After having a few days to let another college football weekend marinate, it’s time to start looking ahead toward this weekend’s action. Here’s everything you need to know about what’s happened since the games ended on Saturday night.
On the Mend
Things are looking good for Florida quarterback Kyle Trask after he suffered a knee injury in the team’s win over Auburn on Saturday. Trask missed time while having the injury treated in the locker room but was able to return later in the game. He says the pain is slowly dissipating one day at a time and expects to be in good shape when the No. 7 Gators visit the No. 5 LSU Tigers this weekend in Florida’s second straight game against another undefeated top 10 team.
Bear Bounces Back
Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer will also be back in action this weekend despite missing most of the fourth quarter of his team’s win last week. Baylor coach Matt Rhule called Brewer leaving the 31-12 win over Kansas State “precautionary” and says the quarterback will be ready to play Saturday against Texas Tech. Behind Brewer, the Bears have started the season 5-0 and climbed into the Top 25.
Quick Recovery
Missouri has also received good news on the injury front this week, as Kelly Bryant has been cleared to start this week against Ole Miss. Bryant sprained his knee after taking a late hit during Missouri’s 42-10 win over Troy and didn’t return to the game. The injury isn’t as serious as feared, allowing Bryant to return to a Missouri offense that’s scored at least 31 points in every game this season. Unfortunately, the Missouri defense will be without linebacker Cale Garrett, who will undergo surgery to repair a pectoral tendon that will keep him out the rest of the season. Garrett was SEC Defensive Player of the Week earlier this season and was one of the most important players on the Missouri defense.
Two QB System
Florida State plans on playing two quarterbacks this week when it takes its shot against No. 2 Clemson. James Blackman began the season as the starter but suffered a sprained MCL during a win over Louisville last month. Wisconsin grad transfer Alex Hornibrook started FSU’s win over NC State, but now that Blackman is healthy, he will get his starting spot back. However, after Hornibrook played well against NC State, head coach Willie Taggart says that both quarterbacks will play this week. That will at least force Clemson to prepare to play both quarterbacks.
It’s Catching On
The midseason redshirt craze started by Houston quarterback D’Eriq King is catching on elsewhere. Rutgers quarterback Art Sitkowski and running back Raheem Blackshear have said they will sit out the rest of the season in order to redshirt and get an extra year of eligibility. Sitkowski has only played in three of the team’s five games this year. Blackshear played in the team’s first four games but sat out last week against Maryland so he wouldn’t burn his option to redshirt. Rutgers is a program in transition after head coach Chris Ash was fired at the end of September, so both players will likely have a new head coach next season.
