Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
We inform. You decide.
Friday, March 29, 2024
NEWS  |  CAMPUS

Notebook: Powell out four to six months with torn ACL; Roberts to KU

<p>Junior Ronald Powell (7) is pushed by right tackle Chaz Green during Saturday’s spring game. Powell fell to the turf after being pushed and suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. He is out at least four months.</p>

Junior Ronald Powell (7) is pushed by right tackle Chaz Green during Saturday’s spring game. Powell fell to the turf after being pushed and suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. He is out at least four months.

When Ronald Powell left the field with a knee injury in Saturday’s spring game, coach Will Muschamp hardly seemed worried.

In his postgame press conference, Muschamp devoted just a sentence to Powell, speculating that the junior Buck linebacker had simply sprained his left knee.

But Monday’s MRI revealed that Powell has a torn ACL that is expected to sideline him for at least four to six months, according to a UF release. That would put Powell on pace for a return sometime between August and October, with UF’s season kicking off against Bowling Green on Sept. 1.

“Ronald is in good spirits and is very eager to do whatever is necessary to have a healthy, speedy recovery,” Muschamp said Monday morning. “He has already started with prehab and once the swelling goes down and he regains his range of motion, he will have the surgery.”

Although UF’s release speculated that there would be a four- to six-month recovery time, six months is usually considered the bare minimum for an ACL injury, with most athletes waiting seven to nine months to lessen the risk of reinjury. Additionally, those recovery times are typically measured from surgery, which Muschamp stated Powell has not yet had.

Powell started 12 games last year and led UF with six sacks. He also posted 32 tackles, including nine for a loss.

Considered something of a disappointment after coming to UF as Rivals’ No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2010, Powell was reportedly making strides this spring.

On his Twitter account, Powell posted: “cant nothin Stop me but me Ive over come so much in life y stop now grind dnt stop when you do, I WILL be the reason the word grind live on!”

Assistant leaves UF: Men’s basketball assistant coach Norm Roberts is leaving Florida to accept a position at Kansas, UF announced Monday.

Roberts came to UF last April after coach Billy Donovan’s previous three assistants — Larry Shyatt, Rob Lanier and Richard Pitino — all left the program for other jobs.

Returning to Kansas, where Roberts served as associate head coach in 2003-04, allows him to reunite with Bill Self, who Roberts has worked under at four different schools. Roberts’ son, Niko, is also a preferred walk-on at KU.

“Norm Roberts did a great job on our staff the past year here at Florida,” Donovan said. “I have a lot of respect for the Kansas program and Bill Self, and I know this is a great opportunity for Norm and his family to all be together.”

Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox

Meyer’s legacy at UF takes beating: A Sporting News report released Monday details how former coach Urban Meyer allegedly lost control of the UF program.

The report claims that Meyer gave preferential treatment to elite players in his “Circle of Trust,” most notably Percy Harvin. The report also details Florida’s issues with drugs and how Meyer covered up failed tests.

The story goes on to cite sources who say that Meyer has already committed recruiting violations while at Ohio State.

Contact Greg Luca at gluca@alligator.org.

Junior Ronald Powell (7) is pushed by right tackle Chaz Green during Saturday’s spring game. Powell fell to the turf after being pushed and suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. He is out at least four months.

Support your local paper
Donate Today
The Independent Florida Alligator has been independent of the university since 1971, your donation today could help #SaveStudentNewsrooms. Please consider giving today.

Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2024 The Independent Florida Alligator and Campus Communications, Inc.