Video: Tabor plans to eventually announce draft decision 'the right way'
Florida junior cornerback Jalen "Teez" Tabor is considered likely to declare early for the 2017 NFL Draft, as plenty of analysts have Tabor tabbed as a potential first-round pick. Notably, ESPN's Todd McShay had Tabor going No. 18 overall to the Philadelphia Eagles in the first edition of his 2017 mock draft.
Although he claims he hasn't made a decision just yet, Tabor plans to have one ready to announce soon.
"I'm going to go back home for Christmas, talk with my family and then make a decision," Tabor said Friday following Florida's bowl practice. "If I decide to go, I'll go out the right way. And if I decide to come back, do it the right way. So whichever way it goes, I'm going to do it the right way.
“Just doing it the right way. Some guys just they’re so ready to leave school or they’re just (saying goodbye) and forget everything everybody has done for you and helped you with at the school," continued Tabor. "I don’t want to do that. If I decide to come out then I would give my thanks to everybody, my tutors, my teachers, my advisers, my coaches, the whole Gator Nation because sometimes people forget when you were here people were helping you. You weren’t just doing it yourself.”
It's been a successful junior season for Tabor, who has four interceptions, five pass breakups as a sack up to this point this year. As far as postseason honors go, Tabor received FWAA All-America second team, AFCA second team, CBS Sports second team, Sports Illustrated second team and AP third team honors. He was also an AP and Coaches All-SEC first team selection this season.
------
* THREE MONTHS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE ($9.99)
* Appleby discusses starting against Iowa, freshmen quarterbacks, Nussmeier
* Ask us anything about the Florida Gators football team
* Position Review: Quarterback play still leaving much to be desired
* Position Review: Scarlett, Perine emerge in running back competition
* Why Shannon getting Florida's defensive coordinator job would make sense
------
However, Tabor was snubbed from Jim Thorpe Award consideration, as he wasn't even named a semifinalist. This year's award went to USC junior cornerback Adoree' Jackson.
Memorably, Tabor mentioned in the summer that his junior season was "Thorpe Award or bust." He added at the time: "No doubt. If I don't win that award, I don't see myself having a good year."
Does Tabor feel the same way now?
“Not really. I missed out on some opportunities, and it’s a senior award anyway," Tabor said of the Thorpe Award, which has been awarded to seniors in four of the past 10 years. "You know, First Team All-American, all that type of stuff goes to seniors. Even though Adoree won and he had four picks but he does a lot of other stuff that (elevates him). He’s not just a cornerback. I feel like the other two guys had, what, two picks? Maybe. But they're seniors though, they get the nod.”
When asked whether attaining it next year was an option, Tabor replied with a slight smirk, “Yeah, next year."
Below is video of more of what Tabor had to say during his time with the media Friday:
------
Thank you for reading this Inside the Gators article. To discuss it, please visit the Alligator Alley Forum.