Florida will likely be without three key players for its season opener against Miami (Ohio) next weekend.
UF coach Urban Meyer said offensive tackles Xavier Nixon and Matt Patchan are both out, while starting tight end Jordan Reed’s status is less certain.
“We thought we lost [Reed], but he only has a deep knee bruise,” Meyer said. “That’s a pain tolerance thing, so we don’t know when we’ll get him back.”
Meyer said he wasn’t sure whether his tackles would be healthy in time for the Sept. 11 game against USF. Nixon had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, and a pin was inserted into Patchan’s fractured right wrist.
Center Mike Pouncey said this week he wouldn’t be surprised if he played tackle because of injuries on the line, but Meyer is against that plan.
“I was opposed to that because in the first game I want the ball to hit the quarterback in the hands and not look like “The Bad News Bears” out there,” Meyer said.
Meanwhile, two players will switch positions to fill in for Reed. Receiver Omarius Hines and quarterback Trey Burton will take over the hybrid tight end role formerly occupied by Aaron Hernandez if Reed is out.
BROWN IN LEAD FOR NO. 2 CORNER SPOT: The corner position opposite Janoris Jenkins appears to be Jeremy Brown’s for the taking.
Meyer said Brown would start at either corner or nickelback next Saturday, depending on which defensive formation the Gators come out in.
Brown and Moses Jenkins are competing for the starting gig, and freshman Matt Elam will also see time at nickel, a package Meyer said he expects to use frequently.
Before Brown could earn playing time, he had to prove the back injury that kept him out for two years was a thing of the past.
“Jeremy is doing really good,” Meyer said. “He’s healthy and full speed now. We kind of, I don’t want to say babied him, but we watched him during two-a-days. He’s full-tilt now, and it makes you feel good to see that guy go like that.”
THEY’RE GOOD: Meyer didn’t have much to say about the rumors and reports that swirled around freshmen Ronald Powell and Dominique Easley on Wednesday. The Alligator first reported both missed Tuesday’s practice and considered transferring, but Meyer wasn’t in the mood to confirm or deny those details, only saying that the two missed “part of practice” on Tuesday.
He answered multiple questions about the pair by simply saying, “They’re good.”
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY: Mike Pouncey was named to the Rimington Trophy watch list Thursday, an honor given to the nation’s best center at season’s end.
Last year, his brother, Maurkice, became the first UF player to win the award. Mike Pouncey collected a few accolades of his own in 2009, being named a second-team All-American and first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection by The Associated Press.
LOTS OF LINEBACKERS: When asked to name his three starting linebackers, Meyer spat out A.J. Jones, Brandon Hicks, Jon Bostic, Jelani Jenkins and Lorenzo Edwards.
“Those are our three,” he joked.
He also said freshman Neiron Ball would see playing time this year.
