Matt Jones is making progress, but the Florida Gators still do not know if the sophomore running back will be ready for the start of the season.
Jones, who is expected to be the starter this season, came down with a viral infection last month and has yet to return to the field. He still is trying to regain his endurance and strength after losing 8-10 pounds and is limited to cardiovascular work.
Coach Will Muschamp has no timetable for Jones’ return and has prepared for the possibility that he could miss the Aug. 31 opener against Toledo and the Sept. 7 game at Miami.
“We’re a little bit in uncharted waters, having the type of infection he had and then you’re talking about the heat we’re in and that sort of thing,” Muschamp said. “I think we need to be really careful right now that we don’t have a relapse of the situation.”
Florida is off in Week 3, giving Jones a little extra time to get back for the SEC schedule. The Gators start conference play Sept. 21 against Tennessee.
Jones rushed for 275 yards and three touchdowns on 52 carries as a true freshman backup to Mike Gillislee last season.
In his absence, redshirt junior Mack Brown has worked as the first-string running back. The next two options seem to be true freshmen Kelvin Taylor and Adam Lane.
Taylor, from Glades Day, has been physically impressive, but needs to improve his grasp of the pass protection schemes and ball security.
“He did some nice things in the scrimmage Saturday,” Muschamp said. “He put it on the ground (Sunday), and that’s something we can’t have happen. But, again, been very pleased with his progress. He’s very quick in his lower body, gets it north and south and he runs the way we want it to be run at Florida.”
Purifoy moves to offense: As planned, the Gators will shift top cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy to receiver toward the end of the week. Muschamp said Purifoy will have a role in the offense this season, though the emergence of two freshmen might lessen Florida's need to use Purifoy on offense.
Quinton Dunbar, a redshirt junior, is the leading returning receiver from last season, followed by Trey Burton. Solomon Patton showed potential last year before breaking his arm and is back to full strength. New freshmen Ahmad Fulwood and Demarcus Robinson have impressed the coaching staff and figure to get playing time immediately.
“Those five right there have been productive and consistent,” Muschamp said. “Along with that, you have Loucheiz and some of the other guys continuing to come on. I think we’ll have a good group.”
No UF wide receiver caught more than 38 passes in 2010, ’11 or ’12.
Injuries: Fullback Hunter Joyer pulled his hamstring Sunday and is likely to miss at least the next 10 days. … Defensive tackle Damien Jacobs (knee), cornerback Jaylen Watkins (foot) and guard Jon Halapio (pectoral) will miss at least another week. … Roderick Johnson, a freshman offensive lineman from American Heritage, underwent successful surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee and will be out 3-4 weeks. … Offensive linemen Max Garcia (back) and Trip Thurman (shoulder) were cleared Monday and returned to practice.
