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By ANTONYA ENGLISH, BRANDON WRIGHT, Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 13, 2001
Injuries open door for former walk-on
GAINESVILLE -- When preseason practice began last season, Ray Snell was a walk-on just hoping the coaches might give him a chance.
Today, he's a potential starter for Florida.
With the death of freshman fullback Eraste Autin and injuries to Rob Roberts and Willie Green, Snell is moving up the depth chart.
Roberts, a senior fullback from Dade City, is recovering from surgery on his left knee and has not participated in preseason drills. Green, a backup tailback whom coach Steve Spurrier said he might consider playing at fullback, also is coming back from knee surgery.
That means that when Florida opens against Marshall on Sept. 1, Snell, a former Hillsborough fullback, could be occupying the starting position.
"Right now it's going pretty good in practice for me," said Snell, whose younger brother, Shannon, is vying for a starting position at left guard. "It's still a learning process for me. I played a little bit last year, but I'm still learning to pick up audibles and picking up the defense. It's not completely new, but I'm getting it. I'm not approaching things any differently. If I get things down the way my coach wants me to, playing time will come."
HEAT TAKES TOLL: Linebacker Marcus Oquendo-Johnson was held out of practice after being stricken with severe cramps Saturday.
Suffering from dizziness, Oquendo-Johnson said he had several intravenous fluid injections Saturday and Sunday. He is expected to return today. -- ANTONYA ENGLISH
TAMPA -- After three days of two-a-day workouts in helmets and shorts, South Florida completed its first practice with pads Sunday.
"There's no question on the first day of pads, everyone wants to come out and show that they are ready to go," coach Jim Leavitt said.
Though pleased with the overall practice, Leavitt said the Bulls were not quite up to speed as they adjusted to the extra weight of the pads.
"What was bad today was that they were real slow, but that's normal," he said. "You could tell they weren't used to pads. Their movements were really slow and awkward."
Leavitt said his linebackers, the most experienced and stable part of the defense, were impressive.
"Our linebackers (Kawika Mitchell, Anthony Williams and Maurice Jones) were really strong today," he said. "They all can run and can hit you pretty good. They are pretty well solid."
INJURIES: Freshman defensive back Sidney Simpson (right ankle) and junior offensive tackle Mathew Baker (left elbow) left practice early, but neither injury is considered serious. -- BRANDON WRIGHT
ORLANDO -- For now, the starting tailback job belongs to redshirt freshman Alex Haynes.
Projected starter Terrance Williams not only has tendinitis in his right knee, his old hip injury is flaring up. Williams is not practicing, and it's unclear when he'll be near full speed. Until then, Haynes is running with the first-team offense, backed up by Corey Baker, who started one game in 2000. -- TIMES WIRES
CORAL GABLES -- Hurricanes coach Larry Coker was impressed with some of his young offensive players, including running back Willis McGahee and quarterback Derrick Crudup, after a two-hour full-squad practice.
"I don't see how anyone ever tackled (McGahee)," Coker said. "He's strong, fast, quick and smart. He is certainly a good prospect."
INJURY: Junior defensive line Jamaal Green was held out of contact with a sprained left knee and did mostly conditioning during the session. Coker says he should return today. -- TIMES WIRES