Florida lost tight end Jake McGee for the season to a broken leg on Saturday, and a freshman will definitely avoid a redshirt as a result. The Gators had never officially stated a position on whether DeAndre Goolsby would redshirt in 2014, but he wasn't one of the nine true freshmen who played in the opener. Coach Will Muschamp said Monday that the McGee injury will mean minutes for Goolsby this fall.

"Right now, on today’s conversation and [Sunday], we plan on activating him and getting him going," Muschamp said. "That means you’ve got to get him going on special teams and get him going on offense. That’s our plan."

Goolsby had a strong fall camp, but the Gators felt pretty good about their depth with McGee and seniors Clay Burton and Tevin Westbrook at the position, bolstered by utility players like Hunter Joyer and Gideon Ajagbe. But with McGee gone, the Gators need another reliable option who can get open and catch passes. Goolsby was an early enrollee and looked comfortable doing that in the spring and during fall camp.

"Tight end right now, Westbrook and then DeAndre Goolsby will figure in a little bit more," Muschamp said. "As far as some things we had planned for him in the first game, never got to it. But now with the situation with Jake, we’re going to move forward with that."

Muschamp said the Gators don't currently have any plans to play either of the other true freshmen tight ends, C'yontai Lewis and Moral Stephens.