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State practice reports

Grossman dons brace in practice

GAINESVILLE -- Quarterback Rex Grossman practiced with the Gators on Wednesday and took all the repetitions with the first team.

He had missed practice this week with a sprained right knee sustained in Saturday's loss to LSU. He wore a knee brace Wednesday.

Coach Ron Zook reiterated that if Grossman is healthy he will start Saturday against Auburn.

"Grossman looked pretty good to me, and he went through everything," Zook said.

Zook said backup Ingle Martin has looked uncharacteristically good in practice. A redshirt freshman, Martin normally struggles in practice but performs well in games. Martin, who also punts, has not thrown a pass since the season opener.

"Any time he's in a scrimmage or in a game he's been awful better," Zook said. "In the last few weeks I've been impressed with what he's done in practice."

If Grossman can't play, third-string quarterback Jeff Creveling would back up Martin.

ANOTHER INJURY: Free safety Todd Johnson ran sprints after being held out of Tuesday's practice because of a thigh bruise.

"He's not actually practicing because (trainers) don't want him to," Zook said. 'They just want to continue to get the blood out of there, but he's a great percentage better than he was 24 hours ago."

Johnson on Tuesday said he expects to play against Auburn.

-- JILL MARTIN

Kickers show off

TAMPA -- The temperature was cooler but the kickers were hot for South Florida.

Santiago Gramatica hit a 44-yarder and kickoff specialist Justin Geisler connected from 52 as the first-and second-team offenses prevailed in the weekly end-of-practice showdown with their defensive counterparts.

"Both of 'em drilled it," coach Jim Leavitt said.

A close call helped the first-string offense. Starting at its 35 with 40 seconds remaining and no timeouts, needing a field goal, quarterback Marquel Blackwell connected with Huey Whittaker near the sideline. Whittaker got out of bounds, stopped the clock and set up Gramatica's kick.

"The defense protested," Leavitt said. "They said Huey Whittaker didn't get out of bounds and the clock ran out. It was (safety) Kevin Verpaele who really questioned it."

BACK IN THE FOLD: Running back Quinton Callum, who missed Saturday's game with a sore knee, said he feels good, and Leavitt said he will play Saturday at East Carolina.

"He's ready to go," Leavitt said.

Backup running back and special teams player Billy Henderson, who has played in three of six games, might not make the trip because of a sore knee.

ROOKIE: Leavitt has never played or coached a game at East Carolina.

-- PETE YOUNG

Loving the cool weather

TALLAHASSEE -- Coach Bobby Bowden liked what he saw in practice almost as much as he liked the weather, with temperatures in the low 70s.

"We got a good practice in today," he said. "The weather was great for a football practice. It was the first time we have had a cool day like this."

POSSIBLE AWARD: Alonzo Jackson was recognized as the Miami Touchdown Club announced its inaugural Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award watch list. The award will be presented at the end of the season to the best defensive end in the country.

-- TIMES WIRES

McGahee misses practice

CORAL GABLES -- Miami tailback Willis McGahee did not participate in full practice because of turf toe on his right foot.

McGahee, a 6-foot-1, 224-pound sophomore, gained 173 yards in the top-ranked Hurricanes' 28-27 win over Florida State on Saturday.

The Hurricanes' next game is Oct. 26 at West Virginia.

-- TIMES WIRES

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