Florida Gators defensive linemen Joey Ivie may not have been invited to the NFL Combine, but that didn’t slow him down any at UF’s Pro Day. The Pasco High School graduate ran a 4.97 in the 40 with a vertical jump of 29.5, numbers that would have placed him in the top of the DTs at the Combine.
For Ivie, the lack of an invitation is becoming his motivation.
“It was pretty tough because in high school I just remember watching it and saying one day I want to be there,” said Ivie. “But at the same time it’s fuel, it’s a motivator. It helps me want to work harder and prove to those guys, the guy or person that didn’t vote me in, that I am better than that.”
In his senior season at UF Ivie played in 11 games, totaling 26 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 7 quarterback hurries. But he missed two games thanks to a broken thumb. Combine the injury with a quiet, thankless role in UF’s defense and its easy to see how Joey can get overlooked.
“I just try to play with pride, taking on a lot of double teams, taking on blocks so people like JD and Anzalone and Brantley and Cox can get free,” said Ivie, speaking of his other teammates in the 2017 Draft. “So that is one thing I did this year, I was taking on blocks and doing my job. Everyone on the team has to be accountable so everybody has a certain job.”
And according to Coach Jim McElwain, Joey did his job well. Just watch the tape.
“It’s not necessarily the flash play or the numbers. In his case, he is doing his job so the other guys can make plays around him,” said McElwain. “As they go back and study it (film) he was one of those guys that consistently did what he was supposed to do, which helped the people around him be better and that really says a lot.”
Ivie has an outside shot of getting drafted in the lower rounds, otherwise he is a probable free agent signee. No matter how he gets there though, Ivie knows he has what it takes.
“I feel like I have the size, the speed, the quickness, the mentality. I just feel like I have what it takes to play at the next level.”