Report: Florida defensive lineman Taven Bryan to enter NFL Draft

Drawing comparisons to star defensive lineman J.J. Watt, Florida’s Taven Bryan will enter the 2018 NFL Draft, according to a report from WalterFootball.com.

Bryan is 6-foot-4, 295 pounds and projected to be picked in the first two rounds after an impressive showing at the NFL Scouting Combine. Bryan was second on his team with four sacks, and had 40 tackles, including six for a loss. Along with Watt, other comparisons are with the Chiefs’ Chris Jones or the Broncos’ Derek Wolfe.

Charlie Campbell also reported that NFL teams believe that Bryan has the flexibility to be a three-technique defensive tackle in a 4-3 defense or play five-technique defensive end in a 3-4.

“If he impresses in the pre-draft workouts as expected, Bryan could easily end up being a Thursday night selection in April,” Campbell wrote.

CBSSports.com listed Bryan as the No. 20 pick in a recent ranking of top prospects.

“He was Florida’s best defender against the rival Seminoles, and that’s been the case for the vast majority of the season,” the CBS Sports ranking said. “Bryan can play anywhere on the defensive line and blends a variety of pass-rushing moves with the power needed to drive offensive linemen backward on a bull rush.”

Sources tell me that Florida #Gators DL Taven Bryan will enter the 2018 NFL Draft. Teams view him as a first- or second-round pick. https://t.co/g1l1uMxjsL

— Charlie Campbell (@DraftCampbell) November 29, 2017

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.