After no player from Florida was selected in Rounds 2 or 3 of the NFL draft on Friday, three heard their names called on the third and final day of the draft.
Jaylen Watkins, Ronald Powell and Jon Halapio each heard their names called on Saturday to bring Florida's total of players drafted to four.
Watkins was the first player taken off the board on Saturday, with the Philadelphia Eagles selecting the defensive back with pick No. 101 — the highest pick Philadelphia used on a UF player since selecting Lito Sheppard with the 26th pick in 2002.
Watkins was the first Gator selected by the Eagles since 2010, when Philadelphia selected wide receiver Riley Cooper with the 159th pick.
In his four years at Florida, Watkins started 28 contests, logging 133 tackles, 21 pass breakups and three interceptions. The Cape Coral native was third on the team with 52 tackles and second with seven pass breakups in his senior campaign.
The New Orleans Saints drafted Powell in the fifth round, taking the linebacker with the 169th overall selection. Powell was the first Gators player picked by the Saints since 1998.
Powell notched 84 tackles and 11 sacks in 36 games for the Gators. He led Florida with four sacks in 2013 while also record 26 tackles, including seven behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of 46 yards.
The Patriots, who selected Dominique Easley with the 29th overall pick on Thursday, took another Gator on Saturday when they selected Halapio in the sixth round.
The 6-foot-3 guard, taken with the 179th pick, started 43 contests at right guard for UF. Halapio, the first Florida offensive lineman drafted since Mike Pouncey in 2011, will help bolster a New England offensive line that surrendered 40 sacks in 2013 — the most the Patriots gave up since being allowing 48 in 2008.
While eight Florida players went undrafted, five have already signed as undrafted free agents.
Trey Burton, who played at least one game at every offensive skill position during his campaign with UF, will join Watkins in Philadelphia after signing with the Eagles, according to Comcast Sportsnet's Reuben Frank. Burton accumulated 1696 yards and 20 touchdowns in 50 career games for Florida.
Wide receiver Solomon Patton — who led UF in receptions (44), receiving yards (556) and touchdowns (six) in 2013 —signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as announced by his agent, Hadley Engelhard. The 5-foot-9 speedster, who set the Florida school record with a 27.7-yard career kickoff return average, has the potential to help the Bucs on special teams.
Offensive lineman Damien Jacobs and linebacker Darrin Kitchens also inked undrafted free agent deals with the Buffalo Bills. Center Jon Harrison signed with the Indianapolis Colts per the Institute for Athletes.
Cornerbacks Loucheiz Purifoy and Marcus Roberson — who were both projected as first round picks at one point — and offensive lineman Kyle Koehne are still unsigned, but Koehne announced via his Twitter (@KingKone64) that he will be trying out with the Atlanta Falcons next weekend.
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Jaylen Watkins (14) tackles Arkansas wide receiver Javontee Herndon (19) during Florida’s 30-10 win against the Razorbacks on Oct. 5, 2013, in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Watkins was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday.
