McCloud Reinstated After One-Game Suspension, Expected to Play at Kentucky

Florida defensive lineman Jeramiah McCloud has rejoined the team after a one-game suspension and is expected to play Saturday at Kentucky, coach Jon Sumrall said Monday.

McCloud, a sophomore from Sylvester, Georgia, was suspended for the Nov. 7 game against Oklahoma for conduct detrimental to the team. Florida lost 23-7.

Sumrall said he met with McCloud on Sunday afternoon and that McCloud practiced Monday.

"Made sure he understood that our desire was for him to return, but his return was gonna be on my terms, not his terms, and the program's terms, and his teammates' terms, and our leadership council's terms," Sumrall said. "No one individual is bigger in the program. That includes myself or anybody in the building."

"He owned it and he was back with us today," Sumrall said. "He rejoined us today. We met yesterday afternoon and he's with us and will be a full participant this week, and I got a lot of confidence that he'll understand what that accountability component looks like."

Asked whether McCloud will play against Kentucky, Sumrall said the lineman will be available but has to practice this week.

"I mean, barring something that doesn't need to happen happening, he's going to play," Sumrall said.

What Florida missed against Oklahoma

After the Oklahoma game, Sumrall said McCloud had "played the second most snaps, I think, on our defensive line."

Oklahoma converted 10 of 18 third downs against Florida, ran 40 times for 144 yards and held the ball for 37 minutes, 50 seconds.

Kentucky up next

Florida (5-4, 3-4 SEC) needs one win in its final three games to become bowl eligible. Kentucky is 7-2 and coming off a 34-6 loss at Tennessee.

Sumrall said Monday that Kentucky has "maybe the best offensive line we've seen all year."

Kickoff at Kroger Field is set for 6:15 p.m. ET Saturday on ESPN.

Florida's final home game, against Vanderbilt on Nov. 21, will kick off at noon ET, the SEC announced Monday. The game, which is Senior Day, will be televised on ABC, ESPN or SEC Network, with the network to be named after this week's games.

Photo courtesy UAA (University Athletic Association, FloridaGators.com) and Victoria Riccobono. See the official Florida Gators photo galleries at FloridaGators.com.