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State practice reports

SEC lead in catches a tale of 2 Gators

GAINESVILLE -- If Florida wide receiver Taylor Jacobs does not play Saturday against South Carolina, No. 2 receiver Carlos Perez could pass his teammate as the SEC leader in receptions this season.

Perez has 52 catches and needs five to tie Jacobs.

Although he would like to be the SEC leader, Perez still would like Jacobs to have the highest numbers.

"I want Taylor to come back," Perez said. "This is his show. Next year it will be my show, but it's his show right now."

INJURY UPDATE: Receiver O.J. Small (ankle) did not practice Wednesday as a precaution. Tight end Ben Troupe still is wearing a boot on his ankle.

"He says he's going to go," coach Ron Zook said.

One day after arthroscopic knee surgery, defensive tackle Ian Scott started rehabilitation.

Zook held offensive lineman David Jorgensen out of practice. Jorgensen injured his back in the first half of Saturday's game against Vanderbilt, but he played in the second half.

-- JILL MARTIN

Booker may lose redshirt

TALLAHASSEE -- An ankle injury to starting running back Nick Maddox has forced Florida State coach Bobby Bowden to consider removing freshman Lorenzo Booker's redshirt.

"I talked to (Booker) a long time. I said, 'I told you we were going to hold you out and I'd hate to waste you.' He said, 'Oh no. I'll be ready to go.' So, we're going to practice him, we're going to get him in the rotation," Bowden said. "Then Saturday, if we don't put him in, he's still okay (redshirt wise)."

"But we still have four games to go, and there's still a lot riding on the season. As long as he's willing, you may or you may not see him."

Booker volunteered to be redshirted before the season because of the logjam at running back. A season-ending injury to Greg Jones and Willie Reid's separated shoulder have thinned the ranks. Reid, a sophomore, could return this season, but his absence leaves two true freshman, Leon Washington and Thomas Clayton, behind Maddox.

The decision may be unnecessary. Maddox said that he expects to be 100 percent by Saturday's game against North Carolina.

TATUM BACK: Cornerback Malcolm Tatum, who abruptly left the team a couple of weeks ago, has been allowed to rejoin the team. Tatum had family problems. He's agreed to start off on the scout team this week and then begin next week's practice at the bottom of the depth chart.

INJURY UPDATE: Starting outside linebacker Kendyll Pope missed practice because of an intestinal virus. Defensive tackle Brian Ross injured his left knee during practice and was carted off the field.

-- JASON SCHNEIDER, BRIAN LANDMAN

Two-minute focus

TAMPA -- If South Florida didn't understand the importance of the two-minute drill before the Memphis game, the Bulls do now. USF capped off practice with the two-minute drill. Coach Jim Leavitt gave his first- and second-team offense 52 seconds and no timeouts to drive the length of the field.

"There was no more or no less emphasis today," Leavitt said.

The first team defense staved off the No.1 offense. Ronnie Banks led the No.2 offense down the field, but Santiago Gramatica's 59-yard field goal was short.

INJURY UPDATE: Guard Mark Sopcik was held out of contact drills as he continues to recover from an early-season ankle injury. Leavitt said Sopcik was available Saturday against Memphis, but was USF's seventh or eighth option at guard. Defensive tackle Matt Groelinger also is being eased into the lineup after an ankle injury kept him out of the Memphis game.

-- ANTHONY GAGLIANO

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