2016 NFL Draft recap: Seven Gators get drafted, two ink FA deals

GAINESVILLE -- The 2016 NFL Draft is over, and Florida continued its tradition as a football factory. 

The Gators produced seven selections during the weekend’s three-day extravaganza, tying Alabama for the most among league schools. 

All-American cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III went No. 11 overall to Tampa Bay, returning to his old stomping grounds as a star at Wharton High. 

"Coming back to Tampa! We're fired up!"

LISTEN to the full Vernon Hargreaves phone call: https://t.co/4vbDk0QVqu pic.twitter.com/1sAZYDtX7V

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@TBBuccaneers) April 29, 2016

Just six picks later, explosive safety Keanu Neal reconnected with former UF defensive coordinator Dan Quinn in Atlanta at No. 17 overall. 

On Friday, hybrid defensive lineman Jon Bullard had to wait a while to hear his name called, but the All-American was eventually taken in the third round by the Chicago Bears. 

During the final rounds Saturday, four former Gators came off the board, with linebacker Antonio Morrison and receiver Demarcus Robinson going in back-to-back picks in the fourth round. Morrison went to Indianapolis and Robinson was scooped up by Kansas City. Tailback Kelvin Taylor was a sixth-round pick by San Francisco, while defensive end Alex McCalister was a seventh-round pick, landing in Philadelphia. 

Meanwhile, tight end Jake McGee (Carolina) and nickel-back Brian Poole (Atlanta) both inked free-agent deals after going undrafted. 

excited to have signed a free agent contract with the @Panthers

— Jake McGee (@JakeOvaTheWorld) April 30, 2016

Just gotta take a different route..

— Brian Poole (@JustPooleN_It) April 30, 2016

Finally, two former Florida quarterbacks were selected over the weekend, as N.C. State’s Jacoby Brissett was taken by New England in the third round and Jeff Driskel, who finished his career at Louisiana Tech, joined Taylor as a sixth-round pick headed to the Niners. 

See you on the west coast @Kelvintaylor21 @49ers

— Jeff Driskel (@jeffdriskel) April 30, 2016

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReSimonton