GAINESVILLE - Since defensive tackle Ray McDonald went out with an ankle injury against Louisiana State on Oct. 9, opposing running backs have twice scored game-winning touchdowns in the final seconds on Florida.
McDonald believes things might have been different if he was on the field.
"I'm not going to lie," he said. "I feel that way. I feel like I could've changed the game a little bit. I'm not saying I'm Ray Lewis or somebody like that. I felt like I could've helped the team out."
The sophomore was held out of Florida's win against Middle Tennessee and was limited to only five plays against the Bulldogs. However, he is expected to play in Jacksonville against Georgia on Saturday, and is anxious to prove his point.
"Obviously your best players are going to play the best and make the best things happen," coach Ron Zook said about the impact of McDonald's absence. "But that's the nature of the game. He's playing hard, practicing hard."
INJURY UPDATE: Linebacker Travis Harris was still wearing a boot on his injured right ankle. Harris said he'll be ready, a sentiment his coach echoed.
"That's how he is," Zook said. "If he can walk, he'll play."
If Harris does return, he will have to deal with one of Georgia's top offensive threats. Freshman running back Danny Ware has returned to practice and is expected to start, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Ware has been battling a right lung infection that caused him to spit up blood against Arkansas.
USF: Coach wants steady middle LB
TAMPA - The Bulls have tried three starters in three games at middle linebacker. Co-defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said that finding a leader who can call the defense is a key to getting back on track.
"The thing we're missing is somebody who can take charge out there, get us lined up in the correct front and feel confident doing their job at the same time," Burnham said. "It's hard. It's not as easily done. We miss Anthony Williams, Kawika Mitchell, Maurice Jones, because those guys ran it with an iron first. We're missing that."
After giving junior Devon Davis a third start at Louisville, USF will go back to Patrick St. Louis, a sophomore who Burnham said has earned a second start in the middle. St. Louis ranks third on the team with 36 tackles.
"You're trying to tell at least six other people what to do, and you have to have a lot of poise, a lot of maturity, a lot of knowledge," Burnham said. "You have to take control of that huddle. None of those three yet have said "This is my huddle. You'll listen and do what I say to do.' "
Freshman Ben Moffitt , who is USF's biggest linebacker at 230 pounds but has been limited to special teams, will get more playing time. Burnham said the Bulls are strongly considering shifting sophomore Stephen Nicholas, who has started 15 straight games on the strong side, to weakside linebacker, a position he plays in USF's nickel package.
"When you're struggling, you're willing to try anything to straighten it out," Burnham said. "Moffitt's going to be a good football player. He's a tough, hard-nosed kid, and he has leadership qualities. He just hasn't been put in the right situation. I think he could be a tremendous leader here."
FSU: Thorpe inspired after talk
TALLAHASSEE - If practice is any indication, and coach Bobby Bowden thinks it is, then senior receiver Craphonso Thorpe may be on the verge of a break out.
Thorpe had perhaps his best practice of the season, three days after Bowden said Thorpe, the Seminoles' top receiver and an All-ACC selection last season, had been slow in returning from the broken leg that forced him to miss all of spring practice.
"I thought he looked more like his old self; caught the ball good, ran good, first time in a while that he's really turned it up," Bowden said. "I think Thorpe has had in the back of his head that injury. I think he's about to get that out."
While Thorpe has been productive, leading the team with 26 catches, he has not been able to break the big play as he often did last year when he had 11 touchdowns and gained 994 yards. This season, he has only one touchdown and has been saddled with drops.
Bowden acknowledges that some of the problem might be that opposing defenses are focusing on Thorpe, which has allowed split end Chauncey Stovall (25 catches, 352 yards and four touchdowns) to emerge as the playmaker.
Thorpe said Bowden spoke with him earlier in the week and he's taken the suggestions to heart.
"We talked about some stuff and he told me what he thinks I could do to improve my game," Thorpe said. "So I took it upon myself to go out and do the things he was talking about."
