NFL Draft Profile: Gervon Dexter, Interior Defensive Lineman, Florida Gators
In this story:
#9
Pos: iDL
Ht: 6056
Wt: 310
Hand: 0948
Arm: 3228
Wing: 8078
40: 4.88
DOB: 10/5/2000
Hometown: Lake Wales, FL
High School: Lake Wales
Eligibility: 2023
Gervon Dexter
Florida Gators
One-Liner:
An NFL athlete in terms of his movement and power, Gervon Dexter is a well-rounded 4-3 defensive tackle who can develop into a solid starter in the league. That said, his inconsistent pad level, hand move arsenal, and motor result in volatile play that will make him a rosterable depth player early while he develops.
Evaluation:
Though technique and refined play are important pieces of an NFL player’s success, high-level athletic traits are irreplaceable. Florida’s Gervon Dexter has clear NFL size and length, the versatility to play anywhere from the nose to five-tech, experience against SEC talent, and NFL-caliber athletic traits. The 318-pound defensive tackle has impressive short-area lateral explosion and a quick first step to penetrate and shoot gaps. His solid change of direction ability helps him shed blocks and work to the ball carrier. He has good long speed for his size. What’s more, Dexter is a powerful-but-inconsistent athlete who boasts the upper body strength to shed blocks and the lower body strength to push through offensive linemen - especially from half-man. Dexter works through engagement well with non-stop leg drive. Further, the Florida native shoots early hands that he keeps low and inside to win leverage. His length, when used properly, allows him to almost completely keep opponents from landing hands. Dexter has the flexibility to get low into contact and melt through blocks. He has an intriguing understanding of angles into engagement. As a pass rusher, the Gators’ standout flashes the ability to push the pocket from the interior. He employs a solid long-arm bull rush when he initiates and wins with a good first step. His never-ending motor enables him to win late. Against the run, the athletic defender boasts a solid anchor. He can establish distance, window, and shed. He also eats space with his length. He tracks the ball carrier well both while engaged and through traffic. Dexter has the length to make tackles through blocks. All that said, the Florida defender’s exciting athletic traits are inconsistent on film due to his unrefined technique. His power through full-man is ineffective too often and he is put off-balance by double teams too easily. He can be sealed, controlled, or driven by offensive linemen. Moreover, Dexter’s problematic pad level hurts his functional power. The athletic defender does not employ hand or rush moves beyond his initial punch and the occasional late counter. He is very late out of his stance at times. In run defense, Dexter can be washed out of gaps or controlled when he plays ahead of himself. He cannot reliably shed blocks. He is not a sure tackler. Though Dexter should be a backup as a rookie, he can develop into a solid starter in a 4-3 scheme.
Grade:
4th Round
Background:
Gervon Dexter appeared in twelve games in 2020 as a freshman where he made an impact for the Gators. His playing time increased in a big way in 2021, where he started nine games at Defensive Line. From Lake Wales, Florida, he totaled a little over one hundred tackles for his high school in his 2019 season. He started nine games for Florida last season, and he will look to be an impact starter on the defensive line in 2022.
