The Florida Gators could be without their talented freshman offensive lineman Martez Ivey when the season starts in just nine days.
“This morning, Martez came in with a sore leg and we went and had it looked at,” Jim 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.”
Gator Country was able to get in touch with Marty Ivey, Martez’s father, who informed that Martez had arthroscopic knee surgery when he was in high school to repair a meniscus injury.
McElwain informed the media that Ivey would have arthroscopic surgery again on Friday morning.
The Army All-American had worked his way into the starting rotation for the Florida Gators and was getting looks with the first team at both left and right tackle. As kickoff to the 2015 season draws near, McElwain is still looking for the right five players and potentially losing Ivey, even if it turns out to be for just a short time, is a blow to the team and will force McElwain and Mike Summers to get creative.
“Fred [Johnson] will play right because that’s what he’s been doing. Kind of the rotation of those three with Tripp playing out a little bit out there for us as well,” said McElwain. “For us, it’s more from the inside standpoint. We’ve been able to be flexible with Tyler Jordan as well, from center to guard.”
McElwain and Marty Ivey both said they don’t anticipate this issue being a season-ending injury and both expect to know more after Martez undergoes surgery on Friday morning.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Florida Gators have practice to attend on Thursday night and life goes on for the team, even as one of their own falls off to the side.
“You know, it’s a big blow for us, but I think Martez is going to be perfectly fine. I saw him walking today. We’ve all cross-repped positions,” offensive guard Antonio Riles said. “There are guys who are going to step up. I’ve played left and right. Sharpe plays left and right. Halter plays left and right. I’m pretty sure everybody is going to adjust to it and we’ll be just fine.”