2015 NFL Draft: Jacksonville Jaguars take Dante Fowler with No. 3 pick

With the third pick in the 2015 NFL Draft on Thursday night, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Dante Fowler of the University of Florida.

Fowler was expected to be selected at some point in the first 10 picks of the night — by the Jaguars, or Washington, or the Atlanta Falcons, newly helmed by Dan Quinn, the defensive coordinator who helped recruit Fowler to Florida — but he wasn't thought to be the Jaguars' targeted player, with fellow defender Leonard Williams on the board.

Instead, the Jaguars grabbed Fowler, who will be a key piece of their defense as a pass rusher off the edge in Gus Bradley's underrated defense. The Jaguars were sixth in the NFL in sacks in 2014. Fowler might just bump that number a little bit.

As the No. 3 pick, Fowler ties the program record for the highest pick ever used on a Gators player. Gerard Warren was taken with the No. 3 pick by the Cleveland Browns in the 2001 NFL Draft, Wes Chandler went No. 3 in 1978, and Steve Spurrier was the first Gators player ever taken with the No. 3 pick, way back in 1967.

As one of the most entertaining Florida players in recent history, both on and off the field, Fowler was a fan favorite during his time with the Gators.

You can bet that the large contingent of Jaguars fans who are also members of Gator Nation won't mind him wearing teal and black.