ATLANTA - Florida’s offense may be heading into Saturday’s showdown with Georgia without one of its most dangerous pieces.
Star receiver Vernell Brown III was downgraded to questionable Friday on the SEC availability report, putting his status in doubt for the No. 17 Gators’ meeting with No.
3 Georgia. Brown had been expected to play earlier in the week, but now he could miss his fourth straight game after injuring his knee in the first half of Florida’s Sept. 26 win over Ole Miss.
That absence has mattered. Through Florida’s 4-0 start, Brown led the team with 17 catches for 271 yards and added four touchdowns, including two on punt returns. The Gators put up 96 points in SEC victories over Auburn and Ole Miss, but since Brown went down they have scored 63 points and gone 1-2.
If Brown is able to return, he would give Florida (5-2, 3-2 SEC) a much-needed jolt and present a new problem for Georgia (6-1, 4-1). At 5-foot-11 and 178 pounds, the sophomore brings speed, quickness and separation ability that can change the look of Buster Faulkner’s offense and open things up for others.
Florida had hoped to finally get Brown on the field alongside senior speedster Eric Singleton Jr. and sophomore Dallas Wilson, who stands 6-foot-3 and 213 pounds, for the first time since the opening series of the season opener against FAU. That chance was interrupted when Singleton suffered a high ankle sprain while blocking on Brown’s 49-yard touchdown on Florida’s seventh play and did not return until Brown later hurt his knee against Ole Miss.
Bailey Stockton was also listed as questionable for the third straight day after hurting his left ankle in Florida’s Oct. 17 win at Texas.
Whichever receivers are available will be catching passes from junior Aaron Philo, who got the start against Georgia over sophomore Tramell Jones Jr. Jones had guided Florida to a 27-24 upset of Texas while Philo sat out with a right shoulder injury, but Jones took a beating in that game. He and Philo were both listed as questionable over the previous two days before being upgraded to probable Friday.
Sophomore tailback Duke Clark was downgraded from questionable to out for Georgia. Clark ran for 126 yards and a touchdown in Florida’s 52-28 win over then-No. 4 Ole Miss in the Swamp, but he suffered a left ankle injury Oct. 10 against South Carolina.
Jackson had two tackles for loss in 14 snaps at Texas.
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Kirby Smart did not hide from the issue afterward, acknowledging the passing game has to improve as the schedule turns toward opponents with more capable quarterbacks. For a team that can usually survive a sluggish day through defense and field position, that is the part worth watching now, because the next stretch may not be as forgiving if Georgia keeps leaving too much on the table through the air. [Read more 🡒]