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Former Gators DL Gervon Dexter Sees Draft Stock Rise at NFL Combine

Former Florida defensive lineman Gervon Dexter's impressive display of athleticism at the 2023 NFL Combine has his draft stock on the rise.

Brandon Carroll

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Photo: Gervon Dexter; Credit: Alex Shepherd

Former Gators defensive lineman Gervon Dexter made a convincing call to all general managers during the pre-draft process with an impressive showing at the NFL Combine on Thursday.

Declaring for the draft under the guidance of the Florida staff following the 2022 season, he entered the fold in Indianapolis, Ind., with the opportunity to drastically boost his stock for the late-April selection process. 

That started with meeting various franchises for one-on-one interviews earlier in the week.

He's already garnered intrigue due to his monstrous 6-foot-6, 300-pound frame, dating back to his early days in a Florida uniform. The draft buzz increased even more in the 2022 offseason as he was destined for his largest role with the Gators in his three years with the program.

However, Dexter shined when he stepped inside Lucas Oil Stadium for the assortment of combine drills.

The anticipation surrounding his name began when he clocked an unofficial 5-second flat 40-yard dash on his first attempt, then grew when the laser read 4.93 unofficially on his second.

Upon further evaluation, Dexter was officially listed at a 4.88, the fifth-fastest 40-yard dash time for all defensive linemen in attendance.

Dexter continued his display of athleticism and movement fluidity in the positionally focused drills. His twitch, bend and agility arose as talking points for his skillset.

His day helped solidify his standing as a top-ten interior defensive line prospect in the upcoming draft. However, it may be doing more than that. The showing opened the eyes of everyone in attendance, including one of the NFL's most respected veteran athletes.

"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.

Campell's praise encompasses the widespread impression Dexter left on Thursday.

Accounting for 55 tackles, four TFLs, two sacks, one interception and two tipped passes last season, the Lake Wales, Fla., native produced his best season at the collegiate level from the middle of UF's defense.

However, while still satisfactory for the middle, the 2022 season stats aren't indicative of his immense impact on the inside for Florida. Consistently commanding double teams and serving as a plug in the middle of the defense, especially in the first half of games when he was fresh, Dexter's film showcases elite traits of strength, power and athleticism to win reps consistently against interior offensive linemen at the SEC level.

He struggled with fatigue at points during his junior as one of the highest-used defensive linemen in the nation due to the Gators' need at the position. Still, he's shown the capacity to disrupt opposing backfields with intensity at his peak when playing in a healthy rotation.

His first two years displayed high-upside as an early down defender with his prowess attacking the run. New leadership at UF in 2022 helped expose the largest remaining unknown in Dexter's game as he was put in position to rush the passer on a consistent basis.

Despite accounting for just two sacks, his length and burst off the snap present plenty of reasons for NFL scouts to be intrigued and comfortable with his ability to get after the quarterback when called.

His move from a true defensive tackle (3-tech) to a 3-4 defensive end (5-tech) in Patrick Toney's 3-man hybrid front aided him in honing that ability.

That versatility bodes well for his future.

As a result, Dexter is positioned to skyrocket up draft boards over the next two months. 

He's currently considered a low day two, high day three pick. However, the show of functional athleticism from his interior DL spot could see him earn late first-rounder projections (something All Gators noted as a possibility in December upon combine testing).

He'll have another opportunity to impress teams as he appears at Florida's Pro Day. The NFL Draft will take place April 27-29.

The Gators have 10 players in the pool of prospective draftees, including three potential first-rounders in quarterback Anthony Richardson, offensive lineman O'Cyrus Torrence and Dexter.

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Brandon Carroll
BRANDON CARROLL

Brandon Carroll is a recent graduate of the University of Florida. He serves as the lead reporter for the Florida Gators FanNation-Sports Illustrated website, covering football, basketball and recruiting. When he isn't hard at work, he enjoys listening to music, playing flag football and basketball, spending time with his friends and family, and watching an array of television shows. Follow him on Twitter @itsbcarroll.

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