Florida Gators' Unique Star Could be Major NFL Draft Sleeper

The Florida Gators don't have a whole lot of top-end talent heading into the NFL Draft this year. Defensive tackle Caleb Banks represents their only potential first-rounder, and he just suffered a broken foot which could sabotage his draft stock.

But while Florida may not have any other potential Day 1 picks other than Banks, they definitely have some intriguing prospects who could fly off the board earlier than anticipated.

One such player is edge rusher George Gumbs Jr., who most felt would go undrafted heading into the Scouting Combine. However, Gumbs flashed a 41-inch vertical leap in Indianapolis, which may have changed his fate next month.

A recent seven-round mock draft by Jacob Infante of Pro Football Network had Gumbs going to the Denver Broncos with the 245th overall pick, and there is no question that Gumbs' stock has climbed in recent weeks.

Gumbs — who also ran a decent 4.66 in the 40-yard dash — received a 6.14 prospect grade from NFL.com, which is good enough for him to be viewed as a potential starter down the line.

The 6-foot-4, 245-pound pass rusher began his career at Northern Illinois, where he actually played tight end his first couple of seasons before transitioning to edge rusher in his third season.

After three years with the Huskies, Gumbs transferred to Florida, where he racked up 35 tackles, eight tackles for loss and five sacks during his debut campaign in Gainesville.

Gumbs' production definitely dipped this past season, as he finished with 31 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and a couple of forced fumbles, but production for the Gators dropped across the board in 2025.

Not that that absolves the Chicago native of his decline, but it does indicate that he might be able to be more effective in a better environment (let's face it: things weren't exactly smooth in The Swamp this past season).

Gumbs won't be an early-round pick by any means. He will still likely be a Day 3 selection, at best. But his unique blend of size and athleticism should make him a compelling late-round prospect for someone, and he could ultimately develop into a decent rotational player on the NFL level.

Gators Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Florida Gators. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.