Colleges

Gators' top lineman out with foot injury

Phil Trautwein has a stress fracture in his right foot.

By Times Staff
Published August 30, 2007

GAINESVILLE -- Phil Trautwein, Florida's best offensive lineman and a preseason first-team All-SEC selection, has a stress fracture in his right foot and is out indefinitely, coach Urban Meyer said Wednesday.

Meyer said he doesn't have a timetable for Trautwein's return, but the senior won't play in Saturday's opener against Western Kentucky.

"We'll know more in the next couple days," Meyer said. "It stinks. It's the hardest thing as a coach. You hate to see it like this, especially for the really invested guys."

Trautwein, a captain, left practice on a golf cart, a cast on his right foot. He hurt the foot early this month and it didn't improve.

He has a history of stress fractures dating to high school, Meyer said. Coaches originally thought the injury was an ankle sprain.

"I almost fell out of my chair," Meyer said.

Offensive line is the team's most experienced position, returning four starters with a combined 65 career starts.

Jason Watkins will slide from right tackle to left tackle. Carlton Medder takes over at right tackle, and true freshman Maurkice Pouncey will fill in at right guard.

Trautwein was the backup to Drew Miller at center, so true freshman Mike Pouncey will assume that job. Jim Tartt remains at left guard.

"The good thing is, it's an area where there's a little bit of depth and a little bit of competition," Meyer said.

Trautwein has a redshirt year available, but Meyer said he is "not at that point yet."

"We have to do what we've got to do," Miller said. "We've been switching up lines throughout two-a-days so we're good."

MORE INJURIES: Running back Bo Williams, quarterback Bryan Waggener and Berkeley Prep's Jim Barrie, an offensive lineman, left on crutches. Cornerback Markihe Anderson had a brace on his right knee. Anderson won't play Saturday, and Williams (dislocated ankle) is out for about six weeks.

RAINEY AT CORNER: Freshman running back Chris Rainey practiced at cornerback during the two-minute offense. It's not clear what the plan is for Rainey.

Bryan Jones, Times correspondent, Times wires

USF: Hill back in '08?

TAMPA - Academic problems will keep Carlton Hill from being part of the team in the fall, but coach Jim Leavitt hopes the junior quarterback can return to the Bulls in 2008.

"We hope he could get here in January or by next summer," Leavitt said. "He still has a scholarship at South Florida. That is always going to be there for him."

Hill, who had worked at three positions in three weeks of preseason drills, had not practiced with the team since the fall semester started Monday.

Leavitt had said he would have redshirted, and the plan now is for him to attend classes in the fall at a junior college, likely Hillsborough Community College, to earn his associate of arts degree. Once he has done that, he should be able to return to USF with two years of eligibility remaining.

Leavitt also said outside linebacker Chris Robinson, who has missed three weeks of practice with an ankle injury, will not play Saturday against I-AA Elon.

"It wouldn't matter who you play, whether we were playing the New York Giants. If the guy's ready, you play him. If he's not, you don't," Leavitt said. "He didn't look ready to me today, and he hasn't been getting any of the practice reps."

Junior Tyrone McKenzie will start at strongside linebacker, with redshirt freshman Sabbath Joseph the top backup.

Greg Auman, Times staff writer

FSU: Tight end to sit

TALLAHASSEE - Tight end Jonathan Hannah will not play this season after being ruled academically ineligible.

The junior college transfer was expected to compete with Charlie Graham for playing time, and had played well in preseason scrimmages. John Frady and Tyler Graveshad moved to tight end from the offensive line to add depth, but with the loss of Hannah, coach Bobby Bowden said they will also use Land O'Lakes grad Caz Piurowski in short- yardage and goal-line situations.

"The last scrimmage they threw me out there for some stuff," Piurowski said. "I think they will use me for a couple downs here and there. It is exciting to change it up and have a little fun out there."

Piurowski moved from tight end to tackle in the spring.

ET CETERA: Greg Carr, still listed behind Richard Goodman on the receiving depth chart, was named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list. Carr will be looking for his first catch against Clemson on Monday night. ...The team and coaching staff attended a "Seminole Uprising" pep rally after practice. ESPN carried Bowden's address to those in attendance live on its College Football Live program.

Jamey Givens, Times correspondent

[Last modified August 30, 2007, 00:31:48]