TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — In the midst of Urban Meyer’s second-worst loss as the Gators’ head coach, a punter provided the only bright spot.
Chas Henry, who is already on the Ray Guy Award watch list, filled in on field goal duties for injured kicker Caleb Sturgis against Alabama on Saturday and was perfect.
“Everything came through on Thursday,” Henry said. “It was the first day I started kicking this week, but we had done it the previous couple of weeks because he has been injured for a little bit.”
Sturgis has been struggling with a back injury for most of the season and it was evident as he missed two of four field goals through the first four games of the season.
Henry, on the other hand, was dead on against the Crimson Tide. The senior knocked in 39- and 21-yard field goals while also booting three punts for an average of 62.3 yards.
“I was very comfortable (kicking field goals),” he said. “This is what we do for the rest of the time in practice when we don’t have anything to do.”
But Florida didn’t just lose its field goal kicker. Henry had to give up his duties as field-goal holder in order to replace Sturgis. Instead, freshman John Crofoot took that role and was flawless.
Henry was told he will be UF’s field goal specialist for the remainder of the season.
“[Sturgis] did an amazing job for what he was going through,” he said. “The coaches came to me last week and said, ‘It’s pretty serious and we have to go with you from here on.’”
