Florida’s Dante Fowler Jr. became the top pass rusher of the 2015 NFL draft Thursday night when the Jacksonville Jaguars selected him at No. 3 overall.
Fowler Jr. also became the first SEC and defensive player taken in the draft, getting selected after Florida State QB Jameis Winston (No. 1 to Tampa Bay) and Oregon QB Marcus Mariota (No. 2 to Tennessee).
One of college football’s top pass rushers, the versatile Fowler is expected to play defensive end or outside linebacker for the Jaguars after dominating at the “Buck” hybrid position for coach Will Muschamp in Gainesville.
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At 6-foot-3, 261-pounds, Fowler led the Gators with 15 tackles for loss as a first-team All-SEC standout. The MVP on Florida’s defense, the former five-star prospect is a native of the Sunshine State and developed into an every-snap threat his final two seasons.
After trimming 25 pounds off an athletic frame since the Gators’ bowl game, Fowler should be able to step right in and make an impact for the Jaguars.
Former Auburn defensive tackle Sen’Derrick Marks (8.5 sacks) and former Georgia defensive end Chris Clemmons (8 sacks) led the Jaguars in sacks last season.
Fowler is the Gators’ highest draft pick since defensive tackle Gerard Warren who went No. 3 overall in 2001 to the Cleveland Browns.
Many analysts pegged Jacksonville as selecting Alabama receiver Amari Cooper or USC DL Leonard Williams, but Fowler insisted weeks ago that the Jags would be silly not to take him, and his words proved prophetic.
SDS writer Brad Crawford contributed to this story.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
