Needing to win two of their final three games to secure a break-even season and bowl eligibility, the Florida Gators travel to Columbia this weekend to face 10th-ranked South Carolina. That means Florida’s inconsistent offensive line will have to withstand a serious test against the Gamecocks’ dynamic duo of Jadeveon Clowney and Kelcy Quarles. It’s a huge task for Florida offensive linemen Jon Halapio and Jonotthan Harrison, who met with the media Tuesday to discuss the state of the team.
On playing Clowney
- Halapio said the competition is higher but UF’s offensive tackles are ready to go against Clowney because he’s a future first round draft pick.
- Harrison says they don’t focus on Clowney specifically because they know they have a whole team to worry about.
Evaluating this year up until this point
- The Gators have seven healthy linemen. Halapio says they have to make do with what they have now.
- Regardless of last week’s outcome, Harrison says the Gators have to keep fighting and working hard because the season isn’t done.
On the penalties
The leadership on both sides of the ball just needs to reiterate and emphasize, especially during the game,” Halapio said. “Everyone gets so caught up in the moment in the game and just getting all hyped up and stuff it leads to other things like shoving and pushing and punching and stuff after plays.”
- Harrison said the team has had way too many self-inflicted wounds. As much as the Gators work on penalties in practice, they’ve been hurt by them in the games. Committing penalties in practice means punishment and it’s starting to get through because some players are reducing the mistakes.
On the possibility of Skyler Morhinweg starting at quarterback
- Halapio says it doesn’t change anything just having Skyler back there. He did stress the importance of getting him reps and says it will be the coaches decision.
On his ejection from the Arkansas game
I didn’t even known I got ejected,” Harrison said. “I was sitting on the sideline talking to the coach and I heard my number, and then they just walked me off the field. There was no malicious intent. I wasn’t trying to be an a-hole or anything like that. I was honestly was just trying to tell the ref to get this player because I was getting attacked, I felt like I was getting harassed, and it was beyond football. Calling me the n-word and everything is not football anymore. It is just going out of your way.”