Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — When big boy offensive lineman Richard Gouraige sprinted the 40-yard dash Thursday, defensive lineman Gervon Dexter Sr. gregariously pumped his arms in a running motion. While waiting his turn during Florida's 2023 Pro Day, Dexter walked around the team's indoor practice facility seemingly more than any player, chatting it up with other Gators.

After he cheered for linebacker Brenton Cox Jr.'s crack at the 40, Dexter walked down a line of fellow UF football players. 

At the end of the line, someone caught his eye: Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. The two flashed smiles and shook hands. 

But Carroll was not the only NFL type to take notice of Dexter following an impressive performance by the Gator at the NFL Combine four weeks ago that included racing his 6-foot-6, 310-pound body to a stunning 4.88 in the 40. Dexter went to Indianapolis with an early third-day grade, but did well enough in the testing and interviews to move up the charts and — into the Top 75 overall, by some accounts — and likely into a second-day selection, which would mean a spot in the second or third round. 

The draft is scheduled for April 27-29 at Kansas City. 

"I spoke with a couple of coaches who believe," said Dexter, who did three years with the Gators after coming to UF from Lake Wales, Fla. "I've done stuff on film that others can't do physically." In addition to running at a speed above his frame, his "stuff" includes enough strength to rip off 22 reps of 225 pounds in the bench-press test, providing him with power to help fight double teams. While some scouting reports on Dexter's technique may not have been kind, what he was able to put on film sometimes using the wrong technique makes coaches and executives wonder what he might be when he gets the technique right. 

He looked awfully good running the cone and shuttle drills Thursday, as well banging on the blocking dummies in his position maneuvers. Give an assist to UF director of sports nutrition Kelsee Gomes, who reconfigured Dexter's diet to help him add muscle while cutting his body fat down to around 15 percent. 

"I'm doing it just naturally, so they feel they can teach me that technique, and with my physical ability, it'd be a lot easier for me," said Dexter, adding he'd met with 22 NFL teams thus far with five or six more to go. "I think a lot of people, me being 6-foot-6, didn't think that I can bend as well as I do. So I did pretty good at bending the hoops and getting through the bags." 

The former five-star recruit made the choice to enter the NFL Draft after three years at Florida.  His 10-month-old (Gervon Jr.) was not the entire reason he declared for the draft early, but father said son was definitely a factor. 

Dexter Sr. also had a lot of time on the field last year to prove his worth. Last season, Dexter Sr. posted 55 tackles and two sacks, while averaging more than 50 snaps per game. 

"Teams understand that if I'm in their program that I won't have to play that many snaps," he said. "In the NFL, I don't think there's really such thing as a lack of depth at the defensive tackle level."

Dexter wasn't the only defensive lineman trying to impress Thursday, but his circumstances certainly were different than those that Cox brought to the IPF. Cox, the former five-star pass-rush prospect who transferred to UF from Georgia, was dismissed from the team with four games remaining, meaning Cox not only had a lot to prove to the coaches, scouts and executives on hand, but some baggage to explain. 

Cox did not have a great combine, per reports, so he was out to make up for it this time around. He declined requests to talk to media afterward, but certainly has had to answer questions from the NFL types as to why he was kicked off the team. 

Others spoke on Cox's behalf.

"I think he did very well," Dexter said.

"He just needs an opportunity and to be put on the right position," Gouraige said. "After that, everything will take care of itself."

Cox joined Dexter and took part on all the on-field agility drills. He also opted for re-dos on some of his tests at the combine, improving on his both his bench press (by five reps) and broad jump (by two inches). 

"He kind of set the tone for me, him being in front of me," Dexter said. "That's the type of guy he is. He's always looking to compete and get better." Dexter's loud grunts appeared to convert to physical power as he moved from dummy to dummy. Or as one looker on remarked after a Dexter pass-rush slap send a dummy spilling to the ground, "The quarterback's dead."  

Cox was somewhat quieter, but through his oomphs, he managed to impress Gators coach Billy Napier, who made an arrangement with Cox that allowed the player to take part with his former teammates. 

"He certainly looks great today, so he's been working hard," he said. "We're hopeful that Brenton continues to play the game, continues to grow as a person and as a football player. I think he's going to get a new opportunity and he'll make the most of it."

That's something both Cox and Dexter aim to do, though via different paths. They'll find out where those paths take them in about a month.