The pain and emotion on Jon Greenard’s face was captured and broadcast for a record 7.43 million viewers on ESPN.
Greenard had injured his ankle late in a win over Auburn. He didn’t practice much the week leading up to the LSU game but as far as he knew he would be good to go against the Tigers. He warmed up before the game as normal, he’s always one of if not the first player out on the field and that was the case in Baton Rouge. He went through his own pre-game routine before the defensive line and defense started doing their thing. Then the game started and it wasn’t there.
“I actually tried to go back in in the Auburn game as well. It still was a little tender, it got stuff a little bit. The Auburn game set it off. I tried to go back in for the LSU game because it felt pretty good throughout the week, just walking and stuff. I’ve never had a high ankle sprain before, so me just walking fine I’m thinking it’s fine and it’s just a regular ankle injury but when I started to take off and plant it just wasn’t ready.”
It took Greenard back to 2018 when a hand injury in the season opener derailed his entire year. Sitting on the sideline in Baton Rouge he had visions of sitting in the training room at Louisville, watching his team play without him week after week. He was helpless as the Gators gave up more than 500 yards and 42 points, just a spectator like you or me. It was a lonely, depressing feeling for a player who is just a year removed from being in that same dark place.
Greenard’s diagnosis was a high ankle sprain. He’s a football player, so aches and pains and sprains happen but he’d never had this particular injury before.
That’s why the South Carolina game and the bye week couldn’t have come at a better time. Greenard was able to rest his ankle for two full weeks. He’s not at 100-percent yet but you’ have to take his foot and ankle from him to keep him off of the field this Saturday.
That’s a big deal.
Georgia boasts an offensive line that could easily shut down and put a Golden Corral out of business. Their line averages 329 pounds with big Solomon Kindley tipping the scales at 340-pounds. They’re the biggest, meanest offensive line the Gators will face this season. They do a fantastic job of moving and creating a new line of scrimmage and, while we talk a lot about Greenard as a pass-rusher, he’s invaluable for the Gators’ against the run as well.
That’s huge for Florida facing a Georgia team whose offense revolves around running back D’Andre Swift. The junior has more than double the carries as the next leading back on the roster and he’s one of the most dynamic players in the country. He’s averaging 6.84 yards-per-carry with 7 touchdowns.
“I think anytime you lose guys like that, it can affect you in everything you do because they’re physical guys at the point of attack,” Todd Grantham said. “They’re guys who can get off blocks, they’re guys that can win the one-on-one blocks, set the edge.”
Setting the edge and making Swift earn his yards will be crucial. Compressing the pocket to keep Jake Fromm honest is essential as well. Greenard does all of those things, not to say that Jeremiah Moon and Khris Bogle haven’t played well in his absence, but there’s no replacing what Greenard has done this season. He creates havoc. He disrupts and he’s a problem.
Greenard grew up in Georgia, Hiram to be exact, but he was a Florida fan. He’s very familiar with this rivalry and it’s one he’s dreamed of getting involved in. It helps that the stakes couldn’t be higher. If Florida wins this game they can all but book their hotel rooms in Atlanta. Dan Mullen has preached about the Gator standard and what the goals are, well the first one is always to win the East. Getting Greenard back this week against Georgia goes a long way into making that, beating Georgia, more of a reality.
“I never played Georgia. I always watched them. I always wanted to play them. I always wanted to play in the SEC,” Greenard said. “Getting a chance to do that now, to play against a top team, a team that’s been in the national championship, just like many other teams as well, it’s going to be a fun one. I’m excited for it. I can’t show it right now, but I’m excited. I’m just ready to get back out there.”