A Career Derailed Too Soon

Posted Aug 16, 2007 by Aaron Knox

Updated Aug 16, 2007 at 07:34 PM

GAINESVILLE — When the Gators opened practice last week, everyone kept asking about the undersized receiver in the blank jersey. All the freshmen were present and accounted for, so this new guy must have been a walk-on. But unlike certain Blogtacular authors, this was a walk-on who could play.

We came to learn that his name is Chris Jones, and he got a number (24) by the second day of practice. Jones is a graduate of The Bolles School in Jacksonville, and he’s a heck of a little receiver. Unfortunately, he won’t get a chance to prove that again after Florida’s medical staff discovered a pre-existing neck injury that will prevent Jones from playing football again. Thursday, Gators coach Urban Meyer said he would like to keep Jones around the program if he can’t suit up.

“He’s still a Gator and he’s going to be around,” Meyer said. “I love him. He’s a great young man. It’s horrible. He’s devastated but I think he wants to be around the Gators and we’ll do the best we can to keep him here.”