Richard Gouraige signs UDFA deal with Buffalo Bills

On3 imageby:Zach Abolverdi•04/29/23•

ZachAbolverdi

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida Gators offensive lineman Richard Gouraige has signed with the Buffalo Bills an undrafted free agent.

Gouraige declared with one year of eligibility remaining, finishing his college career with 42 total starts over the last four seasons and 51 games played. He started five games as a redshirt freshman and has been a full-time starter since, first as a left guard and the past two years at left tackle.

Gouraige earned his bachelor’s degree in Sociology in Spring 2022 and represented the Gators at SEC Media Days last July. He was also voted as one of the team captains by the players.

“Knowing it’s my last game to wear that orange and blue, it’s going to hit me in the fourth quarter that I’m never going to wear this jersey again,” Gouraige said the day before the Las Vegas Bowl.

Gouraige had decided to turn pro weeks before the bowl and said it would be his last game, but he wanted to play in it before officially declaring. He never considered skipping the Vegas trip.

“I always told myself I wanted to finish this season,” Gouraige said. “I know deep down I would feel bad for myself sitting at home or wherever I’m training at knowing I’m not in the game helping my brothers the best way I can or pouring into the younger guys. I feel like I would be a hindrance to the team rather than being a help to the team. I just wanted to play my last game with my brothers, knowing I’d do anything to help them.”

Gouraige is the first UDFA signee for the Gators, who had six draftees in 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), receiver Justin Shorter (fifth round, 150th overall, Buffalo Bills) and linebacker Amari Burney (sixth round, 203rd overall, Las Vegas Raiders).

Former Florida outside linebacker Brenton Cox Jr. signed with the Green Bay Packers an as undrafted free agent and safeties Trey Dean III and Rashad Torrence II inked UDFA deals with the New York Jets and Los Angeles Rams, respectively.

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