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Published Sep 20, 2017
Dawson in concussion protocol
Andrew Olson
Inside the Gators

Florida coach Jim McElwain made a brief appearance on the SEC coaches weekly teleconference Wednesday morning. Here are some of the highlights of what he had to say:

*Senior cornerback Duke Dawson is going through concussion protocol. This was the first time McElwain confirmed what many had suspected after the coach referred to Dawson having a head injury Saturday. Dawson suited up for practice Tuesday, but did not take part in the 11-on-11 fastball session open to the media. The starting corner was labeled “highly questionable” on Monday.

*Redshirt sophomore linebacker Kylan Johnson (hamstring) was also on the injury report at the start of the week. McElwain had previously said Johnson was at about “75 percent.” While Johnson did not practice Tuesday, but “moved pretty good” during his rehabilitation Wednesday morning. McElwain said he would update the media on Johnson’s status Wednesday afternoon after practice. Johnson played in the season-opener, but has been bothered by the hamstring injury since the start of fall camp.

*McElwain said the team has been on “an emotional rollercoaster” to start the season. He said the first road contest allows teams “find out who you are a little bit.”

*This year’s Kentucky squad is the most complete Wildcats team of the past three years in McElwain’s opinion. He believes UK is playing as good as anyone. McElwain notes that UK is able to make opponents one-dimensional on offense.

*He couldn’t remember if it was his first time being part of a game-winning Hail Mary. Another reporter brought up that McElwain is 16-4 in one-possession games as a head coach. He credited going over end-of-game scenarios in practice so that he can tell players, “We’ve done this.” He credited Eastern Washington coach Dick Zornes.

*Asked for an opinion of the SEC East as a whole, McElwain said he couldn’t give it because the only division team he has watched is Kentucky.

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