Sophomore Cody Riggs appeared in front of reporters Tuesday with a cast on his right hand, further jumbling an already unsettled situation in Florida’s secondary.
Riggs said the cast was merely for protection after he sprained his thumb during a blocking drill in practice.
He added the cast would be off by Saturday’s game and he does not expect to be limited.
Riggs was listed as a potential starter at cornerback according to coach Will Muschamp’s depth chart that was released Monday.
Junior Jeremy Brown is questionable for Saturday’s game against FAU after missing more than two weeks of practice with a sprained knee.
Senior Moses Jenkins is also in the mix, but Riggs said Tuesday that no one has claimed a starting position.
Muschamp said all of the cornerbacks are interchangeable, meaning a starting combination of Marcus Roberson and Jaylen Watkins is possible.
“It’s still up for grabs,” Riggs said. “We’re all just fighting for that job.”
The back end appears set with freshman De’Ante Saunders as the favorite at safety alongside sophomore Matt Elam, who has been the most consistent throughout fall camp.
Despite the uncertainty over the starters at corner, Florida’s secondary should be littered with underclassmen Saturday.
Increased role for linebackers: After rarely rushing the passer last season, linebackers Jon Bostic and Jelani Jenkins said they have been preparing to blitz more under new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
Bostic said Quinn has both of them working on their pad level when rushing.
“Jelani and I both, we kind of laugh because [blitzing] wasn’t really what we did a lot of [last year],” Bostic said.
Under defensive coordinator Teryl Austin in 2010, the Gators ran more of a base 4-3 front with little other looks.
But Quinn has brought variety to the defense, meaning Bostic and Jenkins must be able to drop into coverage as well as know which gap to hit in complex zone blitzes.
“We have really the ability to do everything,” Bostic said.
“We have the ability to rush the passer all day and bring the house. We have DBs that can sit back there and hold up. We really can do it all.”
Reed adjusting to tight end: Jordan Reed never played a position other than quarterback until coming to Florida, and he said the toughest part of the shift is learning to be physical while blocking.
“I don’t think anyone likes blocking,” he said. “You’ve got to learn to love it, but I’m never going to like it.”
Reed said he envisions himself more in the mold of a pass-catching tight end, and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis said Reed has transitioned nicely into his new role.
“When I came here and sat down with these guys to see where they saw themselves, I was waiting for him to say ‘I see myself as the starting quarterback,’” Weis said. “He says, ‘I see myself as the starting tight end.’
“He’s really done a nice job. … I don’t think it will be hard to find him on the field. I think you’ll be able to find him pretty easily.”
Contact Matt Watts at mwatts@alligator.org.
Florida sophomore cornerback Cody Riggs injured his thumb in practice but said he should be ready to go on Saturday against FAU.
