Florida linebacker Ventrell Miller is staying close to home after the Lakeland native spent the past six years in Gainesville with the Gators.
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Miller No. 121 overall during the NFL draft’s fourth round, allowing the 24-year-old to play before a fan base well familiar with his hard-hitting style, physical toughness and production at UF.
“It feels good … being in my backyard,” he said. “It ain’t bad, definitely excited.”
Miller also was relieved.
December surgery to repair a fracture in his right foot kept him out of the Senior Bowl, the NFL Scouting Combine and Florida’s Pro Day.
Because he was unable to go through the draft process, Miller did not expect to hear his name called so early. Some pundits predicted he would be an undrafted free agent.
“I was surprised a little bit, knowing I didn’t do anything,” he said. “When they called me, they told me they skipped up some picks to get me. I didn’t know where I was going to go.”
Miller fractured his right foot Sept. 10 during the second half against Kentucky. After sitting out a week later against USF, he played the rest of the season with the injury.
“I was leaving it all out there on the field,” he said.
Miller ended the season with 74 tackles, 8.5 for loss. During an Oct. 8 homecoming win against Missouri, he compiled 11 tackles, 10 of them solo stops, and had a quarterback hurry on fourth down to seal the Gators’ 24-17 win.
Miller’s finished his career with 240 tackles, a level of production and playing style the Jags did not want to pass up.
“They like my playing type — really physical, runs to the ball,” he said.
The 6-foot, 232-pound Miller will open his career as a back-up and special-teams contributor. The Jags drafted inside linebacker Devin Lloyd and Chad Muma, believing the duo is the future at the position. But Miller will receive the opportunity to compete and is ready to do so after doctors recently cleared him.
“Really pretty much healed up,” he said. “I’ve been running, cutting, I feel good.”
The good vibes continued for the Gators at pick No. 150 when the Buffalo Bills selected receiver Justin Shorter. He will join Torrence and 2021 Florida teammate Kaiir Elam, the Bills’ first-round pick in 2022.
Shorter was the nation’s top-ranked wide receiver recruit in 2018 when he signed with Penn State. But the 23-year-old, who transferred to UF in 2020, was the 18th player at his position selected in the draft, which motivates him.
“I literally watched every single pick, saw who went before for me and that was just fueling my fire,” he said.
The imposing 6-foot-4, 229-pound Shorter said he learned how to capitalize on his size and 4.55-second speed in the 40-yard dash to generate big plays, including 7 catches of more than 25 yards in 2022. He aims to provide another weapon for Bills’ Pro Bowl quarterback Josh Allen.
“When I get my opportunity, I’m definitely going to tear this league up,” Shorter said. “I’ve been working for a long time and it’s going to pay off.”
Defender Amari Burney’s versatility paid off with a sixth-round selection by the Las Vegas Raiders with the 203rd pick.
The 6-foot-2, 233-pound Tampa native arrived in 2019 as a safety and tried multiple spots before settling at inside linebacker. Burney’s 4.51 speed in the 40 and position flexibility earned him a phone call.
The Gators ended the draft with six players selected, twice as many as 2022 and more than 2019 and 2018, when five UF players were drafted. Eight UF players went in 2021 and seven in 2020.
Multiple players from Billy Napier’s first UF squad signed with program are expected to sign as undrafted free agents with NFL organizations.
DB Trey Dean III | New York Jets
Vitals: 6-2, 200
Outlook: Dean is physically imposing and experienced. While he also was productive, including 173 tackles the past two seasons, he too often was out of position. During the draft process, Dean also was slow, recording a 4.75-second 40 at the combine and 4.69 during Pro Day. He also missed more than his share of tackles, but he has the physicality to help on special teams.
DB Rashad Torrence II | Los Angeles Rams
Vitals: 6-0, 193
Outlook: Torrence might regret his decision to leave UF after three seasons, though his shortcomings were not going away either. While he possessed a nose for the ball and a high football IQ, he lacked top-end speed (4.72) and physical statue to handle the position’s rigors. Torrence recorded 171 stops in 2021-22 but was inconsistent wrapping up ballcarriers.
OT Richard Gouraige | Buffalo Bills
Vitals: 6-5, 306
Outlook: Gouraige did not appear destined for the free-agent route. He started 42 games, including 25 the past two seasons at left tackle. The 2022 Gators allowed just 13 sacks and had one of the SEC’s most productive run games. Gouraige does lack the ideal for an NFL tackle and was not overly physical, but he could catch on with one of the AFC’s best teams.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Edgar Thompson at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @osgators.
()
