College football

UF's Caldwell gets redshirt, has 2 years left

By Times Staff Writers Times Wires
Published September 21, 2005

GAINESVILLE - Florida receiver Andre Caldwell, who is out for the season with a broken femur sustained in Saturday's game, will receive a medical redshirt this season, giving him two years of eligibility starting next season, coach Urban Meyer said Tuesday.

Caldwell, from Tampa, will remain a part of the team this season, attending practices soon.

Caldwell's recovery will take eight to 10 weeks before he starts rehab, Meyer said.

Because of the recovery duration, academics are a concern.

"At Florida, if you go two weeks without going to class, you're done," Meyer said. "That's our biggest concern right now, to make sure they stay on course."

Because of how much Caldwell and defensive end Ray McDonald (partially torn ACL) mean to the team, Meyer said he might take them with the team for road games.

"A guy that doesn't contribute, no, but the heart and soul of the team, I've done that before," Meyer said.

GATORS DEBUT? Former Lakewood standout wide receiver Louis Murphy will likely make his debut this weekend at Kentucky, Meyer said.

Murphy will play on special teams and may get in at receiver.

Meyer will decide after today's practice if Murphy and fellow freshman receiver Nyan Boateng, who is close to where he needs to be, will get in as receivers, he said. Meyer said Boateng is talented but needs to toughen up.

- IAN FISHER, Times correspondent

TAMPA - USF linebacker Brouce Mompremier and four other Bulls who attended Miami's Edison High played with a heavy heart Saturday, learning before the game that a high school teammate and friend had been shot and killed.

Eric LaFrance, a fullback who was Mompremier's cousin, was on Edison's regional championship team in 2003. He had played one season at Allen University, an NAIA school in Columbia, S.C., but had returned to Miami this fall.

Mompremier was excused from practice to go home to be with his family, and co-defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said he doesn't expect the redshirt freshman to return to the team until Saturday. His play against Louisville would be limited to special teams.

Sophomore receiver Jackie Chambers, another Edison graduate, said his thoughts were with LaFrance during Saturday's 31-14 win against Central Florida.

"We played high school ball together, from JV all the way to varsity," Chambers said. "I think about him every time I hit the field. I can't believe it, thinking how we used to talk about the wonderful things we'd do someday. He didn't even see 21."

CAPTAINS: USF will have four seniors as game captains for the first time this season: running back Andre Hall, center John Miller, defensive end Terrence Royal and safety Johnnie Jones.

- GREG AUMAN, Times staff writer

TALLAHASSEE - Center David Castillo returned to practice for the first time after missing two games with a foot injury. Special teams and conditioning were the focus. The backups played 11-on-11, with Lamar Lewis making receptions of 10 and 15 yards.

- TIMES WIRES

BOULDER, Colo. - Since he posted the schedule board during the offseason, Colorado coach Gary Barnett says the buzz has been all about Saturday's visit to Miami. Each week has had a "Miami Friday," with extra conditioning and heat in the weight room to prepare for sweltering conditions. "Miami's a marquee program you hear about every week," linebacker Akarika Dawn said. "It's a school the majority of us here would want to go to. By beating that program, it brings you up with them."

- TIMES WIRES

[Last modified September 21, 2005, 00:25:10]