Meyer: Patchan could get a starting nod

GAINESVILLE -- Florida coach Urban Meyer said on Thursday evening that true freshman defensive lineman Matt Patchan could get the starting nod on Saturday. Seriously, Coach?

According to Meyer, Patchan [PICTURED, GREAT HAIR] is one of three players who could start at defensive tackle against Hawaii. The others are redshirt sophomores Lawrence Marsh and Terron Sanders.

Even if Patchan doesn't start, it's still quite a compliment for the kid to be considered worthy of a start in a season opener as a true freshman. And, considering Patchan's offseason, he must be one heck of a player. Defensive line coach Dan McCarney praised Patchan after Wednesday's practice. Gator Clause can't wait to watch this kid go. Sounds like he has the potential to be pretty special.

Patchan enrolled at UF for the spring semester and had a great spring practice despite some nagging injuries. Then, over the summer, Patchan was the victim of a seemingly random shooting near his hometown of Seffner. Patchan says he was lucky to walk away with his life. If that setback wasn't enough to discourage the freshman, he then strained his chest muscle while working out later in the summer.

The strained chest muscle limited Patchan's progression during the entire fall camp. He was only cleared for full contact drills on Monday. If you're counting, that means he has only practiced at full speed four times since the spring.

BACK-UP QUARTERBACKS
Meyer still won't name a back-up quarterback to Tebow. Can't damage the egos of reserve QBs Cam Newton and Jon Brantley, we suppose.

"We haven't settled on a back-up quarterback," Meyer said. "They're both fairly even and we hope to get them both in the game."

Get them BOTH in the game!?! This can only mean one thing: Florida must plan on beating Hawaii by at least 60 points.

-jo- 

Comments

[Rich]

Well, I plan on beating them by 60!!!

[TXCane]

Hope Patchan starts against Miami, I want to see his father (Miami Grad) scramble in his seat! I can't believe a father would actually root agains his team, the U. I would not only root against my son I would kick his a** for going to a crap Hick school!

[GatorTime]

You would, if you could kick your son's @ss, and please let the teams decide which is better. Gainesville is a dramatically kinder city than Miami, and based on UF's size, probably has an educational attainment level about 4 years beyond Miami's 7-8th grade...welcome to the first world little man TxPain.

[DrtyCane]

matt patchan should be on that suspension list too...what a fraud. hope his girlfriend is getting a good education on the foley's expense...
patchan,wright and deo.thompson will see why it was a BAD choice to chose uf over mia