Gators in the NFL: Seven Rookies to Watch This Season
Seven Gators were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. This continues Florida’s streak of having a pick in every NFL Draft since 1967, the only SEC program to achieve the status that includes Southern Cal and Michigan.
As we begin the 2025 football season Thursday night, here are the Florida rookies that you should keep an eye on.
Chimere Dike
Dike was drafted in round four as the 103rd overall pick by the Tennessee Titans. During his time as a wide receiver at Florida, Dike started 11 games and played all 13 a season ago. He led the team in receptions with 42 and posted a career best of 783 yards with two touchdowns.
The Titans are ready to put their trust in Dike, as he is first on the depth chart as a punt returner and kick returner. In the preseason, Dike returned four kickoffs for the Titans, averaging 27.8 yards, as well as 6.0 yards on two punt returns. He is the 10th Gator wide receiver to be selected in the NFL draft since 2015 and the 10th UF player drafted by the Titans.
Cam Jackson
Jackson was drafted in round five as the 140th pick by the Carolina Panthers. Jackson started in 22 games on the defensive line during his time with the Gators, recording 69 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and four pass deflections. Jackson is the second Gator to be selected by the Panthers and 25th Gator defensive tackle to be selected in the common draft era.
“I want to be under and just be under their wing, not only as a teammate, but also as a little brother as well,” Jackson said to the Panthers media.
Jackson plans to shadow Derrick Brown and A’Shawn Robinson.
Jason Marshall Jr.
Marshall Jr. was also drafted in the fifth round (150 overall) by the Miami Dolphins. Marshall Jr. was a four-year starting cornerback for the Gators. He played 45 career games, earning 39 starts. He accomplished 98 tackles, 25 pass break-ups, 7.5 tackles for loss and two picks. Marshall Jr. is the 17th Florida cornerback drafted since 1967 and the 15th Gator taken by the Dolphins.
From a Miami Palmetto Senior High student sitting in the stadium seats to a professional football player for the Dolphins, this is a full-circle moment for Marshall Jr.
“Being a little kid and just going to the stadium, sitting in the stadium seats and like, ‘Man, I’m dreaming to be here,'” Marshall Jr. said.
Graham Mertz
Mertz was drafted in the sixth round (197 pick) by the Houston Texans. Mertz was a two-year starting quarterback for the Gators. He accounted for 3,694 yards and 26 touchdowns with a 73.7 completion percentage as Florida’s signal caller. Mertz is the 10th Florida quarterback to be drafted since 1967 and the fourth Gator to be drafted by the Texans.
Mertz’s season with the Gators ended after suffering a torn ACL in October 2024, an injury that required surgery and sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Following the injury, Mertz switched to a mentorship role for the team’s freshman quarterback, DJ Lagway.
Also
Linebacker Shemar James was drafted in the fifth round (152 overall) by the Dallas Cowboys, punter Jeremy Crawshaw was drafted in round six (216) by the Denver Broncos. Trikweze Bridges was drafted in round seven (pick 256) by the Los Angeles Chargers.
Category: Football, Former Gators, Gators Football, NFL, NFL Draft
