Quarterback Jeff Driskel isn't the only member of Florida's starting offense who will be out of action to begin fall camp.
UF coach Will Muschamp revealed that running back Matt Jones is out with a "serious viral infection" and that offensive guard Jon Halapio, one of the nation's top pro prospects at the guard position, is out with an injury as well. First up, Muschamp on Jones:
"Matt Jones has a serious viral infection. He's out indefinitely. He came down with this the last four or five days. Right now we're filling him full of antibiotics, and how his body responds will tell me how quickly he can come back. I probably won't know definitively until end of next week on Matt. Just one of those things that happens. He's got a lot of (gastrointestinal) issues right now and dealing with those things. He should be fine. Again, I don't know when he'll be able to return."
Jones is expected to be a key figure in Muschamp's efforts to make significant improvements in Florida's offense. Halapio, Muschamp said, has a partially torn pectoral muscle. The injury won't require surgery and the fifth-year senior should be ready to play when the season begins, but Muschamp indicated it will be a week before he is evaluated again by doctors.
Driskel underwent an emergency appendectomy earlier this week, and is expected to be out for two weeks.
Florida opens the season with Toledo, perhaps a needed tune-up as key offensive starters will be getting a late start in fall camp. UF plays at Miami in week two.
Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter @ChaseGoodbread.
