It was the first time since 1978 that the Gators had three wide receivers drafted in one year.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Three former Gators were taken on the third and final day of the 2020 NFL Draft, with Lamical Perine going in the fourth round, Freddie Swain in the sixth and Tyrie Cleveland going in the seventh round.
The New York Jets picked Perine with the 120th pick of the draft. Meanwhile, Swain and Cleveland were selected by the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos with the 214th and 252th picks, respectively.
Swain and Cleveland’s selection on Saturday, along with Jefferson’s Friday night, marked the first time since 1978 that Florida had three wide receivers drafted in the same year. Florida joins Tennessee and LSU as the only schools in the Southeastern Conference to have had three wide receivers selected in two separate drafts in the common draft era.
Additionally, it was the first time since 2009 that more than one UF wide receivers were selected the same year and the fourth time since 2000. That feat ranks second in the SEC.
Florida, who has now had 42 wide receivers drafted since 1967, was the only school in the 2020 NFL Draft to have three wide receivers drafted.
Perine became the sixth Florida running back selected in the NFL Draft since 2012, joining Jordan Scarlett (5th round, 154th overall, 2019), Kelvin Taylor (6th round, 211th overall, 2016), Matt Jones (3rd round, 95th overall, 2015), Mike Gillislee (5th round, 164th overall, 2013) and Chris Rainey (5th round, 159th overall, 2012). Additionally, he
will join Zuniga in New York, marking the third time since 2015 that an NFL team picks more than one Gator in a single draft.
The three Gators drafted on Saturday joined CJ Henderson (1st round, 9th overall, Jacksonville Jaguars), Van Jefferson (2nd round, 57th overall, Los Angeles Rams), Jabari Zuniga (3rd round, 79th overall, New York Jets) and Jonathan Greenard (3rd round, 90th overall, Houston Texans) for a total of seven UF picks in this year’s draft.
Florida is the only SEC school and one of just four schools nationally to have had at least one player selected in every draft during the common draft era. Of that group, UF (265) has the second-most players drafted with UCS (343) ahead of Florida, and Michigan (264) and Michigan State (193) trailing the Gators.
UF’s total seven picks in this year’s draft is the most by the Gators since 2017. It was also the eight-time since 2000 that the Gators had at least seven players drafted. Additionally, Florida has had at least five players selected for the sixth straight year.
Gators 2020 NFL Draft Notes
* Florida has had the fifth-most first and second round picks in the nation and third-most in the SEC since 2008.
* Alabama – 52
* Ohio State – 35
* LSU – 31
* USC – 29
* Florida – 27
* Florida State – 24
* Clemson – 22
* Notre Dame – 22
* North Carolina – 15
* Missouri – 14
* Florida ranks tied for first nationally among schools with the most wide receivers selected in the first three rounds during the common draft era.
* Florida -19
* Ohio St. – 19
* Tennessee – 19
* Miami (FL) – 18
* USC – 18
* LSU – 16
* Michigan – 13
* Oklahoma – 13
* San Diego St. – 13
* Penn St. – 13
* Arizona St. – 11
* Notre Dame – 10
* Clemson – 9
* Florida has had multiple wide receivers selected in a single draft four times since 2000. That mark ranks second in the SEC.
* LSU – 6 (2018, 2014, 2010, 2007, 2006, 2004)
* Florida – 4 (2020, 2009, 2002, 2000)
* Georgia – 3 (2019, 2011, 2005)
* Texas A&M – 3 (2018, 2001, 2000)
* Arkansas – 2 (2012, 2000)
* Ole Miss – 2 (2019, 2016)
* Alabama – 2 (2020, 2002)
* Auburn – 1(2006)
* Kentucky – 1(2008)
* Tennessee – 1(2013)
* Missouri – 0
* South Carolina – 0
* Vanderbilt – 0
* Florida is one of three SEC schools to have had three wide receivers selected in two separate drafts during the common draft era.
* Florida – 2020, 1978
* LSU – 2014, 1988
* Tennessee – 1991, 1983
* Florida has had the fifth-most linebackers selected in the first three rounds nationally and the second-most in the SEC.
* USC – 24
* Ohio St. – 22
* Alabama – 21
* Penn State – 21
* Florida – 19
* Tennessee – 18
* Miami (FL) – 17
* Oklahoma – 17
* Georgia – 16
* LSU – 16
* Nebraska – 16
* For the sixth-straight year, at least five Gators were selected. This is the 13th time since 2000 that the Gators reached that mark.
* This is the 10th time that UF has had at least six Gators selected in one year since 2000.
* This is the eighth time that UF has had at least seven Gators selected in one year since 2000.
* The Gators have had at least two players selected by the same NFL team three times since 2015
* 2020 – Jabari Zuniga, Lamical Perine (New York Jets)
* 2017 – Jarrad Davis, Teez Tabor (Detroit Lions)
* 2015 – Neiron Ball, Andre Debose (Oakland Raiders)
* The Gators had multiple players selected in the first three rounds for the sixth-straight year. That is the longest streak since its streak of eight years from 1997-2004
* At least one Florida player has been selected in every NFL Draft since 1952, the longest streak in SEC history.
* Florida is the only SEC school, and one of four schools nationally, to have at least one player selected in every draft during the common draft era. The Gators have the second-most players drafted out of those four schools.
* USC – 343
* Florida – 265
* Michigan – 264
* Michigan State – 193
* The Gators’ seven total drafted players represent the most in the state of Florida this year.
* Florida – 7
* Miami – 4
* Florida International – 2
* Florida State – 1
* Central Florida – 1
* Florida Atlantic – 1
* South Florida – 0
* The Gators have had 34 players selected in the first three rounds since 2010, which is the most among Florida schools.
* Florida – 34
* Florida State – 26
* Miami – 17
Lamical Perine – New York Jets, 4th Round (No. 120 overall) For complete bio, click here<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_sports_football_roster_lamical-2Dperine_11657&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=CUY7U8M3x-suPAnT99rBNcll7NmFNo5Dngb3At9kiBM&s=K7v1Gfz00Z7laNnZ523tPkSyCfB0xfmSmroSfInYdH0&e= >
What they’re saying about Lamical Perine:
“This is a powerful runner at 5’10”, 216 pounds. Ran 4.62 at the combine. He averaged 5.1 yards per carry and he’s a guy who has real good vision, has good lateral quickness and he’s a guy that can really accelerate to the top-end speed very quickly. Had 41 receptions out of the backfield. He’s a much different style than Le’Veon Bell. He’s more of a bruiser. He’s more of a guy that when he sees the hole, he’s going to hit it. He has long speed. He has the ability to rip off plus twenty, plus thirty, plus forty-yard runs. He is a good combination of power and speed and again, makes a very formidable one, two punch with Le’Veon Bell, considering the fact that he can run it and catch it out of the backfield.”
-Louis Riddick
Freddie Swain – Seattle Seahawks, 6th Round (No. 214 overall) For complete bio, click here<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_sports_football_roster_freddie-2Dswain_11674&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=CUY7U8M3x-suPAnT99rBNcll7NmFNo5Dngb3At9kiBM&s=AahO7Pg5XMkR0WkQbdife_onymO-MSmGGhI0GDh_fWI&e= >
What they’re saying about Freddie Swain:
“Freddie Swain improved as a receiver and also can help you big time in the return game as well. Look at that size, over six feet tall, nearly 200 pounds. Turn to the Auburn game, career high in receiving yards and six catches in that game for 146 yards. Career-high eight receptions against Georgia. Did a good job against Florida State as well. Then in the return game, he was excellent throughout his career. Led the Gators with 13.6 average per catch. Punt returner, 9.8 yard average for punt return in his career, had a touchdown as well. In his return game; notice the great separation underneath, he’s comfortable-really comfortable-whipping it across the middle which I was impressed with. The only thing with him is, a few too many body catches for my liking, but he does a pretty good job of securing the football. I like the way he goes down and gets that low grab. Overall, I think special teams initially, in the return game, is where he’ll have to make his mark as a rookie in the NFL.”
-Mel Kiper
Tyrie Cleveland – Denver Broncos, 7th Round (No. 252 overall) For full bio, click here<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_sports_football_roster_tyrie-2Dcleveland_11610&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=CUY7U8M3x-suPAnT99rBNcll7NmFNo5Dngb3At9kiBM&s=nbOczvR7wNVwMUrn4gibfgKj7dkS5XOl4zOp0Ra6PEQ&e= >
What they’re saying about Tyrie Cleveland:
“Tyrie Cleveland has a lot of talent. He has that size. You talk about being 6’2” at 210 pounds … A brilliant athlete with nearly a 40 vertical. He had a 21.3-yard average early in his career. Consistently went down, finished up with a 14-yard average with only 25 catches. Kind of an underachiever considering all the ability he has. Needs a little bit more coaching, needs to really put it all together. When you have that kind of talent, Bill Polian always said, Hall of Fame GM, ‘take the athletes, take the talented guys who maybe didn’t produce late, and try to develop that. You have the talent to work with.’ I think with Cleveland that’s what you see there. A ton of ability, if you can get it out of him then he has a chance of maybe making it in the NFL.”
-Mel Kiper
