Florida offensive line is beginning to shape up again.
Junior left tackle D.J. Humphries — who has not played since the first quarter of Florida’s 65-0 win against Eastern Michigan due to a bone chip in his ankle — is expected to be back for UF’s Saturday matchup against Tennessee, coach Will Muschamp said Monday.
While Humphries was out, redshirt senior Chaz Green shifted from right tackle to left tackle, and true freshman Rod Johnson started at right tackle.
"Rod has played well. Chaz has played well. They all will play," Muschamp said. "But if D.J. is ready to go, we’ll put him at the left and then we’ll figure out between Chaz and Rod. Obviously, Chaz will be a guy that would probably start if we had the game today, but we want to see how the week goes."
Senior guard Trenton Brown, who left Florida’s game against Alabama with a high ankle sprain, will also be ready to go when the Gators travel to Knoxville, Tenn., this weekend.
"He’s really coming along and playing well for us," Muschamp said of the 6-foot-8 Brown. "Certainly losing him the other day hurt a little bit as far as some of the movement we got in the run game. He’s done a nice job with protection. He kicked out and played right tackle against Kentucky a little bit. But really, again, his biggest issue’s been consistency in his performance, down in, down out, position in, possession out, and that’s where I really think he’s made some strides."
Defense banged up: Defensive lineman Leon Orr — who had his knee scoped last week after having a small tear in his meniscus — will not play against Tennessee on Saturday, Muschamp said.
Through three games this season, the redshirt senior has recorded 14 total tackles, including two for a loss and a forced fumble.
With Orr out against the Volunteers, Jon Bullard will shift from the defensive end position to defensive tackle and Joey Ivie will see more snaps at defensive end.
Muschamp also said true freshmen Gerald Willis and Taven Bryan would receive more playing time on Saturday.
Linebacker Mike Taylor (knee) is listed as "questionable to doubtful" for the Tennessee game, Muschamp said. Taylor, a redshirt senior, is tied for the team lead with 21 total tackles.
Punter back in form: After a subpar 2013 season, punter Kyle Christy is making the most of his opportunities this year.
Through three contests, the senior is averaging a nation-best 50.4 yards per punt — 2.5 yards longer than Idaho’s Austin Rehkow, who is second in the country with a 47.8-yard-per-punt average.
Christy struggled to punt effectively in 2013, averaging just 39.6 yards each time he kicked the ball away. Only two of his 21 punts last season went at least 50 yards, while 10 of his 16 punts this year have reached that distance.
"When he’s able to flip the field the way he can, he certainly is a huge weapon for us," Muschamp said. "I think more than anything [it’s] confidence. I think the issue is his confidence got shook a little bit last year. I think (special teams coordinator) Coleman Hutzler has done a really good job fundamentally with him as far as getting back to the basics as opposed to trying to tweak and change his swing every time something didn’t go right."
Follow Jordan McPherson on Twitter @J_McPherson1126
Max Garcia (76) snaps the ball to Jeff Driskel during Florida's 42-21 loss to Alabama on Sept. 20 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
