Gators’ Perine delivers big week

GAINESVILLE — Lamical Perine could have pouted or merely accepted his fate.

UF’s sophomore tailback instead turned in his best week of practice following freshman Malik Davis’ breakout performance at Kentucky and subsequent promotion into Perine’s starting role.

When Perine’s opportunity then arrived against Vanderbilt, he capitalized, rushing yards and scoring three touchdowns.

“I think he got back to being the Lamical we expect him to be,” running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider said.

Seider reassured Perine after Davis led the fourth-quarter comeback at Kentucky.

Seider said he told Perine to trust his talent and stop looking to replace suspended junior Jordan Scarlett, the team’s leading rusher in 2016.

“I just think he was more relaxed. He was more engaged. He was more demanding,” Seider said of Perine. “He had a great week and he responded."

Perine’s response, Davis’ emergence and senior Mark Thompson’s improvement have created the kind of competition at tailback coach Jim McElwain wants to see at every position on the team.

Last week, Perine proved McElwain knew he could.

“Lamical really took that night [at Kentucky,] elevated his play last week,” McElwain said. “... And I look forward to seeing more of that.”

Next game: No. 21 UF vs. LSU, Saturday, 3:30 p.m., CBS

Edgar Thompson last Saturday for 58 tough Gators’ himself worthy and ran like