why: Historically, NFL teams don't use picks on long snappers, but there have been a handful over the last decade. Underwood is among the top-rated snappers available in the 2026 draft after a stellar career with the Gators. Look for a team to sign him after the draft to add a reliable newcomer at the position.

MICHEAL CARAWAY JR.

HT/WT: 6-1/196
My Projection: Free-agent tryout
Why: Carraway transferred from Southern Miss before last season, but injuries limited his availability. He participated in UF Pro Day but is a long shot to make a roster.

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