Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – They were in high school a year ago when Kentucky visited Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and beat the Gators for the first time since 1986. If Gators cornerbacks Kaiir Elam, Jaydon Hill and Chester Kimbrough expected to be eased onto the field as freshmen, they can forget about it.

With starter CJ Henderson doubtful for Saturday's game at Kentucky due to an ankle injury suffered in Florida's 45-0 victory over UT Martin, the Gators need the trio to grow up in a hurry.

"It's a big loss. One of our best defensive players,'' safety Donovan Stiner said Monday. "We overcome it by our freshmen corners having to step up and all of the veterans back there just have to make sure we're communicating and helping them be ready for the game. They've came a long way since they've been here. They got a lot of playing time this last game, so I know their confidence is boosted."
 
Elam picked up his first career interception on Saturday and is listed on the unofficial depth chart behind starter Marco Wilson on the opposite side of Henderson. Hill and Kimbrough are behind Henderson, Florida's top-rated NFL prospect who hurt his left ankle in the first half Saturday. Henderson immediately left the game and did not return. He returned to the sideline in the second half on crutches and with a protective boot on his foot.

Henderson's loss in the home opener Saturday meant the Gators were without eight defensive backs who were on the field the last time the Gators played at home in the Orange & Blue Game in April: Henderson, Brad Stewart (suspended), Amari Burney (injured), Jeawon Taylor (injured), C.J. McWilliams (injured, out for season), Chris Steele (transferred), Brian Edwards (transferred) and John Huggins (transferred).

Mullen said Monday that Burney and Taylor are expected back on the field at Kentucky.

Fortunately, the newcomers held their own in the victory over UT Martin.

"I thought they did good. Kaiir had a great interception. Jaydon Hill made a touchdown-saving tackle coming off the back side, coming off his man. Chester's got some experience out there on the field,'' UF head coach Dan Mullen said Monday. "One of the things that we talked about was getting them all in the game very early, not just, 'hey, we'll get a lead and put them in.' They started right in the second series. I think they gained that knowledge and that experience of being out there on the field playing with the 1 defense, and so that's going to help them moving forward."

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TONEY ON MEND, OUT

The other significant injury for the Gators on Saturday was the loss of junior receiver Kadarius Toney, one of the team's most dynamic playmakers when healthy. Tony suffered a shoulder injury on Saturday and will be out at least a couple of games according to Mullen.

"We'll see how that goes, how he heals,'' Mullen said.



Toney scored Florida's first touchdown of the season when he took a screen pass from Feleipe Franks and darted down the field for a 66-yard touchdown reception in the win over the Hurricanes. Toney caught two passes on Florida's opening drive against UT Martin but did not return to the game after getting hurt on a carry for no gain on UF's final drive of the first quarter.

Redshirt freshman Jacob Copeland had his best game (3 catches, 23 yards, 1 TD; 1 rush, 15 yards) as the Gators looked for other players to step up in the second half.

Franks said Toney will be missed but that the Gators have ample talent at the offensive skill positions to be productive in Toney's absence.

"KT is one of those special players. I think he is doing the right steps right now, just getting his body back right,'' Franks said. "We've got guys that will step up in his place. We've got Copeland, we've got Josh [Hammond], Freddie [Swain], those guys that play H that will step up and just continue to keep the offense moving smoothly."

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SACK MASTERS

The Gators lead the country in sacks with 15 through the first two games. Florida is one of just four FBS teams with at least 10 or more sacks. Maryland is second with 12, followed by Virginia and Illinois with 11 each.

The Gators opened the season with a 10-sack performance in their 24-20 victory over Miami. In UAA Communications research of sack records dating through the 1982 season, the 10 sacks against the Hurricanes set the single-game school record.

"They have some game-wreckers there up front,'' Kentucky coach Mark Stoops told reporters Monday. "They're just a very disruptive defense. [Defensive coordinator] Todd Grantham does a remarkable job, very good coach I have a lot of respect for."

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QUOTE OF NOTE

"Feleipe looks very, very good. He looks very comfortable. Second year, you know, starting with Dan being there, and he has a big arm, that's for sure." – Wildcats coach Mark Stoops on Gators QB Feleipe Franks, who was 25 of 27 for 250 yards and two touchdowns against UT Martin

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EXTRA POINTS

With the loss of starter Terry Wilson to a knee injury, Kentucky's new starting quarterback is Sawyer Smith, who was 5 of 9 for 76 yards after replacing Wilson on Saturday in Kentucky's victory over Eastern Michigan. A junior transfer from Troy, Smith joined the Wildcats in late June. He was named MVP of the Dollar General Bowl last season after leading Troy to a victory over Buffalo, completing 31 of 44 passes for 320 yards and four scores … Florida has 26 tackles for loss in its first two games, second to UCF (28) among FBS teams … Kentucky has 19 players on its roster from the state of Florida, a recruiting priority under Stoops; Florida does not have a player on its roster from Kentucky.