The Florida Gators sent out an APB on Monday, calling all university students with kicking experience to try out for a walk-on spot after losing placekicker Jorge Powell in Saturday’s loss to No. 5 LSU.
No. 13 Florida’s official recruiting account tweeted, “All Call for Kickers! #Gators are looking for walk-on kickers.”
Powell exited Saturday’s game early in the first quarter after sustaining an undisclosed injury on kickoff coverage. The walk-on from Miami Belen Jesuit Prep took over Florida’s first-string duties after scholarship kicker Austin Hardin was benched before the Tennessee game. Powell, a redshirt freshman, is 2 of 3 on field goals this season, but the Gators haven’t made a kick longer than 37 yards.
With Powell sidelined, Hardin, a redshirt junior, is the only other kicker on UF’s roster. He has battled a leg injury since training camp and lost his starting job after connecting on just 50 percent (3 of 6) of his field-goal attempts to start the season.
The Gators (6-1, 4-1 SEC) have some time to find another kicker, getting a week off before their annual rivalry game against Georgia (5-2, 3-2 SEC) in Jacksonville on Halloween.
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