After sitting out the first two games of the season with a shoulder injury, senior offensive lineman Jim Tartt will play in Saturday's game against Tennessee, coach Urban Meyer said.
"Jim looks like he's ready to roll," Meyer said. "(Offensive line coach Steve) Addazio is all excited about it, so is our entire staff."
Tartt last played in the Capital One Bowl against Michigan last season and started all 13 games for UF at left guard in 2007.
Also on the injury front, Meyer declared junior wide receiver Carl Moore will play against the Volunteers. Moore suffered a hip pointer after making a leaping catch on the right sideline against Miami.
Junior linebacker Dustin Doe, however, is not in such good shape, and his playing status for the Tennessee game is not as clear.
"Dustin Doe is still limited," Meyer said. "I put Doe as probable."
IN THE MOODY: Junior running back Emmanuel Moody carried the ball just twice for two yards in the Gators' opening two games, and after Monday's practice, even he admitted he didn't know why he got so few touches.
"The reason was pretty unclear," Moody said.
Moody also said it wasn't necessarily the blocking schemes he is having trouble picking up.
He received about 40 text messages from friends and family while he was warming the bench against the Hurricanes, including one from a family member that said, "pack your bags and start preaching."
But against the Volunteers this weekend, Moody expects to get a greater share of the load.
"(Meyer) told me I'm getting in the game this week," Moody said. "I just have to keep working hard, and stay patient and every rep I get, just take it as my last."
WIPEOUT IN THE WEST: Various UF players commented on Saturday night's blowout between Ohio State and Southern Cal, all of them seeming to have expected the 35-3 result in favor of the Trojans.
Sophomore safety Ahmad Black didn't bother watching the game ESPN dubbed the "Collision in the Coliseum."
"Nah," Black said. "I mean, we kind of figured what the outcome was going to be."
When told Ohio State is familiar with "SEC speed," linebacker Brandon Hicks agreed and cited Saturday's rout.
"Oh yeah, USC," Hicks said in monotone. "They have speed, too." Then he cracked a smile.
Moody, who transferred to UF from USC and confessed he still cheers for the Trojans,
"I knew SC would do that," Moody said. "It's fun to watch them because all my friends are on the team."
And as for a potential UF-USC matchup in the national title game?
"That would be nice," Moody said with a smile.
