JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Injuries on the defensive side of the ball have been an issue for No. 15 Florida all season long. The Gators will be without starting defensive end Jordan Sherit for the Southeastern Conference championship game against top-ranked Alabama.
Coach Jim McElwain made the announcement on a conference call Sunday, adding "we took some significant hits again."
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Sherit injured his right knee in a loss at Florida State on Saturday. Nickel cornerback Duke Dawson (ankle) and left guard Martez Ivey (leg) also left the game.
The Gators (8-3) already were playing without quarterback Luke Del Rio, center Cam Dillard, safety Marcus Maye, safety Nick Washington and linebackers Jarrad Davis and Alex Anzalone.
McElwain says "I know everybody will try to do everything they can to play in this game. It means so much. We're not going to obviously put anybody out there that can't go. But Sherit will be definitely out" against the Tide (12-0).
This will be the second straight year that Florida and Alabama have squared off in the SEC title game. In 2015 the Crimson Tide came out on top 29-15.