With NFL training camp underway two former Florida Gators, Vernon Hargreaves and Dante Fowler, are doing big things.
Hargreaves was picked up by the Tampa Bay Bucs in the first round of the 2016 draft while Fowler was the third overall pick by Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2015 NFL Draft.
As a college student,Hargreaves not only earned first-team All-SEC honors in all three of his seasons in Gainesville, but also lined up multiple All-American honors in 2014 (three interceptions, 13 pass breakups) and 2015 (four interceptions, four pass break-ups) due to his playmaking ability.
InHargreaves’ first year in a NFL training camp he says this is a critical time for all the new guys coming in.
Tampa Bay Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter, saysHargreaves will start rotating in with the first team defense this week.
Dirk Koetter said Vernon Hargreaves will start rotating in with the first-team defense… https://t.co/URTqyOzWok pic.twitter.com/dREoGUm1Wj
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) August 1, 2016
Dante Fowler on the other hand was drafted in 2015 but on the first day of mini-camp, Fowler tore his ACL and missed his entire rookie season. However, just four days after tearing his ACL, Fowler signed a fully guaranteed four-year, $23.5 million contract, with a $15.3 million signing bonus with the Jags.
At Florida, Fowler led the Gators with 15 tackles for loss and 17 quarterback hurries and had 8.5 sacks. Fowler also earned First-team All-SEC and Walter Camp second-team selection in 2014.
Now that Fowler has the all clear to play he says it was great to finally put the pads on again after missing last season.
The former teammates will play each other on August 20 when the Buccaneers head to Jacksonville to play the Jags in their first preseason game of the year.