By Times Staff and Wire Reports
Published August 13, 2003
TAMPA - The competition for starting spots has heated up at several positions for South Florida.
Coach Jim Leavitt said senior running backs Vince Brewer and Quinton Callum, who also is working at slot receiver, stood out during a scoring drive Tuesday morning.
"They went with the (first team) and the offense moved right down the field," Leavitt said
With Chris Iskra out for several weeks with a dislocated elbow, freshman S.J. Green of Brandon has stepped into the first-team rotation at outside receiver.
AND ON DEFENSE: Lee Roy Selmon Jr. and Craig Kobel are penciled in as starters at tackle, but veterans Matt Groelinger, who has been slowed by a hamstring injury, and Cedric Battles, and redshirt freshman Ramon McCollough are in the mix, Leavitt said. Starting ends Tim Jones and Terrence Royal also could play tackle.
"We're working everybody inside," Leavitt said. "We haven't replaced (graduated starters Greg) Walls and (Tavares) Jurineack yet."
Freshman Pat St. Louis is challenging sophomore Devon Davis at weakside linebacker, and cornerback, perhaps the team's deepest position, got deeper when freshman Mike Jenkins practiced for the first time.
"He looked awfully good," Leavitt said. "We're going to really bring him along."
MORE MISFORTUNE: Receiver Rodney Joyner, who missed last season with a right knee injury, tore a ligament in his left knee over the weekend and will miss the season.
TAKE A BREAK: Due to new NCAA rules, teams cannot have consecutive double-session practice days, so the Bulls did a walk-through and will have two sessions today.
- PETE YOUNG
FSU line hobbled
TALLAHASSEE - The line took another hit as guard Eric Broe sustained a knee injury near the end of practice. The extent of the injury was not known.
"One place we can't afford injuries is offensive line," coach Bobby Bowden said.
Freshman lineman John Frady also was taken off the field after a twisted knee. The Seminoles already face depth problems after losing senior starters Montrae Holland, Antoine Mirambeau, Brett Williams and Todd Williams from the 2002 team.
INJURIES: Several players were held out of practice, including receiver Dominic Robinson, whose right hamstring strain may limit him until at least Friday. Cornerback Leroy Smith also didn't practice because of a hamstring injury.
Greg Jones participated in about 90 percent of practice, Bowden said. He remains out of contact drills. Fellow tailback Lorenzo Booker didn't practice after twisting his left ankle during two-a-days on Monday. Booker said he expects to take part in today's scrimmage.
"I was working on it today and running at about 90 percent," said Booker, who missed the end of spring practice after spraining the same ankle.
TRIAL UPDATE: Off the field, a jury of six women will hear a rape charge against noseguard Travis Johnson, who goes on trial today.
His case will be heard in Leon County Court. He faces 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted on the second-degree felony.
- ZACHARY SPAIN, Associated Press
UF scrimmages today
GAINESVILLE - The waiting game is on as coach Ron Zook keeps the quarterback race a mystery. Regardless of how Ingle Martin, Gavin Dickey, Justin Midgett and Chris Leak perform in the first scrimmage today, the decision remains cloudy.
"I don't know that you're going to say you're going to get a leg up after one scrimmage, but it may sort it out a little bit," Zook said.
The team continues to rotate quarterbacks with the first-team offense, and it will be Dickey's turn today.
"The person that we feel like will give us the best chance to win - be the most consistent - will probably be the guy who takes the first snap," Zook said.
INJURY REPORT: Freshman running back Joe Cohen walked off the field with a slight limp. Zook said the 250-pounder pulled a groin muscle but was able to participate in drills.
"He's so dang-gone muscular that he strained his groin and just can't get it to calm down," Zook said. "He'll be all right."
- BRIAN SHAFFER
UCF practice suffers
ORLANDO - "Practice did not go very well today," coach Mike Kruczek said. "We have a lot of people injured that need to be in here and working reps."
Two players were carted off the field with injuries. Redshirt freshman receiver Andre Sumpter sustained injuries to his upper and lower body.
"We can ill afford to lose a receiver and he is one of the only guys returning with experience," Kruczek said.
Senior defensive tackle Roy Williams also left practice early with an upper body ailment.
