The Gators unveiled their depth chart on Monday for Saturday’s season opener against New Mexico State, and the biggest revelation came with the announcement that senior Antonio Morrison is healthy and will start at middle linebacker.
Morrison suffered a serious left knee injury in UF’s 28-20 Birmingham Bowl victory over East Carolina on Jan. 3 and had two surgeries. His initial recovery timetable was predicted to be 10-12 months, but Morrison completed his recovery in just six months.
"It’s unbelievable what he’s done, to see him recover like this," coach Jim McElwain said Monday of Morrison. "We’ve had the doctor in a bunch, probably more so for me not believing him. And yet the strength levels, all the tests, believe it or not it’s actually tighter than the other one. That’s a credit to him and what he did in the offseason to prepare himself to help this football team."
Furthermore, the depth chart confirmed McElwain’s plan to use both redshirt freshman Will Grier and sophomore Treon Harris at quarterback. Needing to see both during game action, the team has been preparing to let the quarterback battle be decided during the regular season. McElwain said the coaches are still developing the gameplan for Grier and Harris, but the lack of game experience makes that process more difficult.
"I don’t know when we’ll determine it," McElwain said. "As much as you try to simulate (game situations), there’s no experience for doing it. I think it’s going to tell us a lot when we get done and watch the video of this game."
Junior Kelvin Taylor is listed as the starter at running back, and freshmen Jordan Scarlett and Jordan Cronkrite are slotted behind him at second-string.
Freshman Martez Ivey, who reportedly suffered a slight meniscus tear on Friday, is listed as the No. 2 left offensive tackle behind redshirt senior transfer Mason Halter.
Despite the injury typically requiring two to four weeks of recovery, McElwain refused to rule Ivey, and injured junior starting safety Keanu Neal, out for Saturday.
"I wouldn’t put it out of the question, believe it or not," McElwain said about Ivey and Neal playing, "but we’ll hit that on Wednesday when we talk about the injury report."
Bryan Cox, Jr. will start along the defensive line with redshirt junior Alex McCalister suspended for the opener.
"This is the first game, we’re going to play a lot of guys," McElwain said. "You’ve got to put names in there, right? You’ve got to give them as game notes to the opponent. But I wouldn’t read too much into it."
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Antonio Morrison attempts a tackle during Florida's 38-20 win against Georgia on Nov. 1, 2014.
