Florida football to be without George Gumbs Jr but gets Caleb Banks back vs Tennessee

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Florida football will be down two starting defensive linemen but will welcome the return of another when it faces No. 20 Tennessee at The Swamp on Nov. 22 (7:30 p.m., ABC).

Defensive end George Gumbs and defensive tackle Michai Boireau have been ruled out for the Florida Gators against the Vols, while defensive tackle Caleb Banks has been cleared to play, per the SEC's Availability Report, which was released on Wednesday night.

In all, 12 players have been ruled out for the Gators, and three are listed as questionable − wide receiver Vernell Brown III, safety Bryce Thornton and quarterback Tramell Jones Jr.

Florida football interim coach Billy Gonzales confirmed that Gumbs underwent knee surgery on Nov. 19 and is likely done for the rest of the season.

"I would probably say it's going to be more than a two-week process for him to come back," Gonzales said. "So, our biggest thing for him is just to make sure we get him back healthy so he can comfortable in the process to continue his career."

The 6-foot-6, 330-pound Banks in poised to appear in his first injury since Sept. 13 against LSU after suffering a foot injury that required surgery. He's been practicing for the last two weeks.

"He looks pretty darn good," Gonzales said. "He's a big body, obviously, a big body we can get back in the middle of the defensive line."

Brown has missed two of UF's last three games with a sprained shoulder.

"He's coming along," Gonzales said. "Was out there today, playing at the receiver position when you have a shoulder injury it's always tough just because if you get dinged a little bit when you are blocking, I think the biggest thing is you've got to feel comfortable, you've got to feel comfortable being able to block."

Preseason All-SEC cornerback is Jermod McCoy among five players out for Tennessee.

Florida football availability report

Out

WR −Eugene Wilson III

WR −Dallas Wilson

ILB −Ty Jackson

DE −LJ McCray

DB −Aaron Gates

DB −Micheal Caraway Jr.

RB −Ja'Kobi Jackson

DB −Dijon Johnson

DE −George Gumbs Jr.

DB −Javion Toombs

OL −Roderick Kearney

DL − Michai Boireau

Questionable

WR − Vernell Brown III

QB − Tramell Jones Jr.

S − Bryce Thornton

Probable

OL − Austin Barber

TE −Tony Livingston

Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Latest injury report for Florida football heading into matchup with No. 20 Tennessee

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