Trask is the first Gators QB drafted since Tim Tebow in 2010 and the eighth in school history
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Former Gators quarterback Kyle Trask was selected in the second round (No. 64 overall) of this year’s NFL Draft Friday night by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, becoming the first Florida quarterback to be drafted since Tim Tebow in 2010.
Trask is the fifth-highest drafted Gators quarterback, and the eighth in school history. Additionally, he is the first Florida quarterback to be selected in the second round.
“I am just super excited for this opportunity,” Trask said during a zoom call following his selection. “I had some great conversations with a lot of the offensive coaches … they believed in me enough to give me this opportunity and they’re going to get everything I’ve got.”
A 2020 Heisman Trophy finalist, Trask produced one of the most historic seasons in Florida history.
The Manvel, Texas native led the FBS with a total of 46 touchdowns and 43 touchdown passes, while ranking second in passing yards with 4,283 last year.
His 43 touchdown passes broke Danny Wuerffel’s 24-year-old school record of 39, and tied him for third on the SEC single-season record list. Meanwhile, his 4,283 passing yards broke Rex Grossman’s single-season school record (3,896 in 2001), ranked second on the SEC single-season record list and was one of six 4,000-yard passing seasons in SEC history.
“He had a lot of receiving entities to throw to (at Florida), he took advantage of it. I liked the improvement he showed from 2019 to 2020,” said ESPN Football Analyst Mel Kiper Jr. “His willingness to hang tough in the pocket is evident, game in and game out. His touch on deep throws is excellent.”
Gators QBs Drafted since 1967
Season
Rnd
Pick
Overall
Team
Player
2021
2
32
64
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kyle Trask
2010
1
25
25
Denver Broncos
Tim Tebow
2003
1
22
22
Chicago Bears
Rex Grossman
2001
4
30
125
New York Giants
Jesse Palmer
1997
4
3
99
New Orleans Saints
Danny Wuerffel
1988
7
15
180
Miami Dolphins
Kerwin Bell
1972
1
14
14
Philadelphia Eagles
John Reaves
1967
1
3
3
San Francisco 49ers
Steve Spurrier
Kyle Trask- Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2nd Round (No. 64 overall) Complete Bio CLICK HERE<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_sports_football_roster_kyle-2Dtrask_13810&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=kM00LniqU6VWD0pPHvpvs4YahCU8Mq8NF9K33-iPpi4&s=2nTNR9XatE7HcJXDw0RXA7ChJTRwNocEXiB_J3ipLmQ&e= >
What They’re Saying
“Kyle Trask is a remarkable story in a variety of different ways. The journey from high school backup to Heisman finalist is an enormous story unto itself.”
– Mike Greenberg
“He had a lot of receiving entities to throw to (at Florida), he took advantage of it. I liked the improvement he showed from 2019 to 2020. His willingness to hang tough in the pocket is evident, game in and game out. His touch on deep throws is excellent.”
– Mel Kiper Jr.
UF Draft Notes:
* The Gators have had 12 first round picks in the last nine drafts.
* Florida has had at least a first-round pick in 13 of the last 15 years.
* UF has had 15 players selected in the top 10 of the NFL Draft since 1967, while five have been drafted in the top 5.
* Since 2007, the Gators have had 20 first-round picks, which is the fourth-most among all schools nationally.
First Rnd. Picks since 2007 (NCAA)
Rk.
College
No.
1.
Alabama
39
2.
Ohio State
24
3.
LSU
22
4.
Florida
20
5.
USC
16
6.
Clemson
16
7.
Georgia
14
8.
Florida State
12
* UF has had the fifth-most first-round draft picks (53) among NCAA schools and the second-most in the Southeastern Conference in the Common Draft era (since 1967).
First Rnd. Picks since 1967 (NCAA)
Rk.
College
No.
1.
Ohio State
72
USC
72
3.
Alabama
64
4.
Miami (FL)
62
5.
Florida
53
6.
Florida State
45
7.
Notre Dame
44
* UF ranks tied for second in the SEC and tied for 9th in the nation among schools with most players selected in the first 10 overall picks of the NFL Draft since 1967. Texas A&M’s picks prior to 2012 included.
Top 10 picks since 1967 (NCAA)
Rk.
College
No.
1.
USC
35
2.
Alabama
28
3.
Ohio State
24
4.
Penn State
19
5.
Notre Dame
17
6.
Miami (FL)
16
Oklahoma
16
8.
Texas
15
9.
Florida
14
Florida State
14
Texas A&M
14
LSU
14
13.
Georgia
12
* UF leads in-state rivals Miami and Florida State with the most players selected in the first round since 2010.
First round picks since 2010
Rk.
College
No.
1
Florida
16
2
FSU
11
3
Miami
6
* In the SEC, Florida ranks tied with Alabama for most years with multiple players selected in the first round with 14.
* Florida (14 years) – 2021 (2); 2016 (2); 2015 (2); 2013 (2); 2010 (3); 2007 (2); 2001 (2); 1999 (2); 1998 (2); 1997 (2); 1995 (2); 1989 (3); 1986 (2); 1985 (2)
* Alabama (14 years) – 2021 (6); 2020 (4) 2019 (3); 2018 (4); 2017 (4); 2014 (2); 2013 (3); 2012 (4); 2011 (4); 2010 (2); 2000 (2); 1993 (3); 1979 (2); 1978 (2)
* At least one Florida player has been selected in every NFL Draft since 1952, the longest streak in SEC history.
DAY 1 RECAP – Kyle Pitts (4th overall – Atlanta), Kadarius Toney (20th overall – New York Giants)
* First time the Gators have had two offensive skill-position players drafted in the top 20 since 1997, when receiver Ike Hilliard went seventh overall pick to the Giants and Reidel Anthony was taken 16th overall by the Buccaneers.
* First time since 2016 (Keanu Neal and Vernon Hargreaves III) that multiple Gators were selected in the first round, and 14th time in school history.
* Third time in school history that UF has back-to-back top 10 selections.
Gators selected in the top 10 in consecutive years
Year
Pick
Team
Player
Pos
2021
4
Atlanta Falcons
Kyle Pitts
TE
2020
9
Jacksonville Jaguars
CJ Henderson
CB
2001
3
Cleveland Browns
Gerard Warren
DT
2000
10
Baltimore Ravens
Travis Taylor
WR
1998
9
Jacksonville Jaguars
Fred Taylor
RB
1997
7
New York Giants
Ike Hilliard
WR
Kyle Pitts – Atlanta Falcons, 1st Round (No. 4 overall) Complete Bio CLICK HERE<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_sports_football_roster_kyle-2Dpitts_13782&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=kM00LniqU6VWD0pPHvpvs4YahCU8Mq8NF9K33-iPpi4&s=2ZJCYYvoF821Ule06TCLl5U1lQomNpDDUa0pHCCC9ng&e= >
* Highest-drafted tight end in history.
* First SEC tight end to be drafted in the top 10.
* Seventh SEC tight end to be drafted in the first round.
* 14th tight end in the nation to be drafted in the top 10 since 1967, and second in the top 5.
Highest-drafted tight ends since 1967 (by pick)
Season
Rnd
Pick
Overall
Team
Player
College
2021
1
4
4
Atlanta Falcons
Kyle Pitts
Florida
1972
1
5
5
Denver Broncos
Riley Odoms
Houston
2006
1
6
6
San Francisco 49ers
Vernon Davis
Maryland
2004
1
6
6
Cleveland Browns
Kellen Winslow II
Miami (FL)
1973
1
6
6
Philadelphia Eagles
Charle Young
USC
1970
1
6
6
Philadelphia Eagles
Steve Zabel
Oklahoma
1980
1
7
7
Atlanta Falcons
Junior Miller
Nebraska
1978
1
7
7
San Francisco 49ers
Ken MacAfee
Notre Dame
1974
1
7
7
St. Louis Cardinals
J.V. Cain
Colorado
1969
1
7
7
San Francisco 49ers
Ted Kwalick
Penn State
2019
1
8
8
Detroit Lions
T.J. Hockenson
Iowa
1996
1
9
9
Oakland Raiders
Rickey Dudley
Ohio State
1995
1
9
9
New York Jets
Kyle Brady
Penn State
2014
1
10
10
Detroit Lions
Eric Ebron
North Carolina
Gators Tight Ends Drafted since 1967 (by pick)
Season
Rnd
Pick
Overall
Team
Player
2021
1
4
4
Atlanta Falcons
Kyle Pitts
2004
2
8
40
Tennessee Titans
Ben Troupe
1969
2
21
47
Detroit Lions
Jim Yarbrough
2000
3
6
68
Tennessee Titans
Erron Kinney
2013
3
23
85
Washington Redskins
Jordan Reed
2010
4
15
113
New England Patriots
1983
4
24
108
Dallas Cowboys
Chris Faulkner
2009
5
17
153
Philadelphia Eagles
Cornelius Ingram
2003
5
26
161
San Francisco 49ers
Aaron Walker
1976
6
1
157
Seattle Seahawks
Alvis Darby
1983
9
5
229
San Francisco 49ers
Mike Mularkey
1977
12
3
310
Pittsburgh Steelers
Jimmy Stephens
What they’re saying
“He’s just a matchup nightmare. You don’t have linebackers that are 6’6, 240 [Lbs] and run a 4.3. You obviously don’t have safeties that are that big… His ability to separate and his route running. This guy is 6’6 running a 4.3 and has movement after the catch.
-Louis Riddick
“If I had to bet on a hall of famer from this draft, it would be him. The most unique tight end prospect I have evaluated in 20 years. Matt Ryan just got the greatest gift of this draft… he knows exactly when to use his hands right at the end of routes to get that separation.”
– Kirk Herbstreit
Kadarius Toney – New York Giant, 1st Round (No. 20 overall) Complete Bio CLICK HERE<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_sports_football_roster_kadarius-2Dtoney_13808&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=kM00LniqU6VWD0pPHvpvs4YahCU8Mq8NF9K33-iPpi4&s=Mnq3pkDb-SEDkp0G9Wbf476zZ2AgrPMsAamFSWe09fA&e= >.
* First Gators wide receiver to be selected in the first round since Percy Harvin was taken 22nd overall by the Minnesota Vikings in 2009.
* *Highest-drafted wide receiver since Travis Taylor was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 10th overall pick in 2000. (Correction from Day 1 recap)
* Fifth-highest drafted wide receiver in Gators history
Gators Wide Receivers Drafted in the first round since 1967 (by pick)
Season
Rnd
Pick
Overall
Team
Player
1978
1
3
3
New Orleans Saints
Wes Chandler
1997
1
7
7
New York Giants
Ike Hilliard
2000
1
10
10
Baltimore Ravens
Travis Taylor
1997
1
16
16
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Reidel Anthony
2021
1
20
20
New York Giants
Kadarius Toney
2009
1
22
22
Minnesota Vikings
Percy Harvin
1987
1
27
27
Denver Broncos
Ricky Nattiel
What they’re saying
He’s a playmaker. We talked about it. The NY Giants needed to add a playmaker on the offense. I get it. But can you get a guy that has home run hitting potential. When I get you the ball in the open field you can make a play. We saw Kadarius Toney in the slot, we saw him running jet sweeps. We saw contact bounce off of him. Give him the football, it takes several people to bring you down. There is 6 guys from South Carolina and they couldn’t bring him down. He’s a playmaker, may not be the best wide receiver. Elijah Moore probably a little bit more better kept, but here’s what you have with Toney. He’s a special guy with the speed and space in the NFL now, he’s a playmaker with the ball in his hands.”
-Booger McFarland
