Florida EDGE George Gumbs Jr. declares for 2026 NFL draft

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Florida edge defender George Gumbs Jr. declared for the NFL draft on Tuesday.

He posted an official announcement on his social media pages to make the expected decision official.

“First, I would like to thank God, because without him none of this would be possible for me,” Gumbs wrote in his announcement. “To my family, I truly appreciate all the support they have given me through every step of this process. Through al the long days and nights, I can say I always had them in my corner.

“To my teammates from both NIU and Florida, I appreciate every bond I created with all of you, and every memory with y’all boys will be cherished forever. Lastly, I would like to thank the NIU and Florida coaching staffs for taking a chance on me, believing in me and developing me into the person I am today.

“With that being said, I’m looking forward to this next chapter as I embark on this new journey to the NFL.”

Pro Football Focus ranks Gumbs No. 28 among 2026 NFL draft-eligible players, placing him at No. 185 on the overall big board. Gumbs will participate in the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl on Jan. 27 at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, at 7 p.m. ET

George Gumbs Jr.’s college career

A three-star wide receiver recruit out of high school, Gumbs played his first three collegiate seasons with Northern Illinois. He redshirted in 2021 after seeing four games on special teams. Gumbs played eight games at tight end and special teams in 2022. He recorded four catches for 44 yards.

In his final season with NIU, Gumbs played in 12 games, starting the final seven at defensive end. In his first year on defense, Gumbs recorded 32 total tackles (15 solo), 6.5 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, three quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.

He transferred to Florida ahead of the 2024 season and appeared in 13 games, with three starts, for the Gators. He finished second on the team with eight tackles for a loss and five sacks, while also logging 35 tackles (20 solo), four quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and one fumble recovery.

Gumbs stepped into a starting role in 2025 after a productive junior year. He played 402 snaps overall, including 345 on defense. Gumbs recorded 31 total tackles (14 solo), 6.5 tackles for a loss (second-most for Florida), 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Pro Football Focus gave him a 76.4 run defense grade. PFF graded him above 91.0 on run defense in two games this season.

He underwent knee surgery after being injured against Tennessee, shortening his senior campaign.

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida Gators EDGE George Gumbs Jr. declares for 2026 NFL draft

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