Florida seeks walk-on kicker options

GAINESVILLE — If next week’s Florida-Georgia game comes down to a field goal, things could get very interesting. Both teams’ kickers have struggled. UF’s issues reached the point of desperation Monday. With kickers Jorge Powell and Austin Hardin battling injury, the team took to Twitter seeking walk-ons to try out for the Gators.

Powell replaced starter Austin Hardin four games ago, but he was injured while covering a kickoff Saturday night at LSU. After not travelling to Kentucky or Missouri, Hardin made the trip to Baton Rouge, but he continues to battle a nagging hip injury.

Neither Florida kicker has been reliable. The Gators have missed four of their past six field-goal attempts.

Powell also missed an extra point Oct. 3 against Ole Miss and sent a kickoff out of bounds Oct. 10 at Missouri.

Meanwhile, Georgia senior Marshall Morgan of Fort Lauderdale is struggling. Considered one of the SEC’s top kickers entering the season, Morgan has missed four of 13 attempts this season.

Morgan made three fields, including a 34-yard gamewinner, during last week’s 9-6 win against Missouri. But four minutes prior to the game-winner, he missed from 26 yards.

One option for the Gators is Brooks Abbott, who spent last season with the team after he transferred from Virginia Tech. Upon seeing Florida’s need for a kicker, Abbott tweeted, “Maybe time to lace them back up.” A little later, he confirmed on Twitter he would try out Wednesday.

Next game: No. 13 UF vs. Georgia, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 31, CBS