While the Gators are still searching for a long-term answer at quarterback on offense, there is concern about the quarterback of their defense.
Junior linebacker Alex Anzalone, one of the defensive leaders and the primary signal-caller on the field this season, suffered a shoulder injury during the first half of the game against East Carolina and did not return.
Anzalone had major shoulder surgery during the Spring of 2013, making the injury even more worrisome.
The junior underwent X-rays in the locker room, and his teammates didn’t seem too optimistic about his status.
"I saw his parents in there and they didn’t really look too excited," junior linebacker Jarrad Davis said.
"I didn’t know what they were thinking.
"To see him go down like that, that hurts my heart because I know what he put in."
Despite playing in all 12 games in 2014, Anzalone saw limited playing time as a backup linebacker and on special teams, recording 14 tackles.
In Florida’s season opener against New Mexico State, Anzalone was one of three players to lead the team with five tackles.
Goolsby seizing opportunity: Tight ends are proving to be a major weapon in coach Jim McElwain’s offense, and no one is benefiting more than sophomore tight end DeAndre Goolsby.
One of the brightest marks of Saturday night’s win was the play of Goolsby, who had 94 yards and a touchdown on three catches.
Two of his catches were on wheel routes, which the Gators have used effectively on multiple occasions in both games, and he appears to be one of redshirt freshman quarterback Will Grier’s favorite targets thus far this year.
It’s a big change for the 6-foot-4 sophomore, who played in seven games last season but didn’t record a stat.
Against New Mexico State last week, Goolsby recorded three catches for 38 yards.
Secondary steps up without Hargreaves: Even after allowing 346 passing yards, coach Jim McElwain was surprisingly satisfied with his secondary’s performance.
"They did a great job. They gave up a couple of plays here and there," McElwain said.
"Most guys stepped up, played good and competed."
While Florida’s run defense was stifling — holding East Carolina to -13 yards total on the ground — the pass defense was porous.
The Pirates marched up and down the field at will against a Gators defensive backfield that was without star junior cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III.
Hargreaves suffered a leg injury in practice on Thursday and was held out of the game along with junior safety Keanu Neal, who has been out dealing with his own leg injury that he suffered in Florida's final scrimmage of Fall camp on Aug. 21.
While there were some big plays made by sophomore cornerback Jalen Tabor, who returned an interception for a touchdown late in the third quarter, Hargreaves’ absence was felt.
On a night when McElwain was as unhappy as he has ever been in his short time at Florida, his praise for the unit was unexpected.
Follow Graham Hack on Twitter @graham_hack24
UF linebacker Alex Anzalone pursues East Carolina tight end Stephen Baggett during the Gators' 31-24 win against the Pirates on Sept. 12, 2015, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
