This Florida Gators star has been a late riser heading into the NFL Draft.
The Florida Gators only really have one player that has been a hot topic of discussion heading into the NFL Draft, and that's defensive tackle Caleb Banks.
Banks is a freakish athlete who stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 330 pounds, so he has generated plenty of first-round buzz. He also suffered a broken foot the night before the Scouting Combine and worked out anyway, marking the second time he has undergone foot surgery within six months.
So, yeah: Banks' name has been pretty popular in recent weeks.
However, another Florida player has been quietly rising on draft boards, so much so that he might come off the board not long after Banks: tackle Austin Barber.
Previously viewed as a mid-round pick, Barber's stock has suddenly skyrocketed, and Chad Reuter of NFL.com just predicted him to land with the Chicago Bears at No. 57 in the second round.
This is definitely a bit of a surprise, but Barber is becoming more and more popular thanks to numerous factors.
Austin Barber. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.First of all, Barber is huge. He stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 318 pounds, so he has more than ideal size to man the tackle position on the professional level.
Barber also had a pretty solid Scouting Combine and graded pretty well in athleticism score, ranking eighth among all offensive tackles at NFL.com.
Plus, given how tackle is such a premium position, teams might be more likely to reach for one on Day 2, especially when he is a physical specimen like Barber.
The Bears could definitely use some help at the tackle position following Ozzy Trapilo's devastating knee injury in the playoffs, so if there is a squad out there that could take a gamble on Barber in Round 2, it's probably Chicago.
Of course, there is still a chance that Barber falls to Day 3. Again, most seemed to have him pegged as a fourth-round pick, or somewhere in that area. But he is certainly an intriguing prospect heading into the draft later this month.
Cornerback Devin Moore and center Jake Slaughter are other interesting Florida players to watch in this year's draft, and edge rusher Tyreak Sapp could get selected earlier than some are anticipating, as well.
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