A Look at Florida Gators Selected in the Top 10 of the NFL Draft

Last year,

Derrick Harvey

became the first

Florida

player since 2001 to be taken in the first 10 picks of the NFL Draft. His rookie year was far from spectacular, but Harvey did show promise and improved as the season went on. The jury is obviously still out on Harvey’s NFL career, but all of the other Gators selected within the top 10 have had plenty of time to make their mark. So, let’s take a look back at their careers and you can decide if they were worth the high selection or not.

Paul Duhart – HB – 1945 – #2 (The highest a Gator has ever been drafted.) – Pittsburgh Steelers – Duhart didn’t last long in the league, playing 14 games for three different teams. His best year was actually in 1944 – the year before he was drafted – with the Green Bay Packers. In that year, Duhart rushed for 183 yards on 51 carries and scored twice while also playing and totaling four interceptions. So how did he get drafted in 1945? I’m glad you asked. At the time, a player wasn’t allowed to sign until his college class graduated. However, Duhart was allowed to sign with the Packers because Florida didn’t field a team in 1944 (what would’ve been his senior year) due to the war. He was subsequently put back into the draft in 1945. After being drafted by the Steelers, Duhart would only last one more year in the league. Notable Pick: Hall of Famer Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsh was selected by the Cleveland Rams only three picks later.

Chuck Hunsinger – HB – 1950 – #3 – Chicago Bears – Hunsinger played for the Bears for three seasons before heading to the CFL. For his NFL career, he totaled 843 rushing yards and scored eight touchdowns (five rushing and three receiving). Hunsinger is part of CFL lore. During the 1954 Grey Cup while playing for the Montreal Alouettes, he fumbled on the 10-yard line as Montreal – who led by five – tried to run out the clock. Edmonton Eskimo Jackie Parker picked up the ball and rumbled 90 yards for the winning score. Notable Pick: Bud Grant, who played in the NBA and NFL and was elected to the Hall of Fame for his coaching accomplishments, was taken fourteenth by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Steve Spurrier – QB – 1967 – #3 – San Francisco 49ers – Spurrier lasted 10 seasons in the NFL as not much more than a below average quarterback. For his career, he threw 40 touchdowns to 60 interceptions and had a rating of 60.1. Although thought of for coaching more so than playing, he will always be remembered as the signal caller during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ first season in which they went 0-14. Notable Pick: The Miami Dolphins selected Hall of Famer Bob Griese with the very next pick.

Larry Smith – RB – 1969 – #8 – Los Angeles Rams – Smith rushed for 2,057 yards and 11 touchdowns over his six seasons in the NFL. After having 212 combined rushes and receptions during his rookie season, Smith wouldn’t have more than 122 total in any other season. Notable Pick: One-Eyed Willy pal, O.J. Simpson, went first overall to the Buffalo Bills.

Wes Chandler – WR – 1978 – #3 – New Orleans Saints – Chandler was the first Gator selected in the top 10 to have what could be regarded as a successful career. During 12 seasons in the NFL, he was selected to four Pro Bowls, named an All-Pro twice, had seven seasons in which he caught more than 50 balls, and three in which he totaled more than 1,000 yards. At the time of his retirement, Chandler ranked thirteenth in NFL history in receptions and twelfth in receiving yards. Notable Pick: Fellow Florida receiver Derrick Gaffney was taken in the eighth round. Gaffney’s son – Jabar Gaffney – and Chandler’s nephew – Dallas Baker – would both go on to play receiver for the Gators as well.

Lomas Brown – T – 1985 – #6 – Detroit Lions – Brown was selected to seven Pro Bowls and named to seven All-Pro teams during his 18-year NFL career. One of the most consistent offensive linemen over the course of his career, Brown won a Super Bowl ring with the Buccaneers during his final season. Notable Pick: Gator Lorenzo Hampton would go 27th to the Dolphins. The following year, another Florida running back would go 27th – Neal Anderson – this time to the Bears. With John L. Williams going 15th that year, the Gators would deliver three running backs to the NFL via the first round in only two years.

Kevin Carter – DE – 1995 – #6 – St. Louis Rams – Carter has had a quiet but remarkable NFL career. In 14 seasons, he has never missed a game (currently 224), has totaled 104.5 sacks, was selected to two Pro Bowls, and won a Super Bowl with the Rams. Carter’s best season came during that championship year, in which he sacked opposing quarterbacks 17 times. Notable Pick: The Eagles traded up to seventh to select one of the biggest busts in recent draft history – Mike Mamula. The team they traded with – the Buccaneers – selected future Hall of Famer Warren Sapp with their pick.

Ike Hilliard – WR – 1997 – #7 – New York Giants – Hilliard has been a consistent sure-handed receiver during his 12-year NFL career. In 2007 (his 11th in the league) – while playing for the Buccaneers – Hilliard had the second most receptions and third most receiving yards of his career. Notable Picks: Florida, FSU, and Miami would account for nine of the first 18 picks in the 1997 NFL Draft.

Fred Taylor – RB – 1998 – #9 – Jacksonville Jaguars – Over his career, Taylor has become the most notable player in Jaguars’ history. He enters 2009 sixteenth on the league’s all-time rushing list. Despite being only one of 29 players to ever rush for more than 10,000 yards, Taylor has only appeared in one Pro Bowl. After signing a two-year deal with the New England Patriots in the offseason, Taylor has a shot at moving into the top 10 all-time in rushing yards. Notable Pick: Considered by many to be the biggest bust ever, Ryan Leaf went second overall to the San Diego Chargers.

Gerard Warren – DT – 2001 – #3 – Cleveland Browns – While Warren’s career has definitely not warranted a number three overall selection, he has been a solid player over his eight years in the league. “Big Money” has mostly become a run stuffer during his time in the NFL. He started all 16 games for the Oakland Raiders in 2008. Notable Picks: 15 of the 31 players taken in the first round have been selected to at least one Pro Bowl.

And finally…

Derrick Harvey – DE – 2008 – #8 – Jacksonville Jaguars – Harvey became the fifth Florida defensive lineman drafted in the past two years when the Jaguars took him. Harvey started his career slowly, but improved as his rookie year went on. He finished strong with a season-high seven tackles and two sacks in the final game of the regular season. Notable Pick: Gator receiver Andre Caldwell went in the third round, giving Florida only two picks in the entire draft. This would mark their lowest total since 1993.