One improvement the Gators are counting on this week is the return of veteran offensive lineman Jon Halapio. After missing all of August and the first two games due to a torn left pectoral muscle, he is listed as the starting right guard for Saturday’s matchup with Tennessee.
“Real good, real confident — I think ‘Pio is back,’ ” offensive coordinator Brent Pease said. “I think he’s probably not in as good of shape, just because he hasn’t taken a lot of reps, but he’s done a lot for us. He’s experienced and he understands things. It’s just a matter of how much endurance he’ll have.”
Pease said the injury, which was suffered while Halapio was weightlifting in July, has not hindered him during practice as No. 19 Florida heads into Saturday’s game (3:30 p.m., CBS).
Halapio, a redshirt senior, had started 28 straight games before missing the season opener this year. He is 6-feet-3, 317 pounds and has appeared in 41 games since arriving at UF in 2009.
Rocky Top: The Volunteers' signature song seems to be popular with the Florida players. Defensive tackle Dominique Easley said Monday he sings "Rocky Top" during games against Tennessee because he "might as well make the best of it."
Gators receiver Trey Burton admitted he sings it, too, and is actually a fan of it.
“I don’t know if I should say it, but I think it’s one of the best fight songs that there are in college football,” he said Tuesday. “I know all the words to it. Whenever I hear it, I sing it.”
It makes sense that Burton would feel good when the UT band plays that song. The Gators are 3-0 against the Volunteers during his career, and in last year’s 37-20 victory at Neyland Stadium, he rushed for 91 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for 38 yards.
Tight ends quiet: Last year, the Gators' most dangerous player in the passing game was tight end Jordan Reed. He led the team with 45 catches for 559 yards and caught three touchdown passes as a junior before bolting for the NFL.
Florida does not seem to have a replacement for him.
The only Gators tight end with a catch in the first two games is Tevin Westbrook, a converted defensive lineman. He caught a 1-yard pass in the opener.
“Last year, by design, Jordan Reed was our leading receiver because he was a playmaker,” coach Will Muschamp said. “We’re going to circle the guys who are going to make plays and yards after the catch. That’s not been the strong point of that position at this point.”
