Sports: Reynolds a concern for Gators

Reynolds a concern for Gators

By JOANNE KORTH

GAINESVILLE -- Florida offensive lineman Mike Pearson, sweating under the bright lights of television cameras, didn't need any help reciting the facts about Florida State defensive end Jamal Reynolds.

He knew the numbers.

And their relevance.

Dating to last season, Reynolds has 15 sacks in his past 12 games for a career total of 23.5. And those figures don't include three sacks he registered against Virginia Tech escape artist Michael Vick in the Fiesta Bowl.

A key individual matchup, All-Southeastern Conference tackle Pearson will be charged with keeping All-Atlantic Coast Conference sack-master Reynolds out of the Florida backfield during Saturday's showdown between No. 3 FSU and No. 4 UF.

"I'm going to have to do a great job," said Pearson, a sophomore nicknamed "Baby Boselli" for his similarities to the Jacksonville Jaguars All-Pro tackle. "Reynolds is a great player. I just have to be confident in what I can do."

Pearson is 6 feet 7, 291 pounds, agile and powerful. Reynolds is 6 feet 4, 254 pounds, agile and powerful. The two squared off last season in Gainesville, with Reynolds getting one sack for minus-7 yards.

On Saturday, crowd noise at Doak Campbell Stadium will make it tough for Pearson to hear the snap count from the end of the line. As if Reynolds needed a head start.

"Their whole defense is pretty scary -- speed all over the place, guys who can run," Pearson said. "Reynolds has had a great year. To win the game we have to protect the quarterback. It's going to be a good challenge for me. I'm looking forward to it."

The Gators do not expect the Seminoles to blitz often, but to rely on their front four to pressure quarterbacks Jesse Palmer and Rex Grossman.

"They think they can get pressure with their defensive line, so they sit back and play really good coverage," senior guard Leon Hires said. "They think they have the talent, that they don't need to blitz. But it's perfectly legal for them to blitz."

STAYING CALM: Florida will start 10 freshmen and sophomores, which means emotions and nerves will be a jumble to start this high-stakes game. It's up to the seniors, linebacker Daryl Owens said, to settle down the young players.

"They're going to be too excited," Owens said. "Florida and Florida State are two of the best teams in the country. When you're young and you watch them on TV you never expect to play for them.

"So, you finally get your chance to play for them and you're on TV, just like you saw them on TV. One thing we have to do is keep the young guys mentally focused. We have to tell the guys, "Hey, treat this like any other SEC game.' "

VOLLEYBALL: The Gators, ranked No. 10 by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, are the No. 1 seed for the Southeastern Conference tournament this weekend at the O'Connell Center.

Florida (22-4, 14-0) clinched its 10th consecutive regular-season league title with a three-game win at South Carolina on Sunday. UF faces No. 8 seed Ole Miss (15-15, 5-10) in the first round at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

CROSS COUNTRY: Junior Chris Duncan advanced individually to the men's NCAA Championships, finishing seventh in the South Region meet Saturday in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Neither the men's or women's teams earned automatic berths, finishing third and fourth, respectively.

The championships are Monday in Ames, Iowa.

TIPOFF TIME: Basketball season starts Friday. The 11th-ranked men play at rival Florida State at 7:30 p.m. The women, who received votes in the preseason AP poll, are at Fordham.

-- Contact Gators beat writer Joanne Korth at (800) 333-7505, ext. 7306, or by e-mail at Korth@sptimes.com.