Florida DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson makes decision on NFL future

Florida junior DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson was one of the biggest bright spots of the Gator defense this year.

In 12 games, he recorded 66 tackles (nine for a loss) and three sacks, while also grabbing two interceptions and scoring a touchdown.

Those are NFL-type numbers, and indeed, Gardner-Johnson will forgo his senior year and declare for the 2019 NFL Draft. He announced his decision on Twitter on Monday:

Thank You Gator Nation !!!! pic.twitter.com/BnseLUFn08

— C.J. Gardner-Johnson (@CGJXXIII) November 26, 2018

“On the field I new understand what football really is and the small details that help someone like myself become a force to be reckoned with,” Gardner-Johnson wrote in his tweet. “I have grown mentally and physically as I now understand that my body is everything.

“However, the more I valued my body I realized that all the individuals around me can have a positive and negative affect (sic) on who I am or viewed as in the public eye. The University and my platform as a student-athlete made me strong from the struggles of being alone at night, to waking up in the morning knowing I have a job to do in order to achieve my goals.

“With that in mind, I write to you today to say that I’m ready to achieve my next goal and move on to the next chapter in my life. I have decided to forgo my senior year and declare for the NFL Draft.”

The good news is that Gardner-Johnson said he was committed to playing in the Gators’ bowl game next month.

This will be a big hit to the Florida secondary next year, but another Gator will be playing on Sundays.

Adam Spencer

Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.