Oct 29, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Florida Gators offensive lineman Fred Johnson (74), Florida Gators tight end C'yontai Lewis (80) and teammates celebrate after they beat the Georgia Bulldogs at EverBank Field. Florida Gators defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 24-10. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Gator Football Injuries Means Young Players Must Step Up

The Florida Gators’s rough loss to 31-10 Arkansas Saturday not only added another L to their record, but lots injuries to their starting players.

So what does this mean if the Gators still want to keep their SEC Championship dreams alive? The players who normally don’t start must bring what they have to the table to their last home game, which is against South Carolina.

Gator coach Jim McElwain says despite the situation it gives an opportunity for other guys to play.

Florida is no stranger to things happening at the quarterback position. The Gators have had transfers, suspensions, and injuries at the QB spot for the past six years and hasn’t really had a consistent starter. Now, Luke Del Rio is out with a shoulder injury. Austin Appleby has been a starter earlier this year with Del Rio’s knee injury, however it is not set in stone that he will start on Saturday. McElwain says that freshmen Kyle Trask and Feliepe Franks will compete to start as well this week.  Senior wide receiver Ahmad Fulwood says he and the rest of the team trust in whoever gets the first snap on Saturday’s game.

One player who is out for the season is Alex Anzalone, who broke his arm last week against Arkansas.  A young player will step up in his place, either redshirt freshman Kylan Johnson or freshman Vosean Joseph. Fellow linebacker Jarrad Davis is also more than likely out for this game and if he is, freshman David Reese would start in his place.

Offensive lineman Cameron Dillard who plays at the center position is a redshirt junior and is out for this game. Dillard suffered a knee injury and the next men up are sophomore Tyler Jordan and redshirt freshman T.J McCoy.  Jordan moved from the guard position to play center in the Arkansas game when Dillard went down.  Fred Johnson would then most likely start in Jordan’s right guard spot; he has started some at the position in his young career.

There will be game time decisions for Saturday with some players. Defensive end Cece Jefferson has a leg injury; wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland has a bad knee, and kick returner Chris Thompson is also a game time decision after receiving a big blow on a tackle last weekend.

Redshirt freshman Jabari Zuniga, redshirt junior Jordan Sherit and freshman Jachai Polite could get the start if Jefferson can’t perform. For Cleveland, senior Ahmad Fulwood is set to start in front of him but Cleveland isn’t completely ruled out.

The Gators don’t have much time to have the younger guys to get comfortable so they must utilize as much time as they can to get better during practice. Senior defensive lineman Joey Ivie says that if they take care of everything in practice they’ll be all right.

Florida takes on the South Carolina Gamecocks, with former head coach Will Muschamp as the new head coach for South Carolina. It’s also Senior Day, and there’s a twist because Muschamp did recruit these seniors to play at Florida.

Kickoff is at noon on Saturday in the Swamp.

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