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Zook using caution with Lewis' health

GAINESVILLE - Wide receiver Reggie Lewis was taken to Shands Hospital after aggravating a previous illness through overexertion during practice. He will be kept overnight, but the team does not believe that his situation is serious and expects him to be released today.

"I talked to him a couple times (Wednesday) and he sounded fine to me," coach Ron Zook said. "He was complaining because he didn't want to stay there. That's a good sign."

Zook said as the week has gone along players are feeling the effects of hotter weather. The medical staff is taking every precaution with Lewis.

"(Team trainers) did not feel like he was overheated right now," Zook said. "He was just lightheaded, and I don't want to take any chances with anything like that."

ACCESS GRANTED: The NCAA told freshman defensive end Michael Mangold he is eligible this season.

"He was supposed to get here (for the evening practice session)," Zook said. "For as excited as he is, I'd have figured he would have walked all the way here."

The team had filed a waiver with the NCAA Clearing House that granted him eligibility after his Summer B classes at UF. After getting the good news, Mangold left Merritt Island Wednesday morning but did not make it to Gainesville in time to don his No. 41 and practice for the first time.

INJURY UPDATE: An MRI showed linebacker Richard Brown has a torn knee ligament that requires surgery and will make him miss the season.

Brown sustained the same type injury to his other knee last season. "It was a non-contact injury, he just planted," Zook said. "He even jogged off the field."

LEFT OUT: Eraste Autin, a UF fullback who died on July 25, 2001, was accidentally left out of the 2004 media guide.

The team had originally planned to keep Autin in the media guide as long as he would have been on the team. This would have been his senior season. Players can continue to wear "A-ROSS" patches on game uniforms in honor of him, which they have done since his death.

- BRIAN SHAFFER, Times correspondent

The 35 pounds are back and Xavier Beitia is stronger than ever. The former Jesuit placekicker was 3-for-3 Wednesday in a situational scrimmage at Doak Campbell Stadium.

The field goals, two from 44 yards and one from 49, were down the center.

Last season the 5-foot-10 Beitia showed up to camp slimmer, weighing less than 200 pounds. But he didn't feel as powerful.

"I kind of feel like this is my playing weight," Beitia said. "Last year I looked good, I felt good, whatever, but this is the weight I feel best when I step on the field."

He's also facing some competition from freshman Gary Cismesia, who had a 44-yarder that pleased coach Bobby Bowden.

"They've done well all preseason," Bowden said. "(They) kicked best today, because everything was right down the middle. That's what competition will do for you."

INJURY UPDATE: Tight end Donnie Carter (knee) and guard Bobby Meeks (ankle) left the scrimmage with injuries. A number of players were held out, including center David Castillo, guard Ron Lunford, tight end Matt Root, free safety B.J. Ward and wide receiver Chris Davis of St. Petersburg Catholic.

Cornerback Antonio Cromartie did not participate in either practice session with a hip flexor injury. Marcello Church, a junior linebacker from Lakewood High, said he expects to return by the middle of next week. He's been sidelined with a right ankle sprain.

- ZACHARY SPAIN, Times correspondent

The Hurricanes worked out for four hours, two in a light morning practice with shells, two in a night scrimmage will full pads.

"This was a good day for us," coach Larry Coker said. "It looks to me like we came out of this scrimmage injury free, and the guys played pretty hard. We had a fairly long practice this morning and they were a little tired, but they should be tired. This is two-a-days, and if they are not (tired), we are not doing a very good job coaching."

The Hurricanes will practice once today, at 3:30 p.m.

- TIMES WIRES

TAMPA - USF added another member to its freshman class, announcing that free safety Carlton Williams, a first-team all-state free safety at Valdosta (Ga.) High last fall, has joined the team.

Williams, 6 feet 2 and 180 pounds, had hoped to sign with the Bulls in February, but USF had used its full NCAA allotment of 25 scholarships. When other signees failed to qualify, it opened a spot for Williams, who had 89 tackles as a senior, intercepting two passes and recovering two fumbles.

"We recruited Carlton, but we just didn't know if we were going to bring him in now or in January," coach Jim Leavitt said. "He's a really good guy, good athlete. ... We were trying to make room, but we had already had commitments, but had a couple of openings on grades."

THIS AND THAT: Freshman Josh Julmiste, the brother of starting quarterback Pat Julmiste, has moved from tight end to defensive end, where Leavitt feels his 6-foot-6, 240-pound frame could make him a star. "He runs about a 4.6-something (40-yard dash) and he's been doing some really good things," Leavitt said. "We're just trying to put everybody in a position to play." ... Tackle Derrick Sarosi, linebacker Ronnie McCullough and receiver Johnny Peyton returned to practice after sitting out Tuesday's drills. Leavitt said walk-on receiver Anwar McNeil will be out a few days with a shoulder injury.

- GREG AUMAN, Times staff writer

ORLANDO - UCF practiced for two hours in shoulder pads and helmets and began to integrate two true freshman into the offensive line: left guard Dominic Ignelzi and right guard Josh Sitton. Sophomore Dan Veenstra of Largo moved to left tackle to complete the switches up front. "The freshmen are coming along well and the move with Danny was easy," offensive line coach Joe Gilbert said. "Danny has been there before and he is a smart kid, so it was not really a big deal."

- TIMES WIRES