Florida Gators junior cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III got his name called early Thursday when he was selected by his hometown Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the No. 11 overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
After a year without a defensive back selected, Hargreaves becomes the first Gators player drafted by the Buccaneers since safety Ahmad Black in 2011. He is also Florida’s highest-drafted cornerback since Joe Haden went No. 7 overall to Cleveland in 2010.
From @GatorsFB to the @TBBuccaneers.@___vh3 is a great pick at No. 11. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/2SuYCH292a
— EA SPORTS Madden NFL (@EAMaddenNFL) April 29, 2016
Hargreaves is now the fourth UF player on Tampa Bay’s roster, joining wide receiver Louis Murphy, safety Major Wright and tight end Tevin Westbrook.
“It was awesome,” said Hargreaves of being drafted by his hometown team. “It was the best thing I ever could have asked for. It was a dream come true. It doesn’t get better than this. It doesn’t get better than to get drafted by your home team. You know, I’m forty minutes away from the facilities and it’s great. I can see my mom when I want to now, it’s awesome. It’s great.”
Congrats Baby Gator! A true blessing! Welcome to the fam…Let's get it ! #itsabucslife #1ship https://t.co/9II4kSKt14
— Louis Murphy Jr (@murph918) April 29, 2016
"Coming back to Tampa! We're fired up!"
LISTEN to the full Vernon Hargreaves phone call: https://t.co/4vbDk0QVqu pic.twitter.com/1sAZYDtX7V
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@TBBuccaneers) April 29, 2016
The post 2016 NFL Draft: Tampa Bay picks Florida CB Vernon Hargreaves III No. 11 overall first appeared on OnlyGators.com: Florida Gators news, analysis, schedules and scores.Welcome to Tampa Bay!
Round 1, Pick 11 – Vernon Hargreaves pic.twitter.com/86Ql7kiBgk— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@TBBuccaneers) April 29, 2016
