Florida football: Why is Kaiir Elam not playing vs. Tennessee?
Florida football will be without top cornerback Kaiir Elam against the Tennessee Volunteers because of a knee injury he suffered against Alabama.
Florida got a bit of a moral victory when they played Alabama close last weekend. This week they’re looking for an actual victory at home against Tennessee.
There’s a challenge to overcome in the secondary with All-SEC cornerback Kaiir Elam set to miss out.
Kaiir Elam injury update: Star cornerback out with knee issue
According to multiple reports, Kaiir will not play against Tennessee because of the knee injury he sustained against Alabama.
Without Elam, the Gators could elevate freshman Jason Marshall Jr. into the starting lineup as Elam’s direct backup on the depth chart. They could also look to Elijah Blades, the graduate transfer from Texas A&M.
Whoever replaces Elam will have a tough time filling his shoes. He’s considered one of the top cornerback prospects in college football this year with first round potential for next year’s NFL Draft.
The important thing is avoiding a letdown against a Tennessee team the Gators should have an edge over, especially at home.
On the plus side, the Volunteers don’t exactly have the most formidable passing offense. Ten different receivers have caught passes this season, but no one has made it over 100 yards on the campaign yet. Tennessee ranks dead last in the SEC with just 199 passing yards per game.
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