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Florida Gators Football: Jarrad Davis Injury Update
Jarrad Davis has missed the past three games with an ankle injury, but he’s pushing to play for the Florida Gators in the SEC Championship Game.
The Florida Gators have been forced to play the past three games without star linebacker Jarrad Davis. A finalist for the 2016 Butkus Award, Davis is one of the most revered linebackers in both college football and NFL Draft circles.
With the SEC Championship Game looming, Davis is doing everything in his power to push through the pain and play against the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Mac he expects #Gators LB Jarrad Davis to play. 'He's going to do everything to be out there.'
— Edgar Thompson (@osgators) December 2, 2016
That’s a massive development.
Davis took the practice field this week, which was progress unto itself. Though he projects to be available for Florida’s bowl game, the Gators have a chance to win the SEC—an opportunity that Davis understandably wants to be a part of.
Fortunately for Florida, head coach Jim McElwain expects Davis to play.
"I expect him to play." Mac on injured #Gators LB Jarrad Davis
— Andrew Olson (@ByAndrewOlson) December 2, 2016
Getting Davis back would be of massive aid to the Gators’ championship aspirations.
It’s entirely fair to question how much Davis will be able to contribute after missing the past three games with an ankle injury. There could be some game rust against the best team in the country, which doesn’t bode well for Davis’ chances of putting forth a memorable performance.
Davis’ presence is about far more than a direct impact, however, as he’s one of the emotional leaders of the Gators’ defense.
One could even argue that Davis is the glue to a defensive unit that excelled without him, but is even more confident with him.
Star cornerback Teez Tabor singled Davis out as the, “Heart and soul,” of Florida’s defense. That’s high praise coming from a player who’s expected to be a first-round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft.
No matter how well he plays against Alabama, simply having Davis on the field would be beneficial to the Gators’ morale and confidence.
If nothing else can be said about Davis, it’s that he’s as tough as any player in the country.
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