OCALA, Fla. -- Florida coach Jim McElwain met with the media before he spoke to the Marion County Gator Club about 45 minutes south of Gainesville on Monday evening, and the first-year coach was thrilled to be able to talk about the success of his former players and the Gators in the NFL Draft.

Two of McElwain's players at Colorado State were selected in the first three rounds of the draft (including his quarterback), and eight Gators were also selected.

McElwain was especially impressed to see four Florida offensive linemen drafted.

It's indicative of the kind of offensive line coach Mike Summers is, and one of the major reasons the first-year coach retained Summers on his inaugural staff.

"To see that group work together like that, he did a heck of a job with them," McElwain said. "His NFL coaching experience helps in that, that's part of putting a system in based on playing in a certain system that can help players when they get to camp."

That system, which incorporates both man- and zone-blocking techniques and places a strong emphasis on footwork, landmarks and positioning, is something that McElwain hopes the Gators can continue to sell on the recruiting trail.

It'll certainly be easier with four draftees in one year to point to as proof positive.

"It translates to film and maybe what some of the NFL guys are looking for," McElwain said. "That's exactly what we try to do, and I think in his case, speaking the language, teaching them some of the combinations and that kind of thing, it helped that too."