Florida NT Jamari Lyons to miss season with broken ankle

Florida nose tackle Jamari Lyons suffered a broken ankle in the Gators’ first fall scrimmage on Saturday. He will miss the entire 2024 campaign, per Gators Online’s Nick de la Torre.

“Jamari Lyons broke his ankle, and he’ll be out for the season,” UF head coach Billy Napier said Monday. “Obviously our thoughts and prayers are with him.”

Lyons is entering his third season with the Gators. He appeared in all 12 games for Florida last season, recording one start. He tallied 20 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss.

Lyons only played in three games during his freshman season and ultimately redshirted. Lyons suffered the ankle injury early in Florida’s intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday. He was placed in an air cast and carted off the field while his teammates gathered around him. Napier was moved by the scene.

“We got all 132 on the spot there to support him as he was carried off the field,” Napier said. “I think that’s an indicator that these guys are doing something right, you know, that there is that type of connection to some degree.”

Lyons was expected to make significant contributions for Florida in the upcoming season, serving as a backup to senior nose tackle Cam Jackson. Now, senior Desmond Watson will split minutes with Jackson on the defensive front.

Jamari Lyons played high school football at Viera High School (FL), where he was a four-star prospect and the No. 218 overall player in the 2022 recruiting cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking.

Chris Doering claims Florida will ‘surprise’ viewers in 2024

The 2024 campaign will be Napier’s third season at the helm of Florida football. The team went 5-7 last season, a step back from the Gators’ 6-7 record in Napier’s debut campaign with the program. Despite Florida’s underwhelming 2023 showing, former UF wide receiver Chris Doering believes the Gators will have a standout year.

“Vibes are great, the practice was sharp,” Doering said. “It was not long, they got after it. I thought that the offense looked really good in some of that seven on seven. The rapport between Graham Mertz and his receivers was really good. I feel good about the depth at the receiver position.

“The defense probably got the best of the offense when you get to team, but sometimes that happens. I do think the one concern I have is the offensive line, where they feel good about probably their top six, but after that you’re trying to figure out maybe some depth behind it… I really do think that this is a team that’s going to surprise a lot of folks.”