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MEYER BACKS RB'S TRANSFER

 
Published Oct. 22, 2008|Updated Oct. 22, 2008

Florida coach Urban Meyer confirmed reports Tuesday that redshirt sophomore RB Mon Williams will transfer but said it is not a bad situation.

"We wish him the best," he said. "Not everything always works out. He's a good guy, a good kid. No issues with us."

Meyer said if asked, he would help Williams find a transfer location.

D-LINE DEPTH: Meyer brought in Dan McCarney from USF to coach the defensive line, a unit that allowed 103.3 rushing yards per game in 2007. McCarney keyed in on the number of players rotating through the lineup and emphasized using more throughout a game.

The plan has worked. The Gators have allowed 13 points per game this season, second in the SEC behind Kentucky.

"Last year we had zero rotation," Meyer said. "Guys were playing far too many plays."

Another improvement has been schemes with three defensive linemen.

"That's keeping guys fresh and letting them go a little harder," Meyer said.

USF: Rallying point

TAMPA - The Bulls plan to rally around senior S Danny Verapele, scheduled to have surgery Thursday on a broken foot, the way they did when senior LB Brouce Mompremier injured his neck on Sept. 20.

"To the team, and especially to the DBs, it hurts to lose Danny because he's just like a coach on the field," senior S Louis Gachette said. "He's been here with me for five years and he's like a brother, so we want to go out there and win for him."

The loss of Verpaele shouldn't affect the game plan Saturday against Louisville, defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said.

Tyller Roberts, Gachette and Carlton Williams will all see time at nickelback.

Coach Jim Leavitt said senior K Justin Teachey aggravated his quadriceps injury and had freshman Maikon Bonani working as the kickoff specialist.

FSU: Young line

TALLAHASSEE - With G Will Furlong sidelined by foot surgery, FSU will start three true freshmen and two sophomores Saturday against Virginia Tech.

David Spurlock, who will fill in for Furlong, will join fellow first-year players Andrew Datko and Zebrie Sanders. All three were playing high school football this time last year.

After practice, however, offensive line coach Rick Trickett didn't sound concerned.

"Furlong only has four games on Spurlock," Trickett said, noting that Furlong was a redshirt freshman. "It's not like we've got two years of experience that we're losing. We'll just pick up and go at it with three freshmen."

Light day: With several players nursing minor injuries, FSU practiced in shorts and shoulder pads to prevent any further damage. "We have too many of them that are not practicing, that are watching because of slight injuries," coach Bobby Bowden said. But Bowden noted that there was plenty of contact.

UCF: OL dismissed

ORLANDO - The Knights emerge from the bye week with questions on offense after junior lineman Cody Minnich, a part-time starter, was dismissed after being charged with DUI and junior QB Michael Greco missed two workouts because of a death in the family.

"He was second string," coach George O'Leary said of Minnich. "We just bring up a scholarship player."

Greco said a lingering knee injury is healed as the Knights prepare to visit No. 22 Tulsa (7-0) on Sunday.

Times correspondents Joe Rienzi and Ira Schoffel contributed to this report, which used information from the Orlando Sentinel.