Florida running back Jeff Demps removed his protective boot Wednesday but is still limited in practice.
Coach Urban Meyer said Demps (sprained foot) will probably play Saturday at No. 1 Alabama, assuming the tailback can practice at full speed by Friday.
Demps originally injured his foot against Tennessee on Sept. 18, when a UF offensive lineman stepped on it. Demps was the centerpiece of Florida’s offense in its first three games, but the junior looked less explosive last week against Kentucky.
Including kick returns, Demps touched the ball 13 times for 98 yards against the Wildcats. Entering that matchup, he was averaging 19.7 touches and 207 total yards per game.
“He is just one outstanding player,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “He’s a good runner and has great speed at the perimeter, probably the likes of which we have not seen. But I think [Florida’s] entire team does, and they have some other backs that are capable guys as well.”
Florida’s game plan will not change without Demps, but running back Emmanuel Moody said the bulk of the team’s carries will shift to sophomore Mike Gillislee (35.8 rushing yards per game) and himself (31.25).
“He’s a good player, as everyone knows and can see, but whether he’s in or not really doesn’t make a difference to us,” offensive tackle Xavier Nixon said, referring to the team’s play calling.
Switching sides: Nixon was equally nonchalant about his move from left tackle to right tackle. Nixon, who has played on the left side since he first suited up in ninth grade, was told by the coaching staff that he would flip to the right side late last week.
“It wasn’t really a hard transition,” Nixon said. “I’ve never played right tackle before, so all the calls, (I’m) just switching them to the other side.”
Senior Marcus Gilbert started Florida’s first two games at left tackle while Nixon recovered from a knee injury. Gilbert started on the right side against Tennessee — Nixon’s first game back — but returned to left tackle against Kentucky.
DBs looking up: The Gators’ defensive backs received a preview of this weekend’s matchup with 6-foot-4 Crimson Tide receiver Julio Jones against the Wildcats, who feature three pass-catchers at least that tall.
Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Jeremy Brown fared well against the taller receivers, but freshman Cody Riggs struggled.
Riggs surrendered a 27-yard touchdown to Kentucky’s Chris Matthews in the third quarter, and Austin said the cornerback needs to locate the ball in the air sooner when he’s physically overmatched.
“If you get into a jump ball with those guys because you don’t have position, you’re probably going to lose,” Austin said.
“Rock Stars”: When reflecting on last season earlier this week, Meyer said the Gators took on a “rock star” attitude, which was inevitable given their fame as defending national champions.
On Wednesday he clarified, saying the issue was more a reflection of the times and that big-name programs receive more national attention than they used to.
“There’s the places, like a Florida and the top [Southeastern Conference] schools, and even schools like Ohio State, [that] have the same issues,” he said. “Coaches spend a lot of time on trying to keep them grounded.”
Rainey still out: Meyer reiterated that receiver Chris Rainey will not play this weekend, despite the junior accepting a deferred prosecution agreement that reduced his third-degree felony stalking charge to a misdemeanor Monday.
Meyer has not decided if the reduction will increase Rainey’s chances to rejoin the Gators.
“I haven’t even thought about it,” Meyer said. “At the appropriate time, I’ll sit down with him and have that discussion. But that’s certainly not now.”
