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Gators DT Caleb Brantley declares for NFL Draft

UF redshirt junior defensive tackle Caleb Brantley announced Friday in a first-person post on SEC Country that he will forgo his final season of collegiate eligibility and declare for the NFL Draft.

The 6-2, 297-pound lineman from Crescent City, Florida, is highly touted by scouts for his size and skill on the interior of the defensive line. WalterFootball.com ranks Brantley as the top nose tackle in the draft class, and ESPN analyst Todd McShay has him ranked as the 14th-best player on his big board. He's projected to be a first-round draft pick.

"Brantley is more of a disruptor than someone who is going to put up eye-popping production," McShay wrote. "He has a good combination of quickness and functional strength to excel as an interior player at the next level. When he's at his best -- as he was in back-to-back games against LSU and Florida State (5.0 tackles for loss) -- Brantley can be a load to handle in the running game."

In his final season, Brantley recorded a team-best 9.5 tackles for loss and had 31 tackles overall along with three quarterback hurries and 2.5 sacks. He finished his UF career with 81 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.

One of his biggest moments came in the second quarter of Florida's 16-10 win over LSU that secured the Gators as the SEC East champions. With LSU surging into the red zone and on the verge to go up 14-0 early, Brantley tackled Tigers tailback Derrius Guice five yards behind the line of scrimmage and forced a fumble. Teammate Kylan Johnson recovered to force the first of what would eventually be three red-zone stops for the Gators in the win.  

Brantley is the fifth UF draft-eligible junior to declare, joining cornerbacks Jalen Tabor and Quincy Wilson, linebacker Alex Anzalone and offensive lineman David Sharpe. The deadline to make a decision is Jan. 16.

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