Lamical Perine is one of the players head coach Jim McElwain will turn to without Jordan Scarlett available on Saturday against Michigan. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
Gators Adjust in Backfield without Scarlett
Wednesday, August 30, 2017 | Football, Scott Carter
Jordan Scarlett is suspended for Saturday's opener after leading the team in rushing a year ago.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The news Wednesday sent ripples across social media. That's the way it works these days. If you really want to be plugged into breaking news, just hang out on Twitter for a few minutes and no telling what might pop up.
Shortly after it was announced that Gators junior running back Jordan Scarlett and redshirt freshman receiver Rick Wells are suspended from all team activities and Saturday's game against Michigan, the Gators exploded on Twitter briefly.
They would have preferred to fly under the radar three days from the season opener, but when you lose your starting tailback after already having lost a standout receiver for the season opener, get ready to trend.
Gators head coach Jim McElwain stepped to the podium about three hours later and addressed Florida's latest loss. Expected to be the Gators' featured back in 2017, Scarlett rushed for 889 yards a season ago and six touchdowns.
It's easy to make an argument Scarlet's loss against the Wolverines is greater than that of Antonio Callaway, Florida's junior receiver who was suspended two weeks ago along with six teammates allegedly for their involvement in a case that is currently under investigation.
With Scarlett out, McElwain shared No. 17 Florida's options against No. 11 Michigan on Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The plan features sophomore Lamical Perine, senior Mark Thompson and freshman Malik Davis out of Jesuit High in Tampa. Davis impressed during camp after rushing for more than 2,400 yards and 33 touchdowns his final prep season.
"Obviously, we've bumped Mark and Lamical, Malik will play a ton as well,'' McElwain said. "Those guys will be in there, and then Adarius [Lemons], who's had a good camp. We'll carry those four going into it. From a rotation standpoint, it probably moved Malik up into a few more things."
Perine and Thompson each contributed last season in their first year at UF. Thompson, a junior college transfer, took a screen pass and turned it into an 85-yard touchdown in Florida's Outback Bowl win over Iowa in January.
Thompson's availability for Saturday was uncertain due to a citation for marijuana in the spring.
"What he's done is he's gone through all the things and hasn't had anything pop up from there, learned from it, had a great summer and a very good camp,'' McElwain said.
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Thompson is a physical runner with good speed but a tendency to fumble, which cost him playing time in 2016. Meanwhile, Perine had a solid freshman season and finished second on the team with 421 yards a season ago.
"We'll have some new faces in there, some guys taking a lot of valuable reps,'' McElwain said. "That's why they came, they came to play. And as you go through life you're always going to have bumps. It's how you deal with the bumps, and in this case, we're going to find out on Saturday how we're dealing with them."
*****
INJURY NOTE
The Gators are in good health heading into the opener according to McElwain. Freshman defensive back Quincy Lenton, who has been slowed throughout camp due to a hamstring injury, had to leave practice early Wednesday.
"That'll hurt us some in depth. Not saying he's out yet, but he wasn't able to finish practice,'' McElwain said.
Shortly after it was announced that Gators junior running back Jordan Scarlett and redshirt freshman receiver Rick Wells are suspended from all team activities and Saturday's game against Michigan, the Gators exploded on Twitter briefly.
They would have preferred to fly under the radar three days from the season opener, but when you lose your starting tailback after already having lost a standout receiver for the season opener, get ready to trend.
Gators head coach Jim McElwain stepped to the podium about three hours later and addressed Florida's latest loss. Expected to be the Gators' featured back in 2017, Scarlett rushed for 889 yards a season ago and six touchdowns.
It's easy to make an argument Scarlet's loss against the Wolverines is greater than that of Antonio Callaway, Florida's junior receiver who was suspended two weeks ago along with six teammates allegedly for their involvement in a case that is currently under investigation.
With Scarlett out, McElwain shared No. 17 Florida's options against No. 11 Michigan on Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The plan features sophomore Lamical Perine, senior Mark Thompson and freshman Malik Davis out of Jesuit High in Tampa. Davis impressed during camp after rushing for more than 2,400 yards and 33 touchdowns his final prep season.
"Obviously, we've bumped Mark and Lamical, Malik will play a ton as well,'' McElwain said. "Those guys will be in there, and then Adarius [Lemons], who's had a good camp. We'll carry those four going into it. From a rotation standpoint, it probably moved Malik up into a few more things."
Perine and Thompson each contributed last season in their first year at UF. Thompson, a junior college transfer, took a screen pass and turned it into an 85-yard touchdown in Florida's Outback Bowl win over Iowa in January.
Thompson's availability for Saturday was uncertain due to a citation for marijuana in the spring.
"What he's done is he's gone through all the things and hasn't had anything pop up from there, learned from it, had a great summer and a very good camp,'' McElwain said.
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Thompson is a physical runner with good speed but a tendency to fumble, which cost him playing time in 2016. Meanwhile, Perine had a solid freshman season and finished second on the team with 421 yards a season ago.
"We'll have some new faces in there, some guys taking a lot of valuable reps,'' McElwain said. "That's why they came, they came to play. And as you go through life you're always going to have bumps. It's how you deal with the bumps, and in this case, we're going to find out on Saturday how we're dealing with them."
*****
INJURY NOTE
The Gators are in good health heading into the opener according to McElwain. Freshman defensive back Quincy Lenton, who has been slowed throughout camp due to a hamstring injury, had to leave practice early Wednesday.
"That'll hurt us some in depth. Not saying he's out yet, but he wasn't able to finish practice,'' McElwain said.
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