Nearly 100 try out for UF kicker job

GAINESVILLE — The chance to kick for the Florida Gators has generated a lot of interest — and some interesting candidates.

During Wednesday’s SEC teleconference, coach Jim McElwain said 216 people signed up for the chance to be the team’s emergency placekicker.

The Gators held tryouts Wednesday, with 77 people — including two women — making it to the field to formally try out for the team.

When one middle-aged sportswriter joked he had remaining eligibility, McElwain hinted he has had some similar offers since the team placed an ad on Twitter for walk-on kickers.

“We’ve had some unbelievable calls from some guys,” McElwain said. “There’s a lot of people, which is exciting.”

McElwain said Jorge Powell suffered at season-ending injury last Saturday at LSU. Powell had kicked the previous four games due to Austin Hardin’s hip injury.

Hardin stepped in at LSU and should be available next week against Georgia, but he is not fully healthy.

Former Virginia Tech transfer Brooks Abbott, a member of the 2014 Gators, planned to tryout, according to his Twitter account. The Gainesville Sun reported one-time walk-on Dallas Stubbs is another candidate.

Two of the past five Florida-Georgia games have been decided by three points or fewer. If McElwain needs a field goal to beat Georgia, he is not sure who will take it. “We’ll end up with somebody,” he said. Next game: No. 13 UF vs. Georgia, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 31, CBS

Edgar Thompson