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    Jaguars HC Doug Pederson

    2023 NFL Draft: Jaguars' Doug Pederson, Trent Baalke Attend Gators Pro Day

    The Jaguars' top decision-makers have a front-row seat for the Florida Gators' pro day, which features potential first-round guard O'Cyrus Torrence.

    The drive from Jacksonville to Gainesville is a short one, an advantage the Jaguars' brass used to get a front-row seat to the Florida Gators' top draft prospects on Thursday.

    Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke each were among those in attendance at the Gators' pro day, giving them a chance to see O'Cyrus Torrence, Gervon Dexter, Ventrell Miller, Trey Dean, and Brenton Cox Jr. 

    Torrence is especially of interest. Among the top-rated offensive linemen in the 2023 draft class, the All-American guard looks to be a likely first-round pick and could entice the Jaguars at No. 24 overall.

    “It’s possible,” Torrence said on Wednesday about being drafted by the Jaguars. 

    “I had a formal (meeting) with them [Jacksonville Jaguars] at the combine and it went great, so it’s possible. I mean, I wouldn’t mind. I like the offensive line coach [Phil Rauscher]. I like the scheme that they’re doing, so I wouldn’t mind at all.”

    Torrence started 13 games at guard as a true freshman for Louisiana before returning in 2020 for 11 more starts, earning Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors. He started 11 more games in head coach Billy Napier's offense in 2021, being named First Team All-Sun Belt Conference.

    Torrence transferred to Florida in 2022, following Napier and stepping in as a starting right guard from Week 1. After starting 11 games and being named to the AP All-SEC First-Team, he became the first Gators offensive guard to be named a Consensus All-American.

    Dexter is another former Gator who could make sense for a Jaguars team that just recently missed out on Calais Campbell. Dexter recorded 10.5 tackles for loss and five sacks in his three years at Florida. 

    Among other pro day visits for the Jaguars in recent days:

    • Cornerbacks coach and defensive passing game coordinator Deshea Townsend attended Maryland's pro day.
    • Defensive line coach Brentson Buckner attended LSU's pro day.
    • Offensive line coach Phil Rauscher attended Pittsburgh's and Oklahoma's pro days.
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