The injury bug has been particularly attracted to UF this off-season.
Middle linebacker Brandon Spikes is the latest victim, and it appears a foot injury will keep him out of Saturday's season opener against Hawaii.
"I hope it's just a one-game deal," defensive coordinator Charlie Strong said. "You just don't know if it's going to be week-to-week, but hopefully it's a one-game deal."
Spikes had begun to establish himself as the leader of the Gators defense in the same fashion as his predecessor, Brandon Siler, and expectations were high for the junior as a result.
"He has never had the strength or complete commitment to the off-season, but he has this year," coach Urban Meyer said. "I think he is one of the best linebackers in the country and is ready to take that next step."
If you ask Strong, the Gators will get by just fine with Ryan Stamper, who will start in Spikes' place.
"He's probably the most reliable player on our football team," Strong said of Stamper.
HARVIN WATCH: There are just four days remaining until Florida's matchup with Hawaii and wide receiver Percy Harvin has yet to participate in a full practice.
Harvin underwent heel surgery in April and has been slow to recover. He spent the majority of training camp doing conditioning drills and just began cutting drills approximately two weeks ago. The Heisman candidate has looked good in limited action according to teammates but has battled soreness following practice.
"Percy practiced Saturday, but not the entire practice," Meyer said. "He still has a reaction where once he goes for a little bit, he needs to watch it because he gets sore."
FEELING LIKE A FAN: It appears that UF's dependence on Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin in the running game is coming to an end.
Coach Meyer has been critical of his running backs in the past, but this season's unit has him singing a different tune.
"I'm kind of a fan, I can't wait to watch these guys play," he said. "You inject three guys into that lineup. One was ineligible last year (Emmanuel Moody), one shouldn't have been on the field - Chris Rainey weighed 155 with a bad shoulder - and then you've got one who's running 10-(second)-flat 100 meters (Jeff Demps)."
