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Four Former Florida Gators Were Selected on Day 1 of the Inaugural XFL Draft

Which former Gators found new homes in the XFL?

For professional football players around the country that couldn't stick it out in the NFL, perhaps their last shot at making a career out of the sport has come via Vince McMahon.

The new-look XFL kicked off its inaugural player draft yesterday, with eight teams selecting players in phases. The two-day event is broken up into segments, with quarterbacks being selected first, followed by an offensive skill player, an offensive line, and a defensive front seven phase.

Day 2 will follow with a defensive back draft, and then teams will have their hand at all remaining players in the draft pool.

Four former Florida Gators had their name called on the first day of the XFL Draft. Let's check out who represents orange and blue in the new XFL.

RB Matt Jones (2012-14), St. Louis Battlehawks

Jones was the first former Gator off the board, being selected by St. Louis with the sixth pick of the seventh round of the offensive skill player draft.

He was productive in his first three years, tallying 1431 yards and 11 touchdowns on 297 carries with 19 receptions for 100 yards and a receiving touchdown as well. That led to Jones declaring early for the 2015 NFL Draft, where he was taken in the third round by the Washington Redskins.

Jones flashed as a rookie in Washington, posting 490 yards and three rushing touchdowns on 144 carries. Through seven games into his second season, Jones nearly matched that production with 460 yards and three scores, and his efficiency improved as he boosted his yards per carry from 3.4 as a rookie to 4.6. He also added 27 receptions for 377 yards and a touchdown in the passing game.

However, Jones suffered a knee injury in Week 7 and never saw another carry for Washington, as he was replaced by rookie Robert Kelley, who finished his rookie season with 704 yards and six touchdowns, with 12 receptions, 82 yards, and a receiving touchdown to pair.

Jones was released prior to the 2017 season, and has since bounced around the Indianapolis Colts' practice squad and the Philadelphia Eagles' training camp.

OL Martez Ivey (2015-18), Tampa Bay Vipers

A four-year starter on the left side of Florida's offensive line, Martez Ivey surprisingly was unwanted by the NFL after entering the draft this past offseason, which led to his selection with the fifth pick of the second round of the OL pool by Tampa Bay.

Did he ever live up to his five-star status at Florida? No, but he developed into a decent starter at left tackle and had all the intangibles (standing at 6-5, 315 lbs., with 36 1/4" arms) that NFL teams typically drool over for an offensive lineman.

Ivey went undrafted and didn't sign as an undrafted free agent until late July with the New England Patriots. He had only participated in the Seattle Seahawks rookie minicamp up until that point, but left the PNW without a contract. Ivey spent the preseason with New England before being released.

With positional versatility and intangibles that teams love, Ivey should be a fun developmental project in the XFL - perhaps one day the NFL will come calling.

OL Ian Silberman (2010-13), New York Guardians

With the third pick of the eighth round of the offensive line phase, the New York Guardians selected former Gators and Boston College lineman Ian Silberman.

With experience at right guard and tackle, Silberman played for five teams in six NFL season after entering the draft as a graduate student from Boston College. He spent four years with the Gators and played in 20 games. Much like Ivey, Silberman's size - 6-5, 305 - catches the eye of talent evaluators and the Guardians will attempt to develop him into a starting-caliber player.

DL Leon Orr (2010-14), Los Angeles Wildcats

Leon Orr had an interesting career with the Florida Gators that he cut short on his own by leaving the team after losing his starting role, halfway through his final season. 

By that point, Orr had accumulated 4.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss in his career at defensive tackle, and at 6-5, 305 lbs., he was receiving NFL attention. Despite not finishing his final season at Florida, Orr bounced around the Oakland Raiders and Miami Dolphins practice squad, and eventually signed with the Orlando Apollos of the AAF last year.

The defensive backs portion and open draft of remaining players kicks off today for the XFL. Stay tuned to GatorMaven to see if any other former Gators get their name called.