Freshman Antonio Callaway has provided Florida’s offense with a spark this season that has been absent for years.
But when Saturday’s game against Georgia rolls around, the No. 11 Gators might be without their top playmaker.
Callaway injured his foot in practice on Wednesday and coach Jim McElwain said it is too early to determine if the wide receiver will play against the Bulldogs.
In seven games this season, Callaway has 308 receiving yards, second on the team only to Demarcus Robinson (371). Callaway’s 19.2 yards per catch leads UF receivers who have at least 10 catches, and ranks 16th nationally.
In Florida’s 35-28 loss against LSU, Callaway had a team-leading 100 receiving yards on three catches and tied the game at 28 in the third quarter with a 72-yard punt return.
"He’s getting a little bit better every week," McElwain said. "We kind of knew what we were getting when we recruited him. Obviously he’s living up to that."
While Callaway’s status is up in the air, tight end C’yontai Lewis is expected to return for the first time since Florida’s 31-24 win against East Carolina on Sept. 12.
Lewis, a redshirt freshman, has three catches for 50 yards and two touchdowns this season while also serving as an extra body for pass and run blocking.
In other injury news, backup defensive tackle Khairi Clark is questionable after taking a hit in practice while linebacker Alex Anzalone is expected to miss his sixth straight game with a shoulder injury.
Grier appeal process progressing: McElwain said Wednesday that UF is compiling everything needed to assist quarterback Will Grier with his NCAA-ordered suspension.
While McElwain did not have a definitive timetable for the appeal process, he said he expects it to start shortly.
"We’re working very closely obviously with his family and him to put everything that we can into the NCAA," McElwain said.
Grier was suspended on Oct. 12 for 12 months after failing an NCAA-regulated drug test for performance-enhancing drugs.
He has not been at practice during the portions open to the media since his suspension. McElwain said Grier is still dealing with personal issues.
"There’s a pretty traumatic little deal he’s gone through there, right?" McElwain said. "He’ll be there. He’s still part of the team."
D-line facing another tough test: Florida’s loss to LSU marked the first time this season where the Gators’ defense failed to record a sack.
Saturday could make it two games in a row.
Georgia boasts a starting offensive line with 116 combined starts and has given up just eight sacks this season, which ties for second in the SEC and 14th nationally.
Florida’s defense, on the other hand, is tied for third in the conference and 19th overall with 21 sacks.
Coaching reunion: McElwain has ties with a two members of UGA’s coaching staff. Defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, like McElwain, comes from the Nick Saban coaching tree. McElwain has also worked with UGA offensive line coach Rob Sale at Alabama from 2008-2011 when Sale was a strength and conditioning assistant and offensive analyst while McElwain was the team's offensive coordinator.
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UF wide receiver Antonio Callaway returns a punt during Florida's 28-27 win against Tennessee on Sept. 26, 2015, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
