Florida defensive end Carlos Dunlap is back with the team, back at practice and could be back in the starting lineup in the Sugar Bowl.
The fifth-ranked Gators reinstated Dunlap on Friday, less than three weeks after he was arrested and charged with driving under the influence.
“He’s going to play,” Meyer said after practice. “I met with the administration, president and also the athletic director. His first mistake. It was a real serious one, but he paid a serious price as well. Real serious mistake, but he’s been a good student, good person, and represented well.”
Dunlap was arrested Dec. 1 after a Gainesville Police officer found the player passed out behind the wheel at an intersection. Meyer suspended Dunlap for the Southeastern Conference championship game, which the Gators lost 32-13 to Alabama.
Meyer said school president Bernie Machen and athletic director Jeremy Foley agreed Friday that Dunlap should be reinstated because it was his first time in trouble in three seasons.
“There was a lot of discussion, and like I said, the previous track record,” Meyer said. “It’s case by case. If there was another issue, then there’d be an issue. And there hasn’t been, and that’s what basically administration let me know. They let me know.”
Dunlap, a 20-year-old junior from North Charleston, S.C., has a hearing scheduled for Jan. 21.
According to police, Dunlap was passed out through several traffic signals around 3:45 a.m.—hours after a teammate’s birthday party. An officer woke up Dunlap through a cracked window, but he kept falling back asleep.
Dunlap had watery and bloodshot eyes, the officer said, and there was a smell of alcohol. Dunlap failed a field sobriety test, refused a breath test and was arrested.
Dunlap, the defensive MVP of the Bowl Championship Series national title game in January, has 35 tackles and seven sacks this season.
Dunlap had been considered a top-10 pick in the NFL draft, and many expect him to leave school early in January.
Florida players insist there’s still plenty to play for when the Gators face Cincinnati on New Year’s Day in the Sugar Bowl.
“We have a month left with each other, with this team and it’s a special team,” senior wide receiver David Nelson said. “We might not be playing for a national championship, but we’re still playing (to be) a top-5 team in the country and for a 13-1 record. That’s something we’re not going to take light. We’re going to enjoy each other. This is a special group.”
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The Gators fell short of their stated goal to repeat as BCS national champions when they lost 32-13 to Alabama in the SEC championship game. Florida is looking to avoid a letdown similar to what Alabama suffered in the Sugar Bowl last season. After Alabama lost to Florida in the SEC title game, the Tide lost 31-17 to Utah to close the season with two straight losses.
“Winning (22) straight games in a row … is not much of a letdown,” redshirt junior offensive lineman Carl Johnson said. “We had the nation’s (longest) win streak there for a while. We’ve still got a BCS bowl game. We’ve still got another opponent. It’s not much of a letdown.”
Cincinnati, though, could come into the game with extra motivation after head coach Brian Kelly left the team to become head coach at Notre Dame. Many Bearcat players have said that they want to finish the season with a perfect record to prove they can win without Kelly.
UF safeties coach Chuck Heater still expects the Gators to be ready for the Bearcats (12-0).
“They take on challenges very well, so I would expect them to step up, rise up and do what men do when you have another game to play,” Heater said.
NOTES, QUOTES
• Florida coach Urban Meyer says Cincinnati could contend in the SEC.
Meyer can only hope the Gators will summon a better effort then they did against their last Southeastern Conference opponent. After a stunning 32-13 loss to Alabama that ended dreams of an undefeated season and repeat BCS championship, Florida (12-1) will look to regroup against the Bearcats in the Sugar Bowl.
“We have to move on pretty quickly from the loss,” UF offensive lineman Carl Johnson said. “We have one more chance to make everybody proud.”
Florida held the No. 1 ranking from September until its loss to the Crimson Tide in the SEC title game.
“We’re 12-1, we have to stay positive,” Florida cornerback Joe Haden said. “We have to focus on the bowl game.”
Meyer said his he’s confident that his senior-laden team won’t suffer a letdown against the undefeated Bearcats (12-0). Cincinnati clinched its second straight Big East title with a 45-44 comeback win over Pittsburgh on Saturday.
“If you’re dealing with an immature football team, you have an issue,” said Meyer about responding the right way. “We don’t.”
Scouting The Offense: Florida will look to find a way to get Jeffery Demps and Chris Rainey more involved in the offense after the two running backs combined for just three carries against Alabama. Florida senior receiver David Nelson was one of the few bright spots against Alabama, catching four passes for 53 yards and a touchdown. The offensive line has improved in pass protection since true freshman Xavier Nixon moved into the starting lineup at left tackle four games ago against South Carolina. Florida held Alabama without a QB sack in the SEC title game.
Scouting The Defense: Florida was unable to get a pass rush going against Alabama, recording just one sack on a safety blitz. The Gators can’t afford to let Cincinnati quarterback Tony Pike to get comfortable in the pocket. Florida also must shore up its tackling after giving up a surprising 272 yards rushing against Alabama.
Matchup To Watch: Cincinnati WR Mardy Gilyard vs. Florida CB Joe Haden. Gilyard, a Florida native, will be looking forward to making big plays against the Gators. But he’ll have to shake himself free from Haden, one of the best cover corners in college football and a projected NFL first-round draft pick. In one of the few bright spots of the SEC title game for the Gators, Haden shut down talented Alabama receiver Julio Jones.
Other Key Matchups:
Cincinnati WR Armon Binns vs. Florida CB Janoris Jekins.
With UF CB Joe Haden matched up against Cincinnati receiver Mardy Gilyard on one side, Jenkins (5-foot-11) will face the task of matching up against the much taller Binns (6-4, 200). Look for Cincinnati QB Tony Pike to throw the ball high and try to get the ball to Binns, especially in the red zone. Binns has 10 TD catches this season.
Florida’s kickoff coverage unit vs. Cincinnati receiver/return specialist Mardy Gilyard.
Florida coach Urban Meyer takes pride in his special teams, even using starters to cover punts and kicks. The Gators will need to contend with the speedy Gilyard, who had three returns for TDs this season.
Florida’s offensive line vs. Cincinnati’s pass rush.
Florida has allowed 26 sacks this season, but the line actually played well in the SEC title game against Alabama and didn’t allow a sack. The Gators will need to give starting quarterback Tim Tebow time to throw against a Cincinnati team that’s had 35 sacks in 12 games this season.
Quote To Note: “Our legacy is going to be dependent on how we finish this season.”—Florida coach Urban Meyer, on his team’s motivation for the Sugar Bowl.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Bowl Breakdown:
Florida vs. Cincinnati, Sugar Bowl, Jan. 1, New Orleans, La.—Florida gets the Southeastern Conference consolation prize this season after losing 32-13 to Alabama in the SEC title game. The Gators will be making their 19th straight bowl appearance, which ranks first among SEC schools and second nationally. It will be Florida’s eighth Sugar Bowl game appearance.
Players To Watch:
QB Tim Tebow—The Sugar Bowl will mark the final game in Tebow’s storied four-year college career. Tebow is Florida’s unquestioned offensive leader and UF’s top threat in both the running and passing game. Look for Tebow to will his teammates into not finishing the season on a negative note.
MLB Brandon Spikes—Spikes is the senior leader of UF’s defense. Like Tebow, Spikes will be motivated to finish his career on a positive note.
TE Aaron Hernandez—Look for Florida to work the ball to Hernandez underneath and up the middle in an effort to loosen up Cincinnati’s defense. Hernandez (739 yards, four TDs) is a junior but could decide to put his name in for the NFL draft after the season.
DE Jermaine Cunningham—Cunningham will play his final game. If Carlos Dunlap is still suspended, Cunningham will need to step up as UF’s top pass-rushing threat. Cunningham and Dunlap are tied for the team lead in sacks with seven.
Roster Report:
• It’s still unclear whether DE Carlos Dunlap will play in the Sugar Bowl. Dunlap was suspended for the SEC Championship game after being arrested for a DUI earlier in the week.
• LB A.J. Jones (knee) sat out the SEC title game and is questionable for the Sugar Bowl.
• WR/KR Brandon James aggravated a foot injury and was forced to sit out the second half of the SEC title game. James wore a protective boot on the foot in the locker room following the game but said he did not know if it will hold him out of the bowl game.
• Florida coach Urban Meyer was treated for dehydration at Shands Hospital in Gainesville on Sunday morning after the SEC title game. Meyer was released from the hospital on Sunday afternoon.
• Defensive coordinator Charlie Strong has accepted the head coaching job at Louisville. Strong will return to the Gators on Dec. 17 and coach in the Sugar Bowl.
• UF receivers coach Billy Gonzales has left to become the passing coordinator at LSU. Gonzales was replaced by Central Michigan wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni, who coached with Florida coach Urban Meyer at Bowling Green.
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