Florida running back Montrell Johnson has been given the green light to play against No. 19 Miami on Saturday, which is a big boost for the underdog Gators.
Johnson had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee after getting hurt in the first week of training camp. However, he returned to practice this week and was listed as a starter on Wednesday.
“If he’s on that depth chart — at the top of the list — that means he’s ready to go,” coach Billy Napier said after practice Wednesday night.
Johnson has played in every game since joining the Gators from Louisiana-Lafayette. Over two years with the Gators, he has rushed for 1,658 yards and scored 15 touchdowns, even though he has shared carries with Trevor Etienne.
With Etienne now at Georgia, Johnson was expected to take on a larger role as a senior.
The knee injury was a setback, but it also gave sophomore Treyaun Webb and freshmen Jaden Baugh and KD Daniels more experience during camp. Napier described it as “a blessing in disguise.”
But Napier made it clear that Johnson will be on the field a lot against Miami.
“He has tremendous experience,” Napier said. “This will be his fourth year with us in the system and obviously he’s been very productive.
He’s one of the few rushers in the country that’s approaching 2,500 yards. Montrell’s a smart player. He’s got poise. He has composure. He’s one of the best practice players that we have, and he has character.”
Teammates were also happy to see him back.
“It’s going to mean a lot, veteran guy, love it for him,” guard Knijeah Harris said. “Just excited to see him get loose.”
