Injuries hit SEC teams early
By Brian Edwards
The start of practice inevitably results in injuries galore. Several SEC teams have taken early hits to key players that gamblers need to be aware of as Week 1 approaches.
Florida senior tight end Cornelius Ingram, considered to be the nation’s best at his position in some circles, went down with a torn ACL on Aug. 5. Ingram is done for the season. He had 34 receptions for 508 yards and seven touchdowns in 2007.
Ole Miss DE Greg Hardy had surgery Monday to repair a stress fracture in his right foot. The All-SEC performer will miss 6-8 weeks. Hardy led the SEC in sacks last year with 10.
Although nothing will be official until MRI results are completed, a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution indicates that Georgia is extremely concerned about a knee injury to OT Trindon Sturdivant during Monday’s scrimmage.
Sturdivant, who started all 13 games and earned All-SEC Freshman honors last year, could be lost for the season.
Auburn suffered a huge loss last week when junior CB Aairon Savage went down with a season-ending injury.
According to GamecockCentral.com, South Carolina RB Mike Davis is expected to miss another week of practice. LB Jasper Brinkley (ankle) hasn’t practiced at full contact since Friday and could miss another day or two. Also, third-string redshirt freshman Stephen Garcia is out for a few days with an ankle injury.
At this point it’s old news but for gamblers that missed it, Kentucky dismissed QB Curtis Pulley from the team last week. Also, the ‘Cats lost starting junior CB Paul Warford for the year (academics).
VegasInsider.com
Gators lose two more players to torn ACLs, five to miss season
CBSSports.com
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Two more Florida players will miss the season after tearing knee ligaments.
Gators sophomore offensive lineman Jim Barrie and freshman linebacker Brendan Beal are the fourth and fifth players to tear their ACLs. Beal suffered his injury during Monday's practice and Barrie was injured Saturday.
"Five ACLs, that's a tough deal," Florida coach Urban Meyer said after announcing the latest injuries following Tuesday's morning practice.
Tight end Cornelius Ingram, who turned down the NFL to return for his senior season, tore his left ACL during Florida's second day of practice last week. Redshirt junior Dorian Munroe, a projected starter at safety, and senior safety John Curtis, a backup, tore ACLs in July.
All have had surgery and will miss the entire season.
Beal, who was expected to get playing time this year, was injured during one-on-one pass-blocking drills. Munroe, Curtis and Ingram were injured in non-contact drills.
"It's frustrating when guys are hurt," Meyer said. "Still, at our staff meeting this morning I drew up our starting offensive line and I drew up everybody when they're healthy, and (it's) a pretty good-looking football team.
"Right now it looks like Louie's hungry five out there."