Yep, Chandler (1978), Fowler (2015) and Gerard Warren (2001) were all taken third in their respective drafts. Can't find a Gator who was taken any higher.
List of all Florida Gators players selected in the NFL Draft since 1970.
www.eatdrinkandsleepfootball.com
Found a second overall, but it was funky due to WWII. He played a year in the NFL without being drafted, then got drafted second overall.
Paul Duhart
Paul Duhart - Wikipedia
After being discharged by the U.S. Army in 1944, Duhart was given special dispensation pursuant to a ruling by the NFL in order to sign with the Green Bay Packers, since his college team, the Florida Gators, had previously disbanded for the 1943 season, preventing Duhart from entering the NFL Draft that year.
[3] As a part-time starter, he helped the Packers to a championship season in
1944.
[3] The
1944 NFL Championship Game was played on December 17, 1944 at New York City's
Polo Grounds. The Western Division champions, coach
Curly Lambeau's Green Bay Packers (8–2), squared off against the Eastern Division champions, coach
Steve Owen's New York Giants (8–1–1). Led by Green Bay's end
Don Hutson, quarterback
Irv Comp, and running back
Ted Fritsch who scored two touchdowns, the Packers compiled a 14–7 victory over the Giants, prevailing over the Giants' star running back Bill Paschal and quarterback
Arnie Herber. Duhart's last-minute interception of a "hail Mary" pass by Herber secured the Packers' victory.
P
rior to the 1945 NFL Draft, the NFL determined that Duhart would have to enter the draft,[3] and he was selected in the first round (second pick overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers.[5] Duhart was the first college football player from the state of Florida to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft. After playing two games for the Steelers in
1945, the
Boston Yanks purchased him,
[6] and he finished the 1945 season with the Yanks before injuries ended his NFL career.
[7]
Duhart finished his two-season NFL career with sixty-eight carries for 200 rushing yards and three touchdowns, and nine receptions for 176 yards and two touchdowns.
[1] He also completed seven passes for sixty-nine yards.
[1]
Alex.