Florida head coach Jim McElwain has announced that Gators running back Kelvin Taylor and wide receiver Demarcus Robinson plan to enter the 2016 NFL Draft, according to ESPN's Brett McMurphy.
Taylor, the son of former Jaguars running back Fred Taylor, led the Gators in rushing with 985 yards this season and scored 13 touchdowns. He's considered a top 15 running back on the college level, and some believe that he should return for his senior year with the Gators, according to Walter Football. He has a ton of talent, but has yet to prove himself as a speed or power running back for the next level.
While some criticize Taylor for his lack of power or speed, the fact that the junior running back managed 985 yards in the SEC is a legitimate accomplishment. Defenses across the country knew that the Gators were heavily reliant upon the run this year, but he still managed to find holes and break tackles for big runs.
While Taylor will likely be selected in the later rounds of the 2016 NFL Draft, he could prove to be a strong commodity for many franchises. The Gators finished in first place in the SEC East division, but fell short against Alabama in the SEC Championship. McElwain will not only be losing his top running back but also one of his talented receiver in Robinson.
Robinson led the team with 47 receptions for 505 yards, but only managed two touchdowns. NFL evaluators view the Gators wide out as a second-round talent, but his off field actions have him currently graded as a sixth or seventh-round pick and some think that he could even go undrafted. He has been suspended for four games in three years with the Gators, and off-field concerns are lowering his draft stock. The Gators wide out is listed at 6-foot-1, 201 pounds, and had a strong sophomore season with 810 yards and seven touchdowns. It only takes one team to take a chance on Robinson, but whatever franchise takes the talented receiver will likely need to provide him with a ton of structure.
Taylor and Robinson aren't the only two who will apply for early draft eligibility, as defensive end Alex McCalister will also enter the 2016 NFL Draft, according to Chase Goodbread of College Football 24/7. The junior defensive lineman recorded 9.5 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks, and was a key part of the Gators success on the field this season. McCalister missed the final three games of the season due to a foot injury, and reportedly has been dismissed from the program for a violation of team rules, according to Nick Bromberg of Yahoo Sports.
While McCalister clearly won't play in the Gators' Citrus Bowl against Michigan, both Taylor and Robinson are expected to play. The Gators are losing a ton of young talent this offseason, and it will interesting to follow, as McElwain will have some his own recruits on the field in his second season as head coach in 2016.
