The selection marks the 12th straight NFL Draft with a Gator defensive lineman, the current longest active streak.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Florida defensive lineman Gervon Dexter Sr. was drafted in the second round with the 21st pick (52nd overall) in 2023 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears on Friday night.
A three-year letter winner for the Gators, Dexter Sr. appeared in all 38 games in his career with 24 starts and started all 13 last season. He finished the 2023 campaign with 55 tackles, 4 TFLs and quarterback hurries, two sacks with an interception and pass breakup. In 11 of 13 games last year, he had multiple tackles, including nine of four-plus with a career-high eight vs. LSU.
The native of Lake Wales, Fla. totaled 125 career tackles, 9.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks along with four pass breakups, two interceptions and 12 quarterback hurries.
Overall Draft Notes (At the time Gervon Dexter Sr. was drafted)
* 279th draft pick since 1967
* 9th most in the NCAA
* USC leads with 354
* Leads the SEC
* Alabama in 2nd at 272
* 130th draft pick since 2000
* 4th most in the SEC
* Alabama leads at 148
* 5th most in the NCAA
* Ohio State leads at 160
* 80th draft pick since 2010
* 5th most in the NCAA
* Alabama leads at 113
* 4th most in the SEC
* Alabama leads at 113
* 20th draft pick since 2020
* 3rd in the SEC
* Georgia leads with 34
* 5th in the NCAA
* Georgia leads with 34
* 43rd straight draft with at least two Gators drafted
* Streak started in 1981
* 54th draft Florida had at least two players selected in 1967
* Only three times it didn’t happen: 1968, 1971 (Jack Youngblood) and 1980.
* 18th draft that Florida had a player selected in the first and second round of the same draft since 1967
* Last time was 2021 – Kadarius Toney (Round 1) and Kyle Trask (Round 2)
* 10th draft since 2000 Florida had a player selected int the first and second round of the same draft
Defensive Lineman Notes (At the time Gervon Dexter Sr. was drafted)
* 52nd Florida DL drafted since 1967
* Last since Zach Carter (2022)
* T-1st in the SEC with Alabama 52
* T-2nd most in the NCAA
* Miami leads with 58
* 2nd highest Gator DL drafted
* Taven Bryan (2018, Round 1)
* 5th Gator DL drafted in the second round
* Last since Jermaine Cunningham and Carlos Dunlap II (2010)
* 12th straight year of a defensive lineman drafted
* Longest active streak with next closest team Michigan at nine
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