Amari Burney selected in sixth round of 2023 NFL Draft
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida Gators linebacker Amari Burney was selected 203rd overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the sixth round on Saturday. Burney is the sixth UF player selected in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Burney spent five seasons with the Gators and made a total of 22 starts in 58 appearances, finishing his UF career with 224 tackles, seven sacks, 12 pass breakups and four interceptions.
This past year was Burney’s best at Florida. He started all 13 games and was third on the team with 79 tackles, also setting career highs in sacks (4.0), forced fumbles (two), interceptions (two) and pass breakups (four).
Burney had the highlight of his career in the 2022 opener against Utah. With under 30 seconds to remaining, Utes quarterback Cameron Rising tried to hit tight end Dalton Kincaid on second-and-goal, but Kincaid fell down as Rising delivered his pass. Burney made a diving interception in the end zone to clinch the 29-26 win.
“Amari Burney is one of my favorite players on the team,” Florida coach Billy Napier said after the game. “I mean, this guy’s played… like 1,600 snaps here, right? I call him ‘old man’ all the time. We’re thankful for Amari. He’s got character, he’s a great communicator. He makes the players around him better.
“He is a guy who, really, has risen to the occasion in terms of that position and what we needed. To see him, to see that guy make the play, I think that’s a special moment for that locker room because they love Amari Burney.”
Burney also spent time at safety and nickel for the Gators, starting at STAR against Virginia in the 2019 Capital One Orange Bowl and making five tackles in the 36-28 win. Burney switched to linebacker in 2020 and had one of his best career performances in the SEC Championship Game against Alabama, recording a career-high 10 tackles (8 solo).
Burney is the sixth 2023 draftee for the Gators, joining quarterback Anthony Richardson (first round, 4th overall, Indianapolis Colts), defensive tackle Gervon Dexter (second round, 53rd overall, Chicago Bears), offensive guard O’Cyrus Torrence (second round, 59th overall, Buffalo Bills), linebacker Ventrell Miller (fourth round, 121st overall, Jacksonville Jaguars) and receiver Justin Shorter (fifth round, 150th overall, Buffalo Bills).
Other draft prospects for the Gators safeties Trey Dean III and Rashad Torrence II, EDGE Brenton Cox Jr., and offensive lineman Richard Gouraige.
![Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier celebrates with Florida Gators wide receiver Aidan Mizell (11) after a touchdown during the first half at the Orange and Blue spring football game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 13, 2024. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://on3static.com/cdn-cgi/image/height=215,width=393,quality=90,fit=cover,gravity=0.5x0.5/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/04/13155133/Untitled-design-65-2.png)