How Many Gator Juniors Will Declare for the Draft?

According to Bruce Black, father of Florida Safety Ahmad Black, his son is leaning towards entering the 2010 NFL Draft.

And he may be brining several of his former Lakeland High School and current Gator teammates with him.

Here’s what Bruce Black told Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun.

"“The Pounceys are definitely going to the NFL,” Bruce Black said. “Chris Rainey says he’s coming out, but I’ve advised him to stay (for his senior season). He’s a little too small right now, but he wants to come out.”"

It sounds like Ahmad and Bruce Black are upset that Ahmad lost his starting job to Will Hill.

"“I would let Ahmad stay if they would show him some respect,” Bruce Black said. “I don’t think coach Urban Meyer respects my son. If he did, Ahmad would have started the first game (against Charleston Southern) instead of (sophomore) Will Hill. Coach Meyer favors certain players, and Ahmad isn’t one of them.”"

It would not be a surprise to see either of the Pouncey twins enter the draft, but most, including myself, feel that it would be a mistake for Black or Rainey not to return to school.

Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel talked to Florida Strength and Conditioning Coach Mickey Marotti and is reporting that at least eight Gators have petitioned the NFL Draft Advisory Committee.

"Marotti, the only player or coach available after Wednesday’s workouts, helps gather information for players to make the best decision on whether to return for a senior season or enter the draft.Marotti said it is “hard to tell” whether juniors already have made decisions. CB Joe Haden, DE Carlos Dunlap, TE Aaron Hernandez and OLs Maurkice and Mike Pouncey are prime candidates to leave early.“You give them the information and they can do what they need to do,” Marotti said.Other candidates for an evaluation include S Ahmad Black, S Major Wright, DT Lawrence Marsh, OL Carl Johnson, OL Marcus Gilbert and RB Chris Rainey, a redshirt sophomore."

Haden and Dunlap seem like locks to enter the draft because they are projected top-15 picks. Hernandez and the Pouncey twins leaving early makes sense too, but the rest of the Gator juniors seem like they could use another year in school.

(Andrew Melnick is Howard the Dunk’s lead blogger and a contributor at NFL Mocks Subscribe to his RSS feed and add him on Twitter to follow him daily.)