University of Florida

Florida Gators searching for kicker following injury to Belen alum Jorge Powell

By Jesse Simonton

Miami Herald Writer

Florida place kicker Jorge Powell (98) kicks the ball into the upright in an unsuccessful point-after-touchdown attempt against Mississippi on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015, in Gainesville, Fla.
Florida place kicker Jorge Powell (98) kicks the ball into the upright in an unsuccessful point-after-touchdown attempt against Mississippi on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015, in Gainesville, Fla. Gary McCullough AP
GAINESVILLE

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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