Injury bug has Napier scrambling to conduct daily practice sessions

Injured QB DJ Lagway practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday (Gator Bait Photo by Chris Spears)

Under the best of circumstances, prepping for the No. 5 team in the country, which ranks No. 1 in both total defense (241.3 yards per game, 3.8 per play) and pass defense (135.8 yards per game, 4.6 per attempt, 12 interceptions and only 3 TDPs allowed), is no easy task. When you’re the Florida Gators (4-4, 2-3 SEC), whose roster has been decimated by injuries, particularly at the quarterback position, getting ready for Texas (7-1, 3-1 SEC) in Austin (Saturday, 12 noon, ABC) requires a bit of innovation and creativity in practice.

“I think again I go back to the importance of walk-ons relative to just the ability to simulate the other team’s offense, defense and kicking game,” Florida head coach Billy Napier said at this Wednesday evening press conference. “You got more players that are taking more reps. There’s a lot of guys who typically are rotation players in that format but they went every play today [at practice] and you got some guys who are chipping in like Ja’Markis Weston playing at linebacker today for us on the scout team. So some of these guys maybe don’t typically do those jobs, they have to chip in and contribute in that fashion.”

Adversity has struck the Gators hard at the quarterback, running back and secondary positions. Graham Mertz is done for the season after suffering a torn ACL against Tennessee. DJ Lagway is listed as questionable after suffering a soft tissue injury to his hamstring in last Saturday’s loss to No. 2 Georgia. Leading rusher Montrell Johnson Jr. is listed as questionable while sophomore Treyaun Webb is done for the season with a fractured tibia. In the secondary, corners Ja’Keem Jackson, Jason Marshall Jr. and Devin Moore are out along with safety Asa Turner but corner Dijohn Johnson is on the questionable list.

Lagway participated in Wednesday’s practice but his availability for Texas will probably be a game-time decision. Redshirt freshman Aidan Warner, a walk-on transfer from Yale, has been taking the reps as the No. 1 QB this week with Colorado State transfer Clay Millen the No. 2. The likely running backs against Texas are freshman Jadan Baugh and redshirt junior Ja’Kobi Jackson. It will be a patchwork secondary with the likely corners Aaron Gates, who had an interception against Georgia, and Trikweze Bridges, the leading tackler against Georgia who is versatile enough to play safety, STAR, nickel and corner.

Lagway’s reps in practice were extremely limited Wednesday, but Napier is aware how much it means to the Willis, Texas native to be able to play in his home state.

“I think he’s trying,” Napier said. “He’s a competitor. You think about him, he’s going back to his home state. He wants to try to find a pathway to make this work. Obviously, it’s touch and go. Look, the guy’s giving it his best shot. We’ll see where we’re at in the league. There’s no secret to it anymore. You guys will have a good idea where we’re at when we approach kickoff.”

Warner came off the bench in the second quarter against Georgia when Lagway left the game injured. He completed 7-22 passes for 66 yards with an interception, but to his credit he led the Gators on a field goal drive in the final minute of the first half and a touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.

“I think he’s surprised us,” Napier said. He’s got some arm talent. I think there are some traits there to develop and he’s done a good job.”

FLORIDA INJURY REPORT FOR TEXAS

Out

CB Ja’Keem Jackson

CB Jason Marshall Jr.

WR Eugene Wilson III

RB Treyaun Webb

QB Graham Mertz

S Asa Turner

WR Kahleil Jackson

CB Devin Moore

OT Devon Manuel

DT Jamari Lyons

Questionable

RB Montrell Johnson Jr.

QB DJ Lagway

WR Elijhah Badger

CB Dijon Johnson

OG Damien George Jr.

SEC Football

No. 11 Alabama (6-2, 3-2 SEC): Wide receiver Cole Adams, who has been Alabama’s No. 1 punt returner, will miss the rest of the season with a lower body injury.  Saturday: at No. 14 LSU (6-2, 3-1 SEC)

No. 2 Georgia (7-1, 5-1 SEC): Leading rusher Trevor Etienne, who left the Florida game with a rib injury, should be available for the game against Ole Miss in Oxford. Etienne has 453 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. Saturday: at No. 16 Ole Miss (7-2, 3-2 SEC)

No. 14 LSU (6-2, 3-1 SEC): Starting left guard Garrett Dellenger will miss Saturday’s game with Alabama after undergoing tightrope surgery for a high ankle sprain. Saturday: No. 11 Alabama (6-2, 3-2 SEC)

Mississippi State (2-7, 0-6 SEC): The Bulldogs are 24-point underdogs on the road Saturday against No. 7 Tennessee. Saturday: at No. 7 Tennessee (7-1, 4-1 SEC)

Missouri (6-2, 2-2 SEC): Missouri is calling for a blackout against Oklahoma. The Tigers will be wearing all-black uniforms and fans are asked to wear all-black for the game, which is sold out. Saturday: Oklahoma (5-4, 1-4 SEC)

Oklahoma (5-4, 1-4 SEC): Two former Oklahoma players (WR Theo Wease and OT Cayden Green will start for Missouri Saturday while former Missouri wideout JJ Hester is the Sooner’s leading receiver with 13 catches for 265 yards and a touchdown. Saturday: at Missouri (6-2, 2-2 SEC)

No. 16 Ole Miss (7-2, 3-2 SEC): Leading rusher Henry Parrish Jr is out for Saturday’s game with 2nd-ranked Georgia while leading receiver Tre Harris is listed as doubtful. Parrish has run for 678 yards and 10 touchdowns this season while Harris, who has missed the last two games, has 59 catches for 987 yards and six touchdowns. Altogether, there are 26 players on the roster listed as out, doubtful, questionable or probable. Saturday: No. 2 Georgia (7-1, 5-1 SEC)

South Carolina (5-3, 3-3 SEC): The Gamecocks got a slap on the wrist from the NCAA for a Level III violation committed by former director of player personnel Taylor Edwards. Saturday: at No. 24 Vanderbilt (6-3, 3-2 SEC)

No. 7 Tennessee (7-1, 4-1 SEC): The Vols are the only team in the nation that has held all eight opponents to 20 or fewer points. The Vols rank fifth in the nation in scoring defense (12.4 points per game) and fourth in total defense (271.6 yards per game). Saturday: Mississippi State (2-7, 0-6 SEC)

No. 5 Texas (7-1, 3-1 SEC): Even with the announcement that quarterback DJ Lagway could play for Florida Saturday, the betting line has remained the same. Texas is a 21.5-point favorite to beat the Gators. Saturday: FLORIDA (4-4, 2-3 SEC)

Vanderbilt (6-3, 3-2 SEC): Paul Finebaum says the Commodores could beat a lot of those Big Ten teams” listed in the first College Football Playoff poll. Saturday: South Carolina (6-3, 3-2 SEC)