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4 Gators Leave With Injuries; Finch's Is The Most Serious

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 16, 2007

GAINESVILLE - University of Florida coach Urban Meyer said freshman S Jerimy Finch could be out 'a little while' after injuring his lower right leg in Saturday's 59-20 win against Tennessee.

Finch, a freshman from Indianapolis, was one of four Florida players who left the game with injuries. Meyer said X-rays were negative for OG Maurkice Pouncey (right ankle) and CB Markihe Anderson (right knee). WR Riley Cooper rolled his right ankle in the third quarter, but he appeared to be moving well on the sideline after the injury.

Finch's lower right leg was placed in an Aircast, and he was carted off the field late in the fourth quarter. He suffered the injury while returning his first career interception. If Finch suffered a season-ending injury, the Gators could ask the NCAA for a medical redshirt.

JAMES' GANG: Meyer said Florida's punt return team loves to block for RB Brandon James, who is a threat to break a long return any time he touches the ball. James jump-started Florida's scoring Saturday with an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown less than two minutes into Saturday's game, and Meyer believes the players in front of James - RB Chevon Walker threw an especially good block on the touchdown return - take special pride because they know they could be involved in a game-changing play.

'It's amazing the electricity you get at practice when they know Brandon James is behind them, it's like sharks in the water, man,' Meyer said. 'They go.'

Meyer said James is still earning back the trust of the coaching staff and his teammates following his arrest in June for buying a quarter-ounce of marijuana from a police informant. James was suspended for Florida's season-opener against Western Kentucky.

MAJOR CHANGE?: Freshman Major Wright may have a chance this week to wrest the starting free safety job away from senior Kyle Jackson after Wright replaced Jackson for much of Saturday's game.

Coaches pulled Jackson after he missed a tackle, allowing Tennessee WR Lucas Taylor to convert a third-and-12 play in the first quarter. Wright played with the first team for the remainder of the game.

'The coaches felt like Major could come in and get the job done,' Florida SS Tony Joiner said. 'To come in and play like that against Tennessee, it says a lot about his character. It says a lot about where his head is at.'

VOLS HURTING SELVES: James wasn't the first player to return a punt for a touchdown this season against Tennessee. The Volunteers also gave up a 77-yard return on Sept. 1 to California's DeSean Jackson.

'I'm not saying we gave it to them. They earned it,' Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said. 'But they earned a punt return for the second week in three weeks, which puts our defense in a tough spot. We cannot help good teams that way.'

Andy Staples

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