Florida Gators offensive lineman Kingsley Eguakun declares for 2024 NFL Draft

Nikki Chavanelleby:Nikki Chavanelle12/03/23

NikkiChavanelle

Florida Gators offensive lineman Kingsley Eguakun announced his intention to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft on Sunday night. The redshirt junior center was expected to turn pro after he accepted an invitation to play in the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl.

Eguakun started 26 consecutive games for the Gators before injury plagued him during the 2023 season. He only made four starts and missed eight games due to a lingering high-ankle sprain that he suffered in fall training camp.

More on the 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, with the first round on Thursday, April 25, the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26, and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, April 27.

Players will have the opportunity to solidify their draft stock at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana from February 26 through March 4.

The three-day event will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility.

Last season, 69 players were granted special eligibility for the 2023 NFL Draft. 13 underclassmen who had completed their college degrees were also deemed eligible to be selected.

The deadline to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft is on January 15. NFL teams will receive a full list of eligible players in the class on January 19.