While most of the Gators have gone home for the Christmas break, injured star wide receiver Percy Harvin is expected to remain in Gainesville to continue rehabbing his sprained ankle.
“He’s going to be around here. That’s how dedicated he is,” UF coach Urban Meyer said Friday. “He’s going to be here for Christmas to get ready to go.”
Harvin sprained his ankle in the first half of the Florida State game three weeks ago and missed the SEC Championship Game against Alabama. He did not practice last week, but showed improvement and was walking without a limp by the end of the week. His rehab has included running in a pool and jumping on a trampoline, to help the range of motion in his ankle.
The Gators are expected to return to the practice field Friday. There is a chance Harvin could see some practice time on a limited basis next week. He’s expected to return to full go when the Gators begin practicing in south Florida on Jan. 3.
Meyer said last week he’s hopeful UF’s other injured players also will be 100 percent for the Jan. 8 national championship game against Oklahoma.
Wide receiver Louis Murphy and offensive guard Carl Johnson were held out of practice last week with minor knee injuries, while wide receiver Carl Moore has been trying to battle through a hamstring injury.
In other news, the Gators are not expected to have any academic casualties for the game.
Also, defensive line coach Dan McCarney interviewed for the head coaching vacancy at Army over the weekend. McCarney, for former head coach at Iowa State, earlier interviewed for the New Mexico vacancy that went to Illinois offensive coordinator and former UF assistant Mike Locksley.
