Florida Gators

Florida Gators Football: Jim McElwain Won't Rule Jarrad Davis Out

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

It’s unlikely that he plays, but Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain isn’t ruling star linebacker Jarrad Davis out for the SEC Championship Game.

The Florida Gators have been forced to overcome injuries to an unfathomable number of key contributors during the 2016 college football. For as beaten up as Florida may be on both sides of the ball, one could argue that no injury has effected the Gators more than the loss of Jarrad Davis.

Though it’s unlikely that he’ll be able to play, it appears as though optimism exists that Davis will be active against the Alabama Crimson Tide this Saturday.

Davis has missed the past three games with what was first reported as a severe ankle sprain. Thankfully, there was no fracture in his MRI and Zach Abolverdi of SEC Country reported that it wasn’t a high ankle sprain—a promising sign.

According to Jacquie Franciulli of Scout.com, head coach Jim McElwain won’t rule Davis out for the SEC Championship Game.

Mac on #Gators LB Jarrad Davis: “I never count him out, but at the same time I say it is pretty doubtful.”

— Jacquie Franciulli (@JacquieFran_) November 27, 2016

If there’s any way for Davis to play, you can bet that he will.

It’s worth noting that Davis warmed up with the Gators against Florida State, albeit without participating in the actual game. Thus, it’s clear that he’s much closer to being able to play than he was just two weeks ago against LSU.

Having Davis on the field would change everything for the Gators.

Davis is a finalist for the 2016 Butkus Award, which is given to the most outstanding linebacker in college football. In just eight appearances, he’s recorded 56 tackles, six tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, and four passes defended.

More importantly, star cornerback Teez Tabor called Davis the, “Heart and soul,” of the Gators’ defense.

Scouts Inc. has Davis ranked as the No. 13 overall player and No. 2 outside linebacker in the 2017 NFL Draft. He’s expected to be a first or second-round draft pick this coming year, with his injury being the red flag that could hurt his draft stock.

Regardless of when he’s selected come April, the Gators will need him on Saturday.

If Davis can play against Alabama, the safe bet is that he will.