GAINESVILLE — Florida top cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. is out for season, while wide receiver Tre Wilson will miss Saturday’s showdown with No. 2 Georgia.
Marshall will sit out UF’s final five games, a source confirmed, after he suffered a shoulder injury during a 48-20 homecoming win Oct. 19 against Kentucky in the Swamp. Marshall was injured while tackling a Wildcats’ ballcarrier. He later returned to the sideline wearing street clothes with his right arm in a sling.
The Gators were able to weather the four-year starter’s loss and finish with a 3-interception night. But Gators now face SEC standard-bearer Georgia and preseason first-team All-SEC quarterback Carson Beck as 16.5-point underdogs Saturday at Jacksonville’s EverBank Stadium.
With former Kissimmee Osceola standout Jakeem Jackson — UF’s top-rated signee in 2023 — out since started in Weeks 1 and 2, coaches turned to sophomore Cormani McClain. A Colorado transfer from Lakeland who had yet to play a snap at Florida, the 6-foot-2, 175-pound McClain responded with an end zone pass breakup and a pick-six.
Napier said following Wednesday’s practice McClain, a former 5- star recruit, has pushed to build on the performance the past two weeks.
“Skill players always are a little insecure, and then when they get game experience, they have some production, and it’s like, ‘OK, I know what it’s like out there,’” Napier said. “He’s still learning the defense. But overall he’s got a smile on his face. I see him connecting with teammates.
“He’s growing up. He’s still very much a work in progress.”
Veteran cornerback Devin Moore is coming off his best game at Florida. The 6-foot-2 ¾, 197-pound junior had 7 tackles, 2 pass breakups and an interception followed by a 52-yard return to set up a touchdown.
Sophomore Dijon Johnson, a…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/gators-top-cb-jason-marshall-011700360.html
Author : Orlando Sentinel
Publish date : 2024-10-31 01:17:00
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