Florida Gators shake off injury bug
by David Jones, USA TODAY Sports
Florida coach Billy Donovan said Thursday that he expects his entire roster to be available for Saturday’s noon game in Gainesville against Alabama for first place in the SEC. The Gators are currently 12-3 in league play, one game ahead of the Crimson Tide.
“All those guys are cleared to play. Doctors have cleared everybody,” Donovan said.
He said Casey Prather, who at first was feared to have a concussion in Tuesday’s loss at Tennessee, came up OK on baseline testing. Guard Michael Frazier, who missed the UT game with a concussion, is also cleared to play against ‘Bama and forward Will Yeguete, who had knee surgery, can also play but Donovan is being careful with him.
“Obviously he’s got two days to practice but I would hard-pressed to believe he’s going to be the same player before he was when he went down with his injury,” Donovan said. “It’ll probably take him some time to get back but at least he can start working to get back in shape and get back in rhythm and timing and those kind of things.”
Yeguete said it hasn’t been easy for him watching Florida play without him.
“I mean, it wasn’t easy because watching them play and not being able to be out there, especially because I was out last year (missing postseason with a broken foot), so it wasn’t easy. But they helped me out, and I just tried to stay positive,” he said. “I feel good. Every day I just do more every day and just see, check out how my knee will react, see if my knee swells up. ”
So far it’s been all positive.
“Just trying to push through fatigue if I get tired and that’s about it,” he said.
He is being forced to wear a brace on the right knee he had cartilage chips removed frrom. But Donovan said it’s just a matter of his adjusting to it. Yegeute will wear it the rest of the season.
Donovan said the big issue is dealing with making sure the timing is right for his return.
“I went through a situation like this with Matt Walsh. When … [For more on Florida Gators shake off injury bug, click here.]







