GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- A large group of reporters circled a sweaty Dante Fowler Jr. on Tuesday afternoon to quiz him about his draft prospects and what he tried to accomplish at UF's pro day.
As Fowler answered their questions, his former Florida teammate, offensive lineman D.J. Humphries, walked by to make an appearance on the SEC Network's set at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
And then Fowler, who caught a glimpse of Humphries as he looked over the throng of media, was asked about Humphries' stock soaring since he declared for the draft despite the NFL Draft Advisory Board suggesting Humphries stay in school for his senior season.
Fowler turned from NFL prospect into reporter.
"How you feel about your stock rising son?" he shouted to Humphries.
Humphries fired right back.
"Up, up and away," he said.
With the first round of the draft three weeks from Thursday (April 30 in Chicago), Fowler and Humphries headlined the Gators' pro day as 22 former UF players worked out for representatives from all 32 NFL teams.
Both expect to hear their names called in the first round based on the buzz entering the draft.
NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock has been high on Fowler since the 6-foot-3, 265-pound defensive end/linebacker announced on Twitter in late November that he would skip his senior season and enter the draft.
Nothing has changed. A majority of the latest projections have Fowler going third overall to the Jaguars, assuming Tampa Bay selects Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston and Tennessee opts for USC defensive end Leonard Williams second overall.
"I like that fit for anybody, starting at No. 1," Mayock said when asked about Fowler to the Jaguars. "I think he's special. I think he and Leonard Williams are the two best defensive players in the draft and I think this kid has special ability."
Fowler said as soon as he finished his workout Tuesday that he planned to leave for Jacksonville where he will meet with Jacksonville coach Gus Bradley and others on Wednesday. He has a visit scheduled Friday with Tampa Bay.
At this point in the process, Fowler said he is convinced the Jaguars won't pass on him with the third overall pick if Tennessee selects Williams.
"I'd be stunned, just because of the scheme that Coach Gus has," Fowler said. "I feel like as far as him being on the multiple side, 4-3 and the 3-4, I can set the edge and I can come off the edge standing up."
The presence of Fowler and Humphries -- a pair of likely first-rounders -- helped draw a large gathering of NFL personnel who got to see other UF draft hopefuls such as center Max Garcia, linebackers Neiron Ball and Michael Taylor, and running back Matt Jones.
Fowler and Humphries (photo, right) arrived at UF in 2012 as highly touted recruits and both are now on the verge of fulfilling lifelong dreams of playing in the NFL.
Humphries was told by the NFL Draft Advisory Board that he was unlikely to be a first- or second-round pick. However, following the Gators' victory in the Birmingham Bowl, Humphries decided he was ready.
He changed his diet and bulked up from 285 pounds at the end of the season to 307 pounds on Tuesday.
"When I was in college my whole thought process was to stuff as many calories in my face as I can -- eat a whole pizza before I go to sleep type deal," Humphries said. "I just learned I don't have to do that. I can eat the right stuff. I can eat grilled chicken, right type of pastas and stuff like that, but just eat a lot of it and still gain good weight.
"I'm going to be honest with you, since I been over 300 pounds I've been kind of like formed the fat-boy mentality. Nowadays if I don't eat every 3-4 hours I get a little irritated."
Humphries and Fowler each credited the other for where they are. All those practice battles the last three years paid off.
"He was my first one-on-one [battle] I ever did when I stepped foot in here, and he was my last one," Fowler said. "He went at it. Every day in practice he got me right in it. I done took some mean Ls from him."
Fowler said he won their last battle prior to the Birmingham Bowl. Humphries isn't so sure that's true. He wants to see the practice film.
Regardless, their mutual respect runs deep. Humphries said Fowler possesses many of the same attributes as former UF defensive linemen Sharrif Floyd, a first-round pick in 2013, and Dominique Easley, a first-rounder in last year's draft.
"I knew that from day one that Dante was going to be a top-10 pick," Humphries said. "The thing that makes him special is that he is cut from the same cloth as those guys. It's not many of them guys cut from that cloth. That's why those guys were in the first round.
"He is just cut from that nasty, ruthless, tenacious cloth that all those guys came from."
Most of the latest projections have Humphries going in the second half of the first round.
"Humphries probably has the best feet of any offensive lineman in the draft," Mayock said. "He's a first-round tackle. Does he have to start on the right side? Maybe. But he's ultimately a left tackle in the NFL. He's just going to get better and better with age."
Fowler already knew that. Those one-on-one battles told him all he needed about Humphries.
"Just to be able to see he's getting the accolades that he deserves, it feels great," Fowler said. "I know a lot of people had a lot of ‘ifs' and ‘doubts' about him coming out.
"He looks scary at 300 pounds."
Their next one-on-one battle will be in the NFL.
