The Florida football players who had the best NFL careers
These former Gators represented their school well when they made it to the big leagues
By Will Thomas
Florida football is one of the most historic and storied football programs in the country. Whether it be National Championships, SEC Championships, Heisman winners, or whatever you can think of, the Gator logo is one of the most recognizable in college football.
Throughout its history, Florida has put tons of talent into the NFL who have turned into dominant forces in the league.
With the NFL Draft coming up, it feels like a good time to take another look at some of the best NFL players that have come out of the University of Florida.
Florida football in the NFL: Chris Collinsworth
Chris Collinsworth is now known for being a TV personality and broadcasting the NFL's primetime games every week.
But from 1977-1980, Chris was playing in the Orange and Blue and eventually got drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2nd round of the 1981 draft.
During his time with the Gators, Chris caught a total of 120 passes for 1,937 yards and 14 touchdowns. His best year was his last in 1980, when he led the SEC in receptions (40) and receiving yards (599).
As a pro, Chris played eight years in Cincinnati and was named to three Pro Bowls. He had 4 four 1,000-yard seasons and caught a total of 36 touchdowns in his career.
While he isn't the biggest name that the Gators claim in the pros, he certainly had a better career than most, and is worth remembering in Gainesville.
Florida football in the NFL: Wes Chandler
Another former Gator WR who perhaps had an even better career than Collinsworth is Wes Chandler. Chandler played in Gainesville from 1974-1977 and was the third overall pick in the 1978 draft to the Saints.
Over his career with the Gators, he caught 92 passes for 1,963 yards and 22 scores. He led the SEC in receiving yards (976), yards per catch (22), and led the country in touchdowns (10) in 1976. Wes finished 10th in Heisman voting that same season.
In the NFL, Chandler played for the Saints, Chargers, and 49ers over his 11-year career. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and was named a First-Team AP All-Pro in 1982 when he led the NFL in yards (1,032), receiving TDs (9), and receiving yards per game (129).
Chandler was a little bit before his time in the NFL. He was absolutely explosive on the outside and could make any defense look foolish. If he played in today's game, he'd be putting up video game numbers week in and week out.
Florida football in the NFL: Jevon Kearse
Perhaps one of the best and most decorated defenders to come through Gainesville is Jevon Kearse, who earned tons of accolades at both the college and NFL levels.
He was a part of the 1996 National Championship team at Florida, and was a First Team All-American in 1998, the SEC DPOY in '98, and was named to the SEC First Team in 1997 and 1998.
He was drafted 16th overall in the 1999 draft by the Titans, where he played seven of his 11 years. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in '99 when he set the rookie record for sacks in a year at 14.5 and led the league in forced fumbles with eight.
Kearse was a three time Pro-Bowler, all of which came in the first three seasons of his career. He spent four seasons with the Eagles from 2004-2007 before returning to Tennessee to finish his career.
Florida football in the NFL: Fred Taylor
Fred Taylor is undisputed as one of the best running backs to ever play for the Gators. From 1994-1997, he carried the ball a total of 537 times for 3,075 yards and 31 touchdowns. He also caught 61 passes for 717 yards.
Taylor, like Jevon Kearse, was also a part of the 1996 National Championship team and was successful enough in college to be a first round draft pick in 1998, when the Jaguars took him with the ninth overall pick.
He's known for his time in Jacksonville where he spent 11 years before heading to New England for the final two seasons of his career.
A Pro Bowler in 2007, Taylor racked up 11,695 yards and 66 touchdowns over his career. Fred had seven seasons where he eclipsed 1,000 yards and led the NFL in rushing yards per game in 2000 with an impressive 107.5 yards.
Florida football in the NFL: Jack Youngblood
Jack Youngblood is widely regarded as one of the best Florida Gators of all time, and was inducted into UF's Ring of Honor in 2006.
Jack's list of accolades is very impressive from his time in Gainesville, but is even more absurd in the NFL.
As a Gator he he was a First Team All-American and First Team All-SEC in 1970, a year after he set the school record for sacks in a season with 14.
As a pro, he was a First Team All-Pro five times, a Second Team All-Pro three times, a seven-time Pro Bowler, a two-time NFL Sack Leader, had his number retired by the Rams, and is in both the CFB and NFL Hall of Fames.
It really doesn't get much more dominant than what Youngblood did on the football field from his first day in Gainesville to the day he hung them up.
Florida football in the NFL: Emmitt Smith
Emmitt Smith is one of the greatest NFL players of all time, and not just among the crowd that came out of Florida.
From 1987 to 1989, Smith finished top ten in Heisman voting twice and ran for a total of 3,928 yards and 36 touchdowns. He also led the SEC in rushing yards and total yards from scrimmage in both 1987 and 1989.
He was drafted 17th overall by the Cowboys where he played for 13 seasons before ending his career with two years in Arizona.
Smith led the league in rushing yards four times, touchdowns three times, and rushing yards per game three times. He was voted offensive rookie of the year, won MVP in 1993, and made eight Pro Bowls. Oh, he's also the all-time NFL leader in rushing yards and touchdowns.
Emmitt is a Hall of Famer and was inducted into UF's Ring of Honor. There's no doubt that Smith is one of, if not the best running back of all time, and put a lot of pride in Gator fans throughout his career.