Florida’s first availability report for Saturday’s matchup with Oklahoma brought a mix of expected names and a few new wrinkles, with seven Gators showing up on the list before the Sooners visit Gainesville.
Wide receiver Vernell Brown III was tagged as doubtful, while defensive lineman Jeramiah McCloud, tight end Evan Chieca, offensive lineman Emeka Ugorji and linebacker Jaden Robinson were all ruled out. Wide receiver Bailey Stockton and defensive lineman Emmanuel Oyebadejo were listed as questionable.
McCloud’s absence is tied to a suspension, according to a program spokesperson who gave Swamp247 a statement.
"Jeremiah McCloud has been suspended for this week's game against Oklahoma for conduct detrimental to the team. His status with the program will be re-evaluated after this week's contest,"
Brown’s status has been the one Florida fans have been tracking most closely, and Jon Sumrall addressed it earlier in the week by stressing that the sophomore receiver was pushing hard to get back. Brown has been sidelined since Sept. 26 with a grade-1 PCL strain that was re-aggravated in the buildup to Florida’s 27-8 loss in Atlanta to Georgia.
"So he had a little thing done this morning to address hopefully some of the issue. The thing I want to make abundantly clear here is he's trying like hell to play.
And the frustrating thing for him is he looked good Monday, Tuesday. He looked good most of Wednesday - had the little setback Wednesday at practice that at the time we felt like was a little setback, and then woke up Thursday with more swelling than we anticipated - and not as much range of motion.
That's why on Wednesday when he left the building, he's like, 'I feel pretty good. I feel better than I thought I would.'
After he had what was what we thought a little setback,"
Sumrall also tried to shut down any talk that Brown might be stepping away for the rest of the regular season as Florida has dropped three of its last four after opening 4-0.
"Alright, here's the official VB3 statement. There's a camera right here.
He wants to play. He's doing everything he can to play.
He's pissed off he can't play, and he's doing everything in his power to play. It's a real injury that we thought we were on the other side of that he had a setback last week, and it sucks.
I mean, it freaking sucks for him,"
Brown’s presence on the report wasn’t a shock, but the other names carried more uncertainty. The status of McCloud’s suspension wasn’t explained beyond the conduct-detrimental designation, while Oyebadejo and Ugorji were listed with undisclosed injuries.
Stockton has also been a regular on Florida’s availability reports, though that hasn’t stopped the Georgia Tech transfer from leading the Gators in receptions and receiving yards in the team’s last game. Chieca has already missed time earlier this season, and Robinson is now set to miss a second straight game.
There was one bit of encouraging news for Florida: sophomore running back Duke Clark is expected back after sitting out the last three games with a foot injury suffered against South Carolina. Clark had worked as the change-of-pace option behind Jadan Baugh through the first six weeks and has 265 rushing yards and three touchdowns this season.
In Other News...
Floridas Receiver Situation Just Got More Frustrating Before Oklahoma
Floridas receiver room keeps getting harder to sort out at exactly the wrong time. Vernell Brown was listed as probable for the Georgia game but ended up not playing, and now hes been tagged doubtful for Oklahoma as the Gators continue to work through an injury picture that has made weekly planning more complicated than usual.
The broader availability report only adds to the uncertainty, with four players ruled out and two more questionable ahead of the Oklahoma matchup. And with the quarterback situation still unsettled, Florida is heading into another week without much clarity on who will actually be available when the Gators take the field. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Suddenly Has A Major Lineup Problem Before Oklahoma
Floridas trip to Oklahoma now comes with a much different look than the one the Gators had in mind when the week began. Starting defensive tackle Jeramiah McCloud will be suspended for the game because of conduct detrimental to the team, and the injury report has only added to the uncertainty with receiver Vernell Brown III and defensive end Emmanuel Oyebadejo among the players listed as doubtful or questionable.
The lineup shuffling does not stop there. Florida also announced changes up front and at tight end, with replacements set to step in for starting right tackle Emekga Ugori and Evan Chieca, who will not play against Oklahoma. For a team already trying to steady itself, the timing leaves the Gators with several key spots to sort out before they take the field. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Just Lost A Key Defensive Piece At The Worst Time
Florida will have to get through a major test against Oklahoma without one of its more important young defenders. Sophomore defensive lineman Jeramiah McCloud has been suspended for the upcoming game because of conduct detrimental to the team, a setback for a front that has leaned on him heavily this season.
The Gators now have to sort out his absence on the fly and ask other players to absorb the workload in a game where every snap matters. His status will be revisited after the matchup, leaving Florida with at least one more layer of uncertainty as it tries to keep its defense steady in a tough spot. [Read more 🡒]