Editor’s note: This article was originally published by The Gainesville Sun and has been republished in its entirety below.
Florida coach Dan Mullen said Tuesday his team would have about 60 scholarship players available for the 85th Cotton Bowl Classic, and the absences announced just prior to kickoff included multiple notable Gators.
UF announced it was without 17 players, eight of them starters, for the trip, including the unexpected addition of starting linebacker Ventrell Miller.
Prior to departing for Dallas, the Gators saw tight end Kyle Pitts and wide receivers Trevon Grimes and Kadarius Toney announce they’d be foregoing the New Year’s Six Bowl in order to prepare for the 2021 NFL draft.
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Furthermore, Florida junior wide receiver Jacob Copeland announced he’d be missing the trip due to multiple positive COVID-19 tests. Multiple media reports indicated Marco Wilson would opt out as well.
Starting safety Shawn Davis and reserve outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon were unavailable as well, along with David Reese, Kahleil Jackson, Ethan Pouncey, Rashad Torrence II, Lamar Goods, Hayden Knighton, Jaelin Humphries, Marlon Dunlap and Lucas Alonso.