UF gets healthy during bye week
Tight end C’yontai Lewis, defensive tackle Joey Ivie, defensive back Marcell Harris and running back Case Harrison returned to Florida’s practice Monday after missing considerable time with injury.
With the absence of Keanu Neal early in the season due to suspension and All-America cornerback Vernon Hargreaves being hampered with injuries, Harris, a redshirt sophomore, had been elevated to a situational corner during games. But Harris aggravated a previous ankle injury in practice on Oct. 15 and missed Florida’s 35-28 loss to LSU.
With the return of Lewis, the Gators have another pass-catching tight end for sophomore quarterback Treon Harris to target.
“C’yontai will be back, fifinally,” coach Jim McElwain said. “He got cleared from the breakage of that hand, so he’ll be in a light, little splint but should be able to have full use of it.”
Then there were three (kickers): McElwain said a fifinal round would be held between three students late Monday to determine who will be UF’s walk-on kicker in light of the team’s injuries at that position. Then again, perhaps all three make it.
It could be one guy’s a kickoffff guy, one guy’s a short fifield goal guy, one guy’s a long fifield goal guy,” McElwain said.
Florida State quarterback Everett Golson did not throw a pass during the open portion of Monday afternoon’s practice.
He completed 22 of 30 passes for 210 yards and threw his fifirst interception of the season in FSU’s loss at Georgia Tech on Saturday. He was noticeably slow to get up offff the turf after a few hits but never left the game.
Jimbo Fisher didn’t reference an injury to Golson during the coach’s regular press conference Monday.
“Graded out very well,” Fisher said. “You can grade as a quarterback tremendously, and grade 90 percent and have four plays that cost you a game. He didn’t cost us the game. There were some opportunities he wishes he had back.”
Later Monday afternoon, Golson jogged with the team during warmups and then watched as backup quarterbacks Sean Maguire, JJ Cosentino and Deondre Francois threw to receivers.
Injury update: Linebacker Terrance Smith, who has missed the last three games with a high-ankle sprain, returned to practice on Monday. He worked out in shells and appeared to be running and cutting well. ... Mario Pender, who has been out four games following lung surgery, is also back practicing with the running backs. ... Nickel cornerback Tyler Hunter, who missed the Georgia Tech game with a concussion, returned to practice but wore a blue non-contact jersey.