Good Morning Gators: Special draft night for Kaiir Elam, two UF coaches
Florida Gators football is the No. 1 topic in Good Morning Gators every day — but we cover news, notes, and analysis from across the Gators sports world. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Florida football, UF recruiting, Gators basketball, Florida baseball and more.
Kaiir Elam and a pair of Florida assistant coaches had reason to celebrate the opening round of the 2022 NFL Draft on Thursday night.
Elam was drafted in the first round by the Buffalo Bills, who traded up two spots to add UF’s star cornerback to their secondary.
The opening round was also a big night for Florida cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond and receivers coach Keary Colbert.
Both assistants had one of their former players drafted in the top 10, as Houston picked LSU cornerback Derek Stingley third overall and Atlanta took USC receiver Drake London with the eighth pick.
Top 10
- 1
Shilo Sanders
Compares himself to Donald Trump
- 2
Big Ten reversing course
Courting private equity bids
- 3
Emeka Egbuka
'Never got the credit he deserved'
- 4
LSU-OU WBB fight
Multiple ejections after dust up
- 5Hot
Pearl needles Alabama
Auburn coach had to say it
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
Stingley earned first team All-America honors in 2019 and 2020 under Raymond’s tutelage, while Colbert developed London into the 2021 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year.
Raymond was in attendance at Stingley’s draft party and made sure to represent the Gators.
In other Florida football news
- Elam was selected 23rd overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, becoming the sixth cornerback in school history to get drafted in the opening round.
- WATCH: Elam breaks down in tears and drops his phone on the emotional call with Buffalo from his draft party in Palm Beach.
- Gators Online Podcast: PFF analyst Trevor Sikkema joins the show to preview the 2022 NFL Draft, break down Elam, Florida’s other draft prospects and his sleeper pick.
UF recruiting roundup
- Gators Online‘s Corey Bender has submitted an On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine pick in favor of Florida for a top-50 prospect.
- Former Gators hoops signee Jalen Reed committed to LSU on Thursday after reopening his recruitment and reconsidering UF.
Gators sports roundup
- What LSU transfer Alex Fudge brings to first-year coach Todd Golden and the Gators men’s basketball roster for the 2022-23 season.
- Florida guard Elijah Kennedy will reportedly enter the NCAA transfer portal, becoming the third UF player to explore his options.
Let’s keep talking
Want to keep the conversation going? Head over to our Florida message board, Swamp Talk. Sign up here and join the discussion.
Gators Twitter updates
- Elam addresses Bills Mafia after getting drafted by Buffalo:
- Highlights from Elam’s three years with the Gators:
