Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
The Gators defensive tackle is focused on being a high first-round pick.
By DEBI JONES
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 15, 2001
GAINESVILLE -- Former Gators defensive tackle Gerard Warren had another opportunity to show off the reason why he may be taken in the first round of April's NFL draft.
Warren and 18 others worked out for NFL scouts in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
"It was pretty much everything I expected, I came out the last two years to watch," said Warren, who ran the 40-yard dash in 5.1 seconds. "I am interested in every team. I just want to get drafted. I would like to do everything I can to go high."
All 31 teams were represented by 79 scouts who came to watch 18 former Gator football players and a track athlete, sprinter Bobby Williams. The prospects went through drills, ran and lifted weights. Jerry Angelo, Bucs director of player personnel, said he wanted to get information and statistics on the players, but that he was impressed with Warren.
"We want to get the best players, we have our needs just like everybody else," Angelo said. "(Warren) is going to be a good pro. He is big, he's strong."
Warren and offensive tackle Kenyatta Walker said the afternoon was as grueling as they expected it to be, particularly after about two hours of working out.
"The combine is horrible," Walker said. "But you just have to be able to come out here and do it. I think that's why they do it hard, because of the circumstances, it's hot, it's pressure. I just kind of wanted to show them that no matter how tough the circumstances, I came to play."