On the same day Florida revealed that, as expected, they will go with two quarterbacks in the opener, they also revealed that one of the players who would’ve been charged with protecting them very well might not be available.
Prized 2015 recruit Martez Ivey has been dealing with an unspecified leg injury that dates back to his high school days. The injury progressed to the point where medical intervention was necessary, with head coach Jim McElwain confirming that the offensive lineman will undergo arthroscopic surgery Friday.
With the season opener against New Mexico State nine days away, there’s no timetable for a return.
“This morning, Martez came in with a sore leg and we went and had it looked at,” McElwain said. “There was something existing there. We’ll get him in there and scope that tomorrow morning. Found a preexisting thing that was kind of bothering him. We’ll get that cleaned up.
“I have no idea exactly when his return will be. ... He’ll be back. I don’t know how quickly or anything yet. But it’s not. ... it doesn’t appear to be a season-ending thing or anything like that.”
The good news for UF is that, after the opener, they have games against East Carolina and Kentucky before its first “real” test of the season against Tennessee Sept. 26. That game begins a stretch of five straight games against teams currently ranked in the Associated Press Top 25.
The 6-5, 302-pound Ivey was one of the highest-rated recruits in the country last season, with Rivals.com rating the five-star lineman as the No. 1 tackle in the country; the No. 2 player at any position in the state of Florida; and the No. 4 player overall. He’s been working with the first-team offense and had been widely expected to be the starting left tackle when the season opened.
(Photo credit: Rivals.com)