Chicago Selects Florida DL Gervon Dexter in 2023 NFL Draft
Photo: Gervon Dexter; Credit: Alex Shepherd
Gervon Dexter is the second Gator off the board in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Florida defensive lineman was selected by the Chicago Bears with the No. 53 pick in the second round on Friday evening.
Dexter is Chicago's second investment in the trenches in as many picks to begin this year's draft. The Bears took Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright with the No. 10 pick in the first round on Thursday.
A blue-chip recruit coming out of Lake Wales (Fla.) High School in the class of 2020, Dexter made his way into the rotation very early in his UF career and did not look back. He logged 254 defensive snaps as a true freshman and nearly doubled that count in 2021.
2022 brought coaching changes throughout Florida's staff, under new head coach Billy Napier, upping the necessity to build a rotation around the 6-foot-6, 313-pounder in a multiple front. Dexter's length proved promising from a pass-rushing perspective, and he totaled a career-high 55 tackles, one pass tip, two sacks, 25 pressures and one interception on 682 snaps in 2022.
In three seasons, 37 appearances and 23 starts with the Gators, Dexter compiled 120 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and four batted passes. He tallied a total of 51 quarterback pressures and 61 run defense stops in that span, per Pro Football Focus.
The third-year collegiate athlete impressed throughout his career and upped the hype around his name at the NFL Scouting Combine this spring. Dexter was not only one of the biggest trenchmen on hand, but he registered one of the fastest 40-yard dash times among the big men. An official 4.88 (seconds) was good for the fifth-fastest 40-yard dash time for all defensive linemen in attendance.
Other drills impressed onlookers throughout the league, including a new positional peer.
"That Dexter kid from Florida? Whew. Big and athletic, can move. Very impressive, he made a fan out of me today," said Baltimore Ravens DL Calais Campbell, a 15-year NFL veteran.
Dexter follows quarterback Anthony Richardson (Indianapolis Colts, first round, fourth overall) to become Florida's second prospect selected in the 2023 NFL Draft.
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