NCAA Football

Gators take another hit(s) in defensive backfield

The Florida Gators’ secondary was a weak spot last year, as UF was last in the SEC in pass defense. That makes the news of two defensive backs needing season-ending surgery hit even harder for Urban Meyer.

Junior Dorian Munroe, expected to start alongside Major Wright at safety this season, will require season-ending surgery after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. In addition, redshirt senior John Curtis suffered a season-ending ACL injury to his left knee and will miss the season.

“Dorian and John were having tremendous off seasons,” said Meyer. “I’m confident Dorian will battle through the rehabilitation process and come back a better football player. John has suffered through multiple knee injuries and the medical staff along with John and his family will need to evaluate his long-term future in football.”

The team did not say how the players were injured. 

Munroe saw action in all 13 games with two starts in 2007. He had 28 tackles and five pass breakups last year and led the team in special team tackles with 13. Curtis played in 11 games in 2007 and recorded seven tackles on special teams. He also blocked a punt against South Carolina.

So you can see it’s not just on defense but also on special teams where these losses will be felt.

Sophomore Bryan Thomas, who joins Wright as the only healthy scholarship players with safety experience in college, could now start in place of Munroe. Or it could be sophomore Ahmad Black, a converted cornerback, who had a great spring. And then there’s incoming freshman Will Hill, who was regarded as one of the nation’s top safety recruits.

It’s been a rough offseason for UF defensive backs: Jamar Hornsby was kicked off the team,  top recruit Dee Finley didn’t qualify academically, and Jerimy Finch, the top-rated safety in the 2007 recruiting class, transferred to Indiana.

Florida opens its season Aug. 30 against Hawaii. With this latest news, think UF’s coaches are glad that June Jones and Colt Brennan are no longer with the Warriors?

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