Florida running back Cam Carroll to miss 2023 season with knee injury

After being carted off during Florida’s second scrimmage of the fall on Friday, running back Cam Carroll has officially been ruled out for the 2023 season.

Head coach Billy Napier revealed that news in a press conference on Saturday afternoon, according to On3’s Nick de la Torre.

“Cam Carroll had a season-ending knee injury,” Napier said. “I’m going to tell you, I think one of the more challenging things as a coach, and I would tell you for our team, is injuries. Just kind of hits you right in the gut. Cam will respond, he will get the full support of our team and our organization, and he’ll be back. I’m looking forward to that when it does happen.”

Carroll was running third on the depth chart at the running back position behind returning starters Montrell Johnson and Trevor Etienne.

He transferred to Florida this offseason from Tulane, where he had been productive over the course of the last five seasons.

Cam Carroll accounted for 1,638 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns while with the Green Wave. He played in just one game in 2022, though, suffering a leg injury that prevented him from playing the rest of the way. Healthy again, though, he was expected to be a big contributor for Florida in 2023.

Even before his injury in the scrimmage he had put together a couple highlight reel plays and was having one of his best days.

Florida is deep in the backfield, though.

Etienne and Johnson are expected to star after serving as a quality one-two punch a year ago. While Johnson has more experience, Etienne might have more upside.

The brother of former Clemson and current Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne, Etienne ran for 719 yards and six touchdowns last season for the Gators, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

Johnson, meanwhile, ran for 841 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first season at Florida after transferring in from Louisiana. He was a star at Louisiana as a freshman, racking up 838 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2021.

Florida did make a late addition to its roster in the running back room, signing JUCO running back Ja’Kobi Johnson in late May. Freshman Treyaun Webb is also in the mix behind the top duo. So there’s additional depth behind Etienne and Johnson, even with Carroll’s injury.