For all of Ronald Powell’s hard work in the rehab process following offseason surgery to repair a torn ACL, his return to the field will likely have to wait until 2013.
Coaches originally projected that Powell could be back on the field as early as Oct. 1, but the junior will likely receive a medical redshirt following a setback.
Will Muschamp said the Gators are unsure about the extent of Powell’s injury because there is too much swelling to get an accurate reading off of his MRI.
Powell will be reassessed next week, but the outlook is far from promising.
“It’s just disappointing for him, a guy that, mentally, has been a rock,” Muschamp said.
“It’s been amazing how he’s handled the process, and he’s handling it again very well.”
At Florida’s media day on Aug. 2, Powell talked about how the injury helped him mature and gave him a new outlook on handling adversity and overcoming obstacles.
Every report on Powell’s response to rehab had been positive.
In addition to his normal work with team trainers, Powell spent time with defensive coordinator Dan Quinn after practice to work on his pass-rushing technique.
“He worked extremely hard, as hard as our medical staff has seen anybody dedicate themselves to rehabbing an injury here at the University of Florida,” Muschamp said. “We’ve got some folks who have been here for a long, long time.”
The Gators have turned to Lerentee McCray and Dante Fowler Jr. at the Buck linebacker position to try to replace the former No. 1 overall recruiting prospect and his team-leading six sacks from 2011.
At the Buck position this season, McCray has totaled seven tackles, including a sack against Texas A&M. He also forced a fumble against the Aggies.
Splitting time between Buck and defensive end, Fowler has recorded five tackles during the first two games of his UF career.
Florida will also be looking for replacements for Jelani Jenkins and Cody Riggs. Jenkins is expected to miss four weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured thumb, while Riggs will miss four to six weeks because of a small fracture in his foot.
Antonio Morrison, Mike Taylor and Darrin Kitchens are all options to replace Jenkins at weakside linebacker, with Muschamp saying the team will likely use a rotation going forward.
Taylor is fifth on the team with eight tackles, while Morrison, a freshman, ranks third with nine.
“Mike and Antonio and Kitchens, those guys can play,” senior linebacker Jon Bostic said.
“As soon as they get in, they get the play and they’re making checks, just like I am.”
Morrison in particular has impressed Muschamp with his physical play since entering during spring camp as a four-star recruit out of Bolingbrook, Ill.
“He’s a physical linebacker,” Bostic said. “He doesn’t play like a freshman. He’s smart. He learns from our mistakes. That’s one thing, you see him after every practice, he’s beating me into the film room.”
To compensate for the loss of Riggs, Muschamp said Matt Elam will see more time at safety and Jaylen Watkins will play more snaps as the team’s nickel corner. Riggs was the team’s second-leading tackler among defensive backs with seven stops.
Riggs has also recorded a pass breakup, playing significant time as part of a four-man rotation at cornerback that includes Watkins, Marcus Roberson and Loucheiz Purifoy.
Luckily for the Gators, Josh Evans is expected to be fine after suffering a shoulder injury on Saturday.
De’Ante Saunders will likely return and see time at safety, nickel and dime after missing the season’s first two games with what Muschamp called a hamstring injury.
Evans leads Florida with 14 tackles despite missing a large portion of Saturday’s game, while Saunders tied Elam for the team lead with two interceptions last season.
With a three-man rotation at weakside linebacker and added pieces in the secondary, Muschamp is confident in Florida’s ability to handle the rash of injuries. Last season, the Gators had to cross-train players to fill needs on both sides of the ball.
“We’ll be fine,” Muschamp said. “Our depth is still not where it needs to be but certainly much better than it was a year ago.
“We’re not having to switch guys from position to position in order to finish a game or prepare guys for a game. It certainly gives them a comfort level.”
Contact Greg Luca at gluca@alligator.org.
Junior Ronald Powell chats on the sideline during the Bowling Green University game Sept. 1 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Powell aggravated a torn ACL and will likely take a medical redshirt, coach Will Muschamp announced Monday.
Freshman linebacker Antonio Morrison(12) chases down Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) at Kyle Field during Florida's 20-17 victory against Texas A&M on Sept. 8.
