So far in spring practice, Gators are dropping like flies.
UF entered the spring with 18 players listed as limited or out, and a few more names have been tacked on to that list recently.
Freshman tight end Desmond Parks suffered a sprained knee in practice Monday, and he had to be carted off the field. Before Parks was driven away, coach Urban Meyer went over and spoke with him to keep his spirits up.
"He's a young player with eyes like saucers right now between academics and football," Meyer said. "He's a such a great kid. I love that guy. It's not the injury - everyone gets hurt - it's about how an athlete deals with the injury. I grabbed him on his way off and I'll go talk to him again (after practice)."
The Gators already lack depth at the position, where Parks is the only viable backup for starter Aaron Hernandez. If Parks' injury is serious, Meyer said he may use fullbacks T.J. Pridemore and Steven Wilks to fill the void behind Hernandez.
"We might go without a tight end," Meyer said. "We don't play a tight end in tight. We play the guy that moves around. Right now, T.J. Pridemore has made great strides, and Steve Wilks is even showing a pulse. (New tight ends coach) Brian White is doing a great job with those guys because a week ago, it bordered on comical."
Wide receiver David Nelson sprained his right foot during Saturday's scrimmage. He was on crutches Monday, but Meyer expects him to be fine. Fellow wideout Deonte Thompson also didn't practice, as he's nursing a hamstring injury.
Starting linebackers Dustin Doe and A.J. Jones were held out as well, but Meyer was buoyed by the return of redshirt freshman linebacker Brendan Beal (knee) and defensive end Carlos Dunlap (abdominal strain).
The offensive line is especially depleted. Mike and Maurkice Pouncey, Carl Johnson, Matt Patchan and James Wilson have all struggled with injuries, and Wilson reinjured his left foot Saturday.
"James is getting an MRI tonight," Meyer said. "He's had some feet problems, and I don't know (his status). He was doing very well before he got hurt, and the good news is that even if it's something serious, he'll be fine in the fall."
The only positive has been that new arrivals Nick Alajajian and Jonotthan Harrison are getting plenty of reps in practice as a result. The experience should help with UF's lack of depth on the line, offensive coordinator Steve Addazio said.
MEYER WON'T COMMENT ON HARVIN'S DRUG TEST: Last week, a report on NFLDraftBible.com claimed that former UF wideout Percy Harvin, along with two other players, tested positive for marijuana at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The report cited several sources, as well as an NFL team, and Meyer refused to comment on the situation Monday.
"I'm not going to comment on that other than that I love Percy, and he has done a lot for our program," he said. "I would just be shocked."
When asked if Harvin had ever failed a drug test while at UF, Meyer said, "I'm not going to talk about guys (or) stuff like that."
