Gator Country

Sophomore defensive end Ronald Powell is expected to play this weekend for Florida after returning from an undisclosed injury. / Gator Country photo by Tim Casey

Florida went into the bye week banged up but emerged from it almost entirely healthy. One guy making his return might find it tough to win his starting job back, though.

After suffering what the CBS telecast described as a neck injury against LSU, sophomore Ronald Powell missed the Auburn game and did not travel with the team.

Powell hadn’t been particularly productive, and Florida’s coaches said they were disappointed with him and needed him to play better.

While the 6-foot-4, 248-pound defensive end has heard all the criticism, teammates said he hasn’t gotten down on himself.

“He’s a tough, confident guy,” junior defensive tackle Omar Hunter said. “He doesn’t let that stuff bother him at all. He walks around with his head held up high. He’s the same guy all the time, that’s the thing I love about Powell. If anything, he’s more motivated now to prove everybody wrong.”

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