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Florida vs. Missouri: LB Ronald Powell also out for Gators

The hits keep on coming. They will probably never stop.

By Andy Hutchins
Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Florida confirmed on Saturday morning that defensive tackle Damien Jacobs would miss the Gators' game at Missouri, and added that linebacker Ronald Powell would also be out for the game.

Powell did not participate in practice earlier this week thanks to an ankle injury, and was likely declared out after pre-game examination.

Powell's absence could force Dante Fowler, Jr.'s backup at Will Muschamp's Buck position — Alex McCalister, who has not seen the field since Florida's trip to Miami, and whose game probably best resembles Powell's — into significant action against Missouri, but its more important ramifications are to depth, much like Jacobs's injury. Powell not being available means that Florida will need to rely on its other four linebackers — Neiron Ball, Darrin Kitchens, Antonio Morrison, and Michael Taylor — extensively.

The Gators may also end up making this depth concern moot to a degree by playing more nickel, dime, and 3-3-5 packages against a Missouri team that runs a spread offense under head coach Gary Pinkel, but Powell could have been useful as a pass rusher when Missouri looks to throw.

Thanks to injury alone, Florida will be without six players considered starters on offense or defense at the beginning of fall camp against Missouri; add in Jacobs, now a starter by virtue of Dominique Easley's season-ending ACL tear, and the Gators will be without seven players who have started this year.

Star-divide

Andy Hutchins is Alligator Army's managing editor. Follow Alligator Army on Twitter and Facebook.