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Harvin Back At Practice For Gators

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 3, 2008

GAINESVILLE - In case anyone forgot that the University of Florida was without its most electric player, Percy Harvin will be back to remind them.

After several months of rest and rehab following surgery on his heel in April, Harvin finally spoke to the media Tuesday.

The junior participated in a full practice for the second consecutive day with no ill effects. Harvin wouldn't say for sure if he would be ready to play Saturday against Miami, but he appears ready to re-enter the fray.

"I had a full practice, but I'm still on a schedule and I'm not full-go yet," he said "As long as I keep progressing I'll be ready to go on Saturday."

Harvin spent the majority of his offseason working on conditioning drills and adding muscle to what was once a slight frame. Harvin entered Florida weighing 185 pounds, but has put on 17 pounds of muscle.

"I got a chance to do some of the things I've been wanting to do like put weight on and get bigger and stronger," Harvin said. "So I'm just looking at it as a blessing in disguise."

JAMES HONORED: RB Brandon James was named the SEC special teams player of the week after scoring on a 74-yard punt return Saturday. It was James' second career punt return for a touchdown, and he is one shy of the school record set by Jacquez Green.

Karl Hyppolite
O'Leary Wouldn't Mind Continuing USF Series

TAMPA - With the University of South Florida having nothing more to gain in playing UCF, Saturday's contest in Orlando will be the last in the short four-game series.

If it was up to Knights coach George O'Leary, however, the rivalry would continue.

"I think it is a natural game, but that is not my decision. I think that possibly once conference geography changes in a couple of years that it may be a game anyway," O'Leary said. "They are a good football team. I think USF coach Jim Leavitt has done a great job as far as getting them to play to the echo of the whistle. ... We had an opportunity two years ago and fell short. It is a 60-minute game, and we have to sustain. I feel like it is a big attitude game and that a lot of these kids have played against one another in high school."

INJURY UPDATE: RBs Ben Williams and Mike Ford (ankle), who was out of his protective boot, were in full pads Tuesday but did not practice.

"We're not going to have them do anything until maybe today," Leavitt said.

With Williams and Ford sidelined, Jamar Taylor and Moise Plancher are getting the bulk of the work with the first-team offense.

TE Trent Pupello (ankle) was off crutches, but watched practice with a boot on his right foot and is doubtful for UCF. DL Cory Grissom practiced "a little bit," Leavitt said, which indicates there's a chance Grissom could be ready to go Saturday.

JOB WELL DONE: After struggling against Division I-AA opponents in the past two season openers, the Bulls were relieved they had no such problems in their 56-7 win against Tennessee Martin.

"I'm just happy we came out and played well and put a lot of points on the board and moved the ball just about whenever we wanted to," USF QB Matt Grothe said. "It's always a good start to the year when you can do that. We just have to take the good things and the bad things from the game and learn off of them."

MOVING UP: USF jumped two spots to No. 17 in this week's AP poll and three spots to No. 18 in the coaches' poll.

Gregg Becnel

8 Will Make Starting Debuts For Seminoles

TALLAHASSEE - Have your game program handy Saturday.

Eight players, and that's not including special teams participants, will be making their first starts for Florida State against Western Carolina if the pre-game depth chart released on Tuesday holds up. That group includes three newcomers - freshmen Moses McCray and Zebrie Sanders and junior college transfer Joe Tonga.

But junior college transfers Corey Surrency and defensive end Markus White can expect first-team treatment from their coaches despite being listed on the second team. WR Surrency lines up behind Rod Owens, and Ben Lampkin will start ahead of White.

FSU released its two-deep chart for the Western Carolina game with one very important exception. Offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher has yet to announce his starting quarterback.

One target will be Owens, a redshirt junior, who enters this season with only nine receptions that includes one touchdown catch in two seasons. This will be his first start.

The defense will be without DT Budd Thacker for at least the first two games. He is hoping the NCAA rules the Miami game he missed last season counts toward the four-game suspension levied in December as part of the academic misconduct case. Coach Mickey Andrews' defense will also be without LB Dekoda Watson and CB Pat Robinson, both out three games because of suspensions.

Steve Ellis

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