Sources: Florida LB Shemar James Being Evaluated for Leg Injury
Update: Florida head coach Billy Napier on Thursday confirmed All Gators' reporting that linebacker Shemar James suffered a leg injury during Wednesday's fall training camp practice. See what Napier had to say about the situation here.
Florida sophomore inside linebacker and projected starter Shemar James suffered a knee injury during Wednesday's fall training camp practice, multiple sources told All Gators on Thursday.
James is scheduled to receive a full evaluation of the injury on Thursday morning and a timeline for his return to participation is currently undetermined. Head coach Billy Napier is expected to address James' injury during his Thursday press conference.
Related: Billy Napier Updates Florida LB Shemar James' Practice Injury
Florida anticipates James being a major contributor to its defense in 2023, following his productive debut season with the Gators in 2022 and rise to a leadership position this offseason.
The 6-foot-1, 230-pound James produced 47 total tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble in 13 games as a freshman, en route to Freshman All-SEC honors and a College Football News Freshman All-American honorable mention.
In an exclusive interview with All Gators in February, James credited former Gators linebackers and 2023 NFL Draft picks Ventrell Miller and Amari Burney for preparing him to take on an immediate role with the team last year.
Their ascension to the pros made James a widely projected first-teamer entering his sophomore campaign, a duty he suggested he is ready for.
"[I'm] just getting better each and every year," James said. "I know there's big shoes to fill, but, I mean, there's not really much pressure. You know, just going out, executing, just doing your role and playing your role. Just being comfortable and having fun."
Teammates and coaches have shared similar confidence in James' abilities. Inside linebackers coach Jay Bateman, in particular, was complimentary of James' ability to retain information and apply it on the gridiron during spring training camp in April.
"Shemar's really, really talented. The thing I love about him is if I say something to him or [defensive coordinator] coach [Austin] Armstrong says something to him, it gets applied the next day." Bateman said. "He's got a really high ceiling. He's going to play a bunch of football here and he's going to be a really good player."
In the event that James is sidelined for an extended period of time due to the injury, redshirt senior Teradja Mitchell, redshirt junior Mannie Nunnery, junior Derek Wingo, redshirt sophomore Scooby Williams, redshirt freshman Deuce Spurlock II and freshman Jaden Robinson would make up Florida's group of available scholarship linebackers.
Notably, Mitchell (from Ohio State), Nunnery (Houston) and Spurlock (Michigan) transferred into the program this offseason.
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