NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Gators have been quick to coin new mantras this season.
After the injury bug swept through UF during Saturday’s 31-17 win against Vanderbilt, redshirt senior Sam Robey added another: “Adapt, overcome, improvise.”
At least 10 players left due to injury in a road Southeastern Conference game, including two starting offensive linemen. Not included in that total are left guard James Wilson and linebacker Jelani Jenkins, who didn’t even make it to kickoff.
Wilson suffered an eye injury on Wednesday during practice and couldn’t make the trip. Coach Will Muschamp expects him back on Tuesday.
Ian Silberman made his first career start in Wilson’s place.
Center Jonotthan Harrison injured his right arm on the Gators’ first drive. Robey replaced Harrison at center.
D.J. Humphries took over at left tackle for Xavier Nixon, who left the game in the first half with an upper body injury.
“It was definitely a domino effect at first,” Robey said. “But I mean shoot, we still had two or three more guys on the sideline ready to go.”
Despite the injuries along the offensive line, Florida rushed for 326 yards — its highest total since gaining 336 against Tennessee on Sept. 15.
Jeff Driskel broke Tim Tebow’s rushing record for a quarterback with 177 yards. He added three touchdowns.
Healthier offensive linemen allowed Muschamp to challenge the unit with a more physical offseason.
Florida has responded with its highest rushing total through six games since 2009.
Younger players, like Silberman and D.J. Humphries, are seeing more repetitions during the week. On Saturday, that work paid off.
“With the way our coaches run the practice, it isn’t all about the starters the whole time,” Silberman said. “Everybody is getting reps. Everybody is familiar of the offense at any time. It’s not just the starters like it was last year and a couple years ago. Everybody knows the offense. Everybody knows what to do.”
The offensive line allowed one sack. Florida averaged 9.3 yards per carry.
Excluding Driskel’s 37- and 70-yard touchdown runs, the Gators still averaged 6.6 yards per rushing attempt.
Florida managed 4.3 yards per attempt against Vanderbilt in 2011.
“The resiliency of the team from a mental standpoint is definitely a lot different from last year,” Robey said. “When it starts getting tight right there, last year we might’ve folded. This year is a whole lot different.”
Florida adjusted to the game’s physicality. Running behind a makeshift front isn’t desirable, but the Gators improvised.
UF overcame a first-quarter deficit with the same kind of smash-mouth football that has carried them to six straight victories and a top-three national ranking.
“(From) the center to the left side was all new guys,” Muschamp said. “When you run for over 300 yards, you are doing something right. Very pleased with those guys stepping up and doing a nice job for us.”
Contact Adam Pincus at apincus@alligator.org.
Guard Ian Silberman (77) blocks for quarterback Jeff Driskel against Vanderbilt in 2012. Silberman will transfer from Florida and will play out his final season of eligibility elsewhere next season.
