The bowl season gives fans and scouts alike a chance to analyze NFL Draft prospects against solid competition. Bowl scheduling allows all eyes to be on each game. Here are the NFL Draft prospects in the 2021 Gasparilla Bowl.
Kaiir Elam, CB
Elam has received playing time since his freshman season at Florida. Now a junior, Elam has posted 76 total tackles, five interceptions and 20 passes defended in his career. This season, he has registered 27 total tackles, one interception and five passes defended.
He has solid size for a corner who is going to be drafted at 6-foot-2 and 196 pounds. His length helps him be disruptive. Elam has proven to stay attached in man coverage and can make plays on the ball. He is a projected first-round pick.
Projected Draft Range: First Round Pick
Brenton Cox, Edge
Cox has had a unique college career in that he started at Georgia and transferred to Florida. He has 98 total tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks in his career. In the 2021 season, Cox has had his best season yet with 36 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
His measurables add up to make him an NFL prospect, as he is 6-foot-4 and 253 pounds. His jump in sack production has helped his draft stock and he may be able to play outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme or a defensive end in a 4-3 scheme. Cox is currently projected to be a mid-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Projected Draft Range: Third Round Pick-Fifth Round Pick
Other Draft Prospects: EDGE Zachary Carter (3rd-5th *Opted out of Bowl Game), EDGE Jeremiah Moon (5th-7th), LB Ventrell Miller (5th-7th), S Trey Dean (6th-UFA), RB Dameon Pierce (6th-UFA)
Jaylon Robinson, WR
After starting his career at Okahoma, Robinson transferred to UCF and has been productive for the Knights. He has 76 catches for 1,329 yards and eight touchdowns in his college career. This season, Robinson has 18 catches for 322 yards and two touchdowns in six games played. He is expected to be healthy for the bowl game.
He is a smaller receiver at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, which will likely make him a slot receiver at the next level. Robinson is just a junior so he may elect to go back to school to put more on tape for NFL evaluators. If he does enter the draft, he may not be selected.
Projected Draft Range: Undrafted Free Agent
Cole Schneider, OG/C
Schneider redshirted his first year on campus, but has played ever since. He made first-team All-AAC as a redshirt freshman. Scheider followed that up with second-team All-AAC and then made first -team All-AAC as a junior. This season he made the All-AAC second team. He has mostly played guard, but did move to center for a game this season.
He has solid size for an interior offensive lineman at 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds. Schneider has a lot of good experience and tape over his career at UCF. While he won’t likely be drafted, Schneider could get an opportunity to go to a training camp.
Projected Draft Range: Undrafted Free Agent
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