Austin Barber will miss the Florida Gators' game against Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Florida Gators will be without starting left tackle Austin Barber. The redshirt sophomore offensive lineman was listed as questionable on the depth chart that was released on Wednesday. Barber arrived at Farout Field at Memorial Stadium with his left arm in a sling.
Barber suffered an injury to his left arm near the end of the Gators’ game against the LSU Tigers last weekend in Baton Rouge. He has only missed one other game (against Vanderbilt) with an ankle injury, something he continues to play through. He also has started playing with a brace on his left shoulder as he works through an upper-body injury.
“Austin’s questionable,” Billy Napier said. “We’ll take a good look over the next couple of days. Outside of that.”
Who will start in place of Austin Barber?
The Gators have leaned on Barber this season. He has played 591 of the Gators’ 720 snaps on offense. On the depth chart released Wednesday, Damieon George was listed as the starting right tackle and Kamryn Waites was listed as the backup at left tackle. Without Barber, however, George would likely start at left tackle. Waites would be the starter at right tackle. George started in the one game that Barber missed. He rated out as a 64.9 — his fifth-best game of the year according to PFF. He allowed one pressure and one quarterback hurry against the Commodores.
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The Gators have a tough test today on the road against the No. 9 Missouri Tigers.
“I think they play complementary football. I think they’re good on both sides. I think they’ve made an improvement. They have — the group of players that they’re coaching is essentially almost the same group they had last year,” Napier said.
“They have a lot of guys coming back. So I think that it’s year 2 in both systems. I think the new coordinator on offense has added a few elements, but it’s really the same system, both sides of the ball, special teams included, and I think they’re benefitting from that. I think veteran players, second year with the coordinator on defense, and I think they play complementary football. They rush the ball, they stop the run. I think they do a good job mixing it up in the throw game. They have balance. They’re aggressive on defense. There are a number of front-pressuring coverage variables. They’ve got a good football team, without question.”
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