Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray (8) throws a pass during the third quarter in an NCAA college football game against South Carolina at Williams Brice Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010, in Columbia, SC. (AP/Rich Glickstein)FLORIDA
Florida got down to five scholarship offensive linemen at one point this spring when Nick Alajajian (knee), Xavier Nixon (ankle), Matt Patchan (wrist), James Wilson (knee) and David Young (knee) were ailing. The Gators also lost running back Mack Brown with a broken fibula, but none of the setbacks were anywhere close to season-ending.
“We expect all of the guys that were injured by around June to be full speed,” first-year coach Will Muschamp said. “Especially when we hit fall camp in August, we expect to be at full speed. Most of the injuries were two- or three-week deals.”
Muschamp added that Brown is the last of the injury situations and will be cleared June 22.
The Gators were hindered offensively with quarterback John Brantley learning a new system and tailback Jeff Demps running track, so the defense had its way on a daily basis. Four five-star players who signed in 2010 – defensive tackles Sharrif Floyd and Dominique Easley, defensive end/outside linebacker Ronald Powell and strong safety Matt Elam – flourished and could each be starters come September.