Now let us examine the Gator seniors from the recruiting classes of 2016 and 2017.
The senior classes of 2016 and 2017 included the following (seniors highlighted in blue, NFL draft picks and free agents in bold, members no longer part of the Gator program in italics.).
The class of 2016 was second class, and finished #13 in the nation. 1 member of this class was dismissed, 1 was suspended and reinstated after the credit card scandal, 1 failed to academically qualify, 1 medically retired, 3 transferred in good standing, and 1 is in the transfer portal as of December 2020. Trask, Moon, and Heggie stand a chance of joining 6 NFL draft picks and 6 undrafted free agents from this class. Wells and Forsythe could possibly land on a team as free agents. This class is considered to be the backbone of Dan Mullen's success (29-6 to this point) these past three years, and they will be sorely missed.
- WR Rick Wells 6-1 185 Raines High School, Jacksonville FL. 3* 1.26.2015 Commitment. Suspended 1 game in 2016 (disorderly conduct in dorms, pellet gun). Suspended 2017 season (credit card fraud). Reinstated 2018 season. Graduated 2019.
- WR Vosean Joseph 6-2 210 Norland High School, Miami FL. 3* 2.18.2015 Commitment. 2019 NFL Draft, 5th round, Buffalo Bills.
- S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson 6-0 197 Cocoa High School, Cocoa Beach FL. 4* 3.14.2015 Commitment. EE. Outback Bowl 2017 MVP. 2019 NFL Draft, round 4, New Orleans Saints.
- CB Christopher McWilliams 6-0 170 Southwest Miami Senior High School, Miami FL. 3* 5.3.2015 Commitment. Medical redshirt 2019.
- OT Stone Forsythe 6-6 315 West Orange High School, Winter Garden FL. 3* 5.7.2015 Commitment. EE.
- RB Mark Thompson 6-2 230 of Dodge City Community College, Dodge City KS. 4* 5.13.2015 Commitment. EE. 2018 NFL Draft, UDFA, Baltimore Ravens.
- RB Lamical Perine 5-11 211 of Theodore High School, Theodore AL. 3* 5.29.2015 Commitment. 2020 NFL Draft, 4th round, New York Jets.
- WR Joshua Hammond 6-0 180 of Hallandale High School, Hallandale FL. 4* 6.4.2015 Commitment. EE. 2020 NFL Draft, UDFA, Jacksonville Jaguars.
- DB Quincy Lenton 6-0 195 of Meridan High School, Meridian MS. 3* 7.24.2015 Commitment. Transfer portal 2020.
- C/OL Brett Heggie 6-4 290 of Mount Dora High School, Mount Dora FL. 3* 7.24.2015 Commitment.
- OLB Jeremiah Moon 6-4 205 of Hoover High School, Birmingham AL. 4* 7.25.2015 Commitment.
- QB Kyle Trask 6-6 212 off Manvel High School, Manvel TX. 2* 7.26.2015 Commitment. Graduated 2019.
- S Jeawon Taylor 6-2 192 Park Crossing High School, Montgomery AL. 4* 8.5.2015 Commitment. 2019 graduate. 2020 NFL Draft UDFA.
- WR Freddie Swain 6-1 174 North Marion High School, Citra FL. 4* 10.9.2015 Commitment. EE. 2020 NFL Draft, round 6, Seattle Seahawks.
- DB/ATH McArthur Burnett 6-1 180 Pahokee High School, Pahokee FL. 4* 10.3.2015 Commitment. EE. 2018 Graduate. Transferred to USF in 2018.
- DE Antonneous Clayton 6-4 220 Dooly County High School, Vienna GA. 4* 10.28.2015 Commitment. Transferred to Georgia Tech in 2018 (family medical).
- DE Jachai Polite 6-4 230 Mainland High School, Daytona Beach FL. 3* 11.11.2015 Commitment. 2019 NFL Draft, 3rd round, New York Jets.
- CB/S Antonio Nelson 6-3 190 Carver High School, Montgomery AL. 3* 11.23.2015 Commitment. Failed to academically qualify. Transferred to Coahoma CC.
- WR Dre Massey 6-0 185 Holmes Community College, Goodman MS. 3* 11.29.2015 Commitment. EE. 2019 NFL Draft. Undrafted. Arrested in 2019.
- OL Jawaan Taylor 6-5 350 Cocoa High School, Cocoa FL. 3* 11.29.2015 Commitment. 2019 NFL Draft, round 2, Jacksonville Jaguars.
- QB Feleipe Franks 6-6 220 Wakulla High School, Crawfordville FL. 4* 11.29.2015 Commitment. EE. Injured in 2019. Graduated 2019. Transferred to Arkansas at end of 2019.
- DE Jordan Smith 6-6 220 of Lithonia High School, Lithonia GA. 4* 12.13.2015 Commitment. EE. Suspended 9/1/2017 (credit card fraud). Transfer 1/22/2018.
- K Eddy Pineiro 6-1 180 of ASA College, Miami FL. 3* 12.15.2015 Commitment. EE. 2nd team All-American 2017. 2018 Graduate. 2018 NFL Draft, UDFA. Signed with Oakland Raiders.
- OLB David Reese 6-1 238 Farmington High School, Farmington MI. 4* 12.18.2015 Commitment. EE. 2020 NFL Draft, UDFA, Carolina Panthers.
- DB Joseph Putu 6-2 195 Providence, R.I. Mount Pleasant JUCO. 2.4.2016 signee. 2019 NFL draft. UDFA.
The class of 2017 was McElwains's third and last class, and finished #19 in the nation. 3 members of this class were dismissed, 2 were suspended and reinstated after the credit card scandal, 2 failed to academically qualify, 1 medically retired, and 2 transferred out on a positive note. Toney is the one Gator from this class garnering the most attention from teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, possibly as a mid-to-late pick or an undrafted free agent.
- QB Jake Allen 6'3" 195 St Thomas Aquinas Fort Lauderdale FL 4-star 7/1/15. Transferred to Dartmouth.
- OL Kadeem Telfort OL 6'6" 300 Norland Miami FL 4-star 7/7/15 EE. Suspended 9/1/17 (credit card fraud). Transfer to Garden City CC 1/22/2018.
- WR Daquon Green 6'1" 186 Tampa Bay Tech Tampa FL 4-star 7/24/15. Transferred to Murray State in 2019.
- TE Kemore Gamble TE 6'4" 220 Miami Southridge Miami FL 4-star 4/8/16 EE
- ATH Kadarius Toney ATH 6'1" 185 Blount Prichard AL 4-star 5/4/16 EE
- DL Zachary Carter DL 6'5" 250 Hillsborough Tampa FL 4-star 6/23/16
- LB Ventrell Miller LB 6'1" 225 Kathleen Lakeland FL 4-star 6/23/16. Suspended 9/1/17 (credit card fraud). Reinstated 2018.
- LB James Houston LB 6'1" 225 American Heritage Plantation FL 3-star 7/22/16 EE*. Suspended 9/1/17 (credit card fraud). Reinstated 2018.
- CB Marco Wilson CB 6'0" 180 American Heritage Plantation FL 4-star 8/1/16
- TE Zechariah Byrd 6'6" 235 Stenhope Millbrook AL 4-star 8/6/16. Failed to academically qualify. Transferred to Garden City CC in 2017. Transferred to East Carolina in 2019.
- DB Shawn Davis 6'0" 185 Southridge Miami FL 4-star 8/27/16
- RB Malik Davis RB 5'11" 190 Jesuit Tampa FL 4-star 10/26/16. Medical redshirt 2017.
- DT Kyree Campbell DT 6'4" 310 Wyoming Seminary Kingston PA 4-star 12/11/16 EE
- OT TJ Moore 6'5" 290 Mallard Creek Charlotte NC 4-star 12/25/16
- CB Brad Stewart 6'0" 194 McDonogh New Orleans, LA 4-star 1/28/17
- OLB Nick Smith 6'3" 198 Dr. Phillips Orlando FL 3-star 1/30/17. Medically retired from football in 2019.
- S Donovan Stiner S 6'2" 185 Bellaire Bellaire, TX 3-star 1/30/17
- SDE Elijah Conliffe 6'4" 305 Hampton Hampton VA 4-star 1/31/17
- CB Brian Edwards 6'3" 195 Miramar Hollywood, FL 3-star NSD. Dismissed from team after being accused of sexual assault. Transferred to Central Michigan in 2019.
- RB Adarius Lemons 6'1" 195 Clearwater Clearwater, FL 4-star NSD. Dismissed from team after sexual assault in 2018. Transferred to East Mississippi CC in 2018. Transferred to Garden City CC in 2019.
- OG Tedarrell "TJ" Slaton 6'6" 341 American Heritage Fort Lauderdale, FL 4-star NSD
- CB CJ Henderson 6'0" 175 Columbus Miami, FL 4-star NSD. 1st team All-SEC. 2020 NFL Draft, round 2 to Jacksonville Jaguars.
- LB Lacedrick Brunson 6'2" 210 Jackson Miami, FL 2-star NSD
- CB Elijah Blades 6'3" 170 Muir Pasadena CA 4-star 6/21/16. Withdrew commitment 1/25/17. Failed to academically qualify at Florida or Nebraska. Transferred to Arizona Western College. Transferred to Texas A&M in 2019.