Jacksonville Jaguars Pick Florida Gators LB Ventrell Miller

Photo: Ventrell Miller; Credit: Alex Shepherd

The Jacksonville Jaguars have selected Florida Gators linebacker Ventrell Miller with the 121st overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Miller becomes the fourth Gator to be selected thus far, joining Anthony Richardson (No. 4, Indianapolis Colts), Gervon Dexter (No. 53, Chicago Bears) and O'Cyrus Torrence (No. 59, Buffalo Bills).

After looking in the offensive direction in their first three selections, the Jaguars flipped their attention to the defensive side of the ball to add the uber-productive Gators linebacker in the fourth round.

Serving as a critical factor in the Florida defense dating back to his emergence in 2019, Miller produced as an effective run defender and leader from the middle of the unit. 

In his final year at UF, the sixth-year senior returned to his 2020 form, accounting for 75 tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and two pass breakups.

That output came despite suffering a Jones fracture in week two against Kentucky.

Miller dealt with multiple injuries over the past two seasons, suffering a torn bicep that derailed his 2021 campaign after just two games before the aforementioned foot injury that required surgery this offseason. The two serious wounds, paired with his undersized stature for the off-ball linebacker position at the next level — standing at an official 5-foot-11^3/4, 232 pounds — Miller was expected to fall significantly down draft boards.

However, according to Ian Rappaport via the NFL Network draft broadcast, Miller was cleared in the days leading up to his selection and is considered ready to participate when rookie minicamp rolls around in Jacksonville.

As a result, the Jaguars brass felt comfortable selecting the high-upside piece in the mid-fourth round.

He joins the NFL's leading tackler Foye Olukoun, Chad Muma, Devin Lloyd and other off-ball linebackers in Duval County.