Notebook: Newton back in battle as backup QB

The race to find Florida's backup quarterback took an interesting twist Saturday.

Freshman quarterback Cameron Newton practiced for the first time this fall, joining starter Tim Tebow and newcomers John Brantley and Bryan Waggener during Saturday evening's practice on Florida's campus.

Newton, a 6-foot-5 native of College Park, Ga., has been suffering from an injured back. He made his first appearance at practice Friday evening, but watched from the sidelines in shorts and a T-shirt. Newton also sat out Saturday morning's first practice, but hit the field for Saturday's afternoon workout.

Newton missed the first six practices to take care of some academic work.

"It's great to be back out there with the team, my good friends," Newton said. "I just bonded."

Newton said he participated in all the workouts and was not limited by his back.

"I'm in rehab trying to get better every day," he said. "I'm throwing with the receivers and doing everything."

Newton is now behind Brantley and Waggener, but said he feels good about competing at the position.

"My job is to get better every day," he said. "It's the other quarterbacks job to get better every day and we're going to push each other to get better every day."

Newton would not comment on his academic situation.

When asked how he would feel about possibly redshirting this season, Newton said, "that's not my decision. That's the coach's decision. It's out of my hands."

Coach Urban Meyer said he's concerned about Newton's back and the amount of practice time he has missed already.

"He hasn't done a whole lot," Meyer said. "I'm concerned a lot. The quarterback at Florida has to get out there and throw a lot. We'll know soon. The others are out there throwing pretty decent."

Brantley and Waggener have been battling for the backup quarterback position all week. Brantley has looked to be slightly ahead of Waggener.

Newton's return to practice should make the race much more interesting. Newton is the only one of the three incoming quarterbacks who played in the Orange and Blue game in the spring. He completed 20-of-30 passes for 275 yards and a touchdown in the game.

Trattou nearly loses his stripe

Freshman defensive end Justin Trattou continued to make a strong impression on Florida's coaches Saturday, until he was taken out of practice due to the heat. Meyer said he was close to making Trattou the second freshman to lose his stripe until he was overcome by the heat and forced to spend the end of practice in a cooling tent.

"Trattou was right on the verge, but then he had a little heat and went into the tent," Meyer said. "So the stripe stays on. But he's close though. He's busting his tail."

Safety Major Wright is the only freshman to lose his stripe so far.

Injury update

Freshman tight end Aaron Hernandez missed Saturday's practices after suffering a neck stinger Friday night. Meyer said Hernandez is day-to-day. Fullback Eric Rutledge also dinged his hand Saturday, but the injury is not serious, Meyer said.

"He just has some tape on it," Meyer said.