16 Florida Gators named to Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Reese’s Senior Bowl announced the 2024 preseason watch list on Wednesday, including 16 draft-eligible Florida Gators.
The UF cohort is comprised of one graduate transfer, four redshirt seniors, seven seniors, three redshirt juniors and one junior. Linebacker Shemar James is the only third-year player on Florida’s list.
The 2025 edition of the Senior Bowl is the second year that all draft eligible players can be selected for the game, and the first year that underclassmen were included on the watchlist.
The Gators have steadily increased their presence on the Senior Bowl Watch List over the past three years, garnering six selections in 2022, nine in 2023, and now 16 in 2024.
Florida Gators on the Watch List
| QB | Graham | Mertz | R-Sr. |
| RB | Montrell | Johnson Jr. | Sr. |
| WR | Elijhah | Badger | Sr. |
| WR | Chimere | Dike | Sr. |
| OL | Damieon | George Jr. | R-Jr. |
| OL | Brandon | Crenshaw-Dickson | R-Sr. |
| DL | Caleb | Banks | R-Jr. |
| DL | Cam | Jackson | Sr. |
| DL | Joey | Slackman | Gr. |
| LB | Shemar | James | Jr. |
| ILB | R.J. | Moten | Sr. |
| DB | Jason | Marshall Jr. | Sr. |
| DB | Trikweze | Bridges | R-Sr. |
| DB | Asa | Turner | R-Sr. |
| P | Jeremy | Crawshaw | Sr. |
| LS | Rocco | Underwood | R-Jr. |
UF history in the Senior Bowl
Notable former Gators have parlayed a Senior Bowl appearance into an NFL Draft selection, including Ricky Pearsall, O’Cyrus Torrence, and Kadarius Toney in recent years. A total of 116 Gators have participated in the Senior Bowl throughout its 75-year history.
Florida had two players in the game last year in center Kingsley Eguakun and Pearsall, who helped himself become a first-round pick with his performance in Mobile, Ala.
ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid singled out Pearsall and Georgia’s Ladd McConkey as the top two receivers after the first day of practices at the Reese’s Senior Bowl.
Pearsall keep it going that week and was one of the standouts from Day 2 of the Reese’s Senior Bowl practices, according to Lance Zierlein and Eric Edholm of NFL.com.
“When it comes to my tape study of this year’s draft class, it’s hard to find a wide receiver who is more consistent than Pearsall,” they wrote. “He is performing at that same level this week, no matter who is guarding him. He’s shown off his route-running ability and consistent hands during one-on-one drills.”
Florida offensive linemen Richard Gouraige and Torrence both competed in the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl. Torrence was a second-round pick by Buffalo and both he and Gouraige play for the Bills.
![Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier walks during the first half at the Orange and Blue spring football game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 13, 2024. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://on3static.com/cdn-cgi/image/height=215,width=393,quality=90,fit=cover,gravity=0.5x0.5/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/04/18141240/Untitled-design-72-2.png)
