Former Gators competing in collegiate all-star games
On Thursday the Senior Bowl released its roster for its 2016 game, solidifying that a host of former Gators will participate in an array of postseason collegiate showcase games.
Now, we take a quick look at which former Florida players are set to play in each contest over the next two weekends.
EAST-WEST SHRINE GAME (Jan. 23, 4 p.m. ET on the NFL Network)
During Saturday’s East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Florida, former Gators Brian Poole and Anthony Harrell will compete for the East Team, which will be coached by none other than Charlie Weis.
Out of those two, the 5-foot-10, 211-pound Poole has the better shot at getting drafted, although right now many project him landing as either a late-round pick of an undrafted free agent. As a nickelback for the Gators defense this past season as a senior with 14 appearances (six starts), Poole recorded 40 tackles, 3.5 TFL, a half of a sack and 10 pass breakups. However, he went without an interception in 2015.
Meanwhile, Harrell, a Georgia Tech graduate transfer, barely played for the Gators outside of special teams during his final season of college football. The 6-foot-2, 237-pound Harrell finished the year with just three tackles.
NFLPA COLLEGIATE BOWL (Jan. 23, 6 p.m. ET on ESPN2)
Offensive lineman Trip Thurman was set to participate as well in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in Carson, California, this weekend, but the former Gators offensive guard/center suffered a minor injury during practice that won’t allow him to participate.
“Great experience and thankful for the opportunity to compete out here in California against some of the best college football players in the country,” Thurman wrote online Wednesday. “Also to be able to learn from many former NFL players and former NFL coaches affiliated with the NFLPA. Unfortunately I am heading back to Florida today after suffering a minor injury in practice. I will be completely fine moving forward and continuing this journey.”
Some analysts project Thurman to land in the NFL as a priority undrafted free agent this offseason. Despite playing banged up, the 6-foot-5, 310-pound offensive lineman started all 14 games for the Gators this past season as a redshirt senior, including the final three at center.
SENIOR BOWL (Jan. 30, 2:30 p.m. ET on the NFL Network)
As expected, former Florida tight end Jake McGee and linebacker Antonio Morrison will both participate for the South Team in the 2016 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, next weekend.
But they won’t be the only former Gators participating in the event. Jeff Driskel, who revitalized his career at Louisiana Tech this past season, will play for the North Team. McGee will catch passes from former Florida signal-caller Jacoby Brissett, who transferred to North Carolina State in 2013. Brissett will compete for the South Team as well along with quarterbacks Jake Coker (Alabama), Brandon Allen (Arkansas) and Dak Prescott (Mississippi State).
For McGee and Morrison, the Senior Bowl gives both an opportunity to boost their draft stocks, as the two are viewed currently as potential mid-round picks.
The 6-foot-6, 250-pound McGee is coming off of a sixth year of college football where he finished with 381 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 41 catches. Morrison also emerged as a senior leader, racking up a team-high 103 yards, 12 TFL, 2.5 sacks and three quarterback hurries in his final year, despite returning to action only eight months after suffering a devastating knee injury last January.