Defensive tackle Leon Orr will be out Saturday after spending time in the hospital this week with the flu, coach Will Muschamp said.
Anthony Pass, a team doctor, approached Muschamp on Tuesday and told the coach they needed to admit Orr into the hospital to receive an IV.
“Right now for the game, Leon Orr will be out,” Muschamp said on Thursday. “He has gotten really sick. He’s going to be fine. He’s got about a 72-hour deal. He had to go and get some fluids in him.”
Orr has recorded 13 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss while backing up redshirt senior Omar Hunter this season.
Muschamp couldn’t pinpoint when the flu popped up in the locker room, but said on Thursday that safety Matt Elam missed “some time” on Wednesday. A few other undisclosed players experienced symptoms on Monday and Tuesday.
Muschamp expected Elam to return to practice on Thursday.
“We get [the sick players] out,” Muschamp said about dealing with the outbreak. “It’ll get through your locker room quick.”
Injury update: Buck linebacker Lerentee McCray (ankle) and left tackle Xavier Nixon (knee) are questionable for Saturday’s game against Missouri.
Muschamp said on Tuesday that McCray was probable and would return to practice on Wednesday.
Nixon twisted his knee against Georgia on Saturday after center Jonotthan Harrison pushed a defender into him.
If McCray and Nixon do not play, Florida will depend on two freshmen.
Defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. and left tackle D.J. Humphries stepped in for the two players when they suffered injuries earlier this season.
Fowler leads all UF freshmen with three tackles for loss.
“(It’s) hard to play as a freshman in any situation, much less the [Southeastern Conference],” Muschamp said. “He’s been very productive.”
Muschamp endorses Pease: If offensive coordinator Brent Pease seeks a head coaching job when the 2012 season comes to a close, he will have Muschamp’s support.
“He’s a really good football coach, and I endorse him 100 percent,” Muschamp said.
Past UF assistants who have left Gainesville recently to take head coaching jobs include Dan Mullen, Charlie Strong, Dan McCarney, Charlie Weis and Steve Addazio.
With the Gators at No. 8 (7-1, 6-1 SEC) and exceeding expectations, Pease may be the next to go.
Muschamp hired Pease in January to replace Weis.
Muschamp and Pease crossed paths recruiting defensive tackle Vincent “Sweet Pea” Burns when Muschamp was at Valdosta State and Pease was at Northern Arizona in 2000.
While at LSU, Muschamp admired Pease’s work as Kentucky’s offensive coordinator. Pease and Boise State defensive coaches visited Muschamp’s defensive coaching staff in Austin, Texas, to talk football while Muschamp served as Texas’ defensive coordinator.
“I personally knew him pretty well, so that helped on the other end of it,” Muschamp said. “You have a little bit better comfort level when you know somebody.”
Contact Adam Pincus at apincus@alligator.org.
Leon Orr walks off the field after a play in Florida’s 37-20 win against Tennessee on Sept. 15 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. Orr will miss Saturday’s game with the flu.
