Notebook: Newton in neck brace

Cameron Newton’s almost nonexistent season took another hit Tuesday night.

Coach Urban Meyer said after Wednesday’s practice that the sophomore quarterback was rear-ended by a truck while in his car and is in a neck brace.

Meyer said he originally thought Newton was only in a “fender bender,” but learned Wednesday that Newton needed a brace.

Newton was held out of practice Wednesday, but Meyer said he should be fine and that he’s only experiencing a few headaches now.

Newton has only appeared in the Hawaii game where he finished with 14 yards off 1-of-2 passing and had five carries for 10 yards and a touchdown. He’s been battling a nagging ankle injury that he first suffered during spring practice.

Meyer said Newton will travel with the team to Nashville this weekend for the game against Vanderbilt.

Moody ready

After missing three-straight games due to an ankle injury, sophomore running back Emmanuel Moody finished the Georgia game leading all rushers with 71 yards off seven carries — although, it did come late in the fourth quarter when both teams used mostly reserves to finish out the game.

Nonetheless, Moody’s ankle appeared fine and with him back, UF gets yet another weapon to use in its loaded backfield.

But with four healthy running backs in its stable, UF’s coaches now have the job of distributing carries among them. To running backs coach Kenny Carter, Moody’s secured his chance of getting some of those carries.

“He’s pound for pound one of the strongest people on our team so that brings another dimension to (the offense),” Carter said. “Toward the end of the game when people are worn down a little, he’s perfect for what you want for a team to run out the clock and manage some situations.”

Meyer honored

Meyer was named to the Bryant College Coach of the Year Watch List, the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award committee of the American Heart Association released Wednesday.

This is the second post-season award that Meyer is in consideration for. He has also been named one of 15 semifinalists for the 20th annual George Munger Award, presented annually to the nation’s college coach of the year by the Maxwell Football Club.

In December, the finalists list for the Bryant College Coach of the Year award will be announced and comprised of five to 10 coaches. Finalists will attend an awards dinner on Jan. 15, 2009, where the winner will be announced live. The winner is voted on by members of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association and is the only college coaching award given after all the bowl games have finished.

Wilson’s status iffy

After being charged with two misdemeanor counts of assault and battery, redshirt junior offensive lineman Ron Wilson’s future with the Gators is still unknown.

A day after fielding questions about recently dismissed cornerback Jacques Rickerson for his felony charge of domestic battery by strangulation, Meyer was asked Wednesday if he had talked to Wilson lately.

His response: “No, not in a while.”

When asked if Wilson was still considered part of the team, Meyer said it was of “no discussion” and wouldn’t comment further.

Wilson was charged after allegedly striking two victims with a closed fist after getting into a verbal altercation over a female at a birthday party at the Lexington Crossing Phase 2 apartments in the early morning of Oct. 5, according to police reports.

Wilson was also dismissed from the team in 2005 after firing an assault rifle into the air during an altercation.

He was allowed to return this summer as a walk-on.