Trio of Gators snapped up by New England

GAINESVILLE - Apparently Bill Belichick really likes the Florida football program.

New England drafted a trio of Gator players in the NFL Draft, starting in Friday night's second round with defensive end Jermaine Cunningham and linebacker Brandon Spikes, followed Saturday by fourth-round pick Aaron Hernandez, who won the Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end in 2009.

It's the first time since 2003 than an NFL team has selected a trio of Gators in the same draft. The Bears selected four - quarterback Rex Grossman (first round), safety Todd Johnson and defensive tackle Ian Scott (both in the fourth round) and defensive tackle Tron LaFavor (fifth round).

At least three Gators went to the same team three other times, all to the New York Giants, in 1957 (4), 1956 (3) and 1953 (3).

Belichick's close relationship with UF coach Urban Meyer is well-documented. Now the Patriot coach is putting his future in his faith in Meyer's evaluations.

"I've said many times I have the utmost respect for Coach Belichick and the way he goes about his business," Meyer said.

"The Patroits are a first-class organization from top to bottom. Overall, our group of players have been drafted by top-notch organizations and coaches and I'm excited for them as they begin their professional careers."

The New England Gators certainly sound happy to be staying together.

"A couple of picks after (being drafted) I saw Brandon Spikes' name go across the (TV) screen and my whole house, my whole family, everybody just started going crazy," Cunningham said.

Not only were they teammates, they were roommates during part of their stay in Gainesville.

"Every year, at least once a year, Coach Belichick would come down and talk to the team," Cunningham said. "And Coach Meyer would talk about Coach Belichick and what a great coach he is."

Cunningham could even end up playing alongside Spikes, since he could be moving to linebacker.

Spikes' stock dropped after he ran the 40-yard dash over five seconds both at the NFL Combine and at the Gators' pro day.

"Everything happens for a reason," he said of sliding out of the first round. "It's definitely going to put a chip on my shoulder and I want to come into the league with that chip."

He's thrilled Belichick will be his new coach.

"Throughout college, I've seen him a few times around the facility," Spikes said. "I know he and Coach Meyer have a great relationship. I know that he knows pretty much everything about me. So I know what he's about and I'm pretty sure he knows what I'm about."

Of playing pro ball with Cunningham, Spikes said: "He's a guy I'd keep in my corner any day."

Hernandez was as thrilled as the other two because he grew up in Connecticut and is a life-long Patriots fan.

"I grew up a Drew Bledsoe fan and my goal was to play for the Patriots," Hernandez said. "I still can't believe it's real."

Having two Gator teammates on the squad made it even sweeter.

"It'll make it easier because you have people you know already and feel comfortable around," Hernandez said. "But it's still going to take some getting use to, meeting all the other players and getting used to the NFL system. But it definitely helps having some teammates around you feel comfortable."

Wide receiver Riley Cooper was taken in the fifth round by Philadelphia, giving the Gators nine draft picks, one shy of the school mark set in 1978, when the draft was 12 rounds instead of the current seven. UF most recently had nine players drafted in 2007. Florida, which has had a receiver selected in 15 of the last 17 years, is one of two schools to have a wide receiver taken in each of the last five drafts.

Elsewhere in the state, Miami had a pair of players taken in the fourth round: linebacker Darryl Sharpton (102, Houston Texans) and offensive tackle Jason Fox (128, Detroit Lions). Picks in the sixth round from the Sunshine State: USF wide receiver Carlton Mitchell (177, Cleveland Browns), Florida Atlantic quarterback Rusty Smith (176, Tennessee Titans) and FSU defensive back Myron Rolle (207, Tennessee).

Taken in the seventh and final round were: FSU linebacker Dekoda Watson (217, Tampa Bay Bucs), USF defensive end George Selvie (226, St. Louis Rams), Miami tight end Dedrick Epps (235, San Diego Chargers).

USF's five draft picks were a school record.