GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida is halfway through spring practice, and while it's too early for new coach Jim McElwain to identify many playmakers on offense, he knows one for sure.

Unfortunately, he's now sidelined with a recurring foot injury from high school.

"We're going to hold Brandon Powell, which is a big loss because he was flying around, making plays," McElwain said Friday. "Before we got here, they drilled a screw in his foot or whatever and we found a hot spot."

In an abundance of caution, Florida will do everything it can to make sure Powell, who is projected to start in the slot, doesn't do anything that could potentially keep him off the field this fall.

Even if that means sidelining one of their only guys making explosive plays consistently this spring.

"I'm one of these coaches that will not put a player out there until it's all cleared," McElwain said. "So we're going to hold him from any contact, any scrimmage work, all the stuff, while we get a shoe fitted and make sure we not mess that (up)."

Powell racked up 16 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown on the ground as a running back in 2014. He did more damage later in the year as a receiver, where he caught 15 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown.

Looking for more playmakers at receiver, McElwain opted to move Powell there permanently this spring.

It's been a simple move for him.

"Man, he’s a beast. The guy reminds me of Percy (Harvin) sometimes," running back Kelvin Taylor said. "He can get in the backfield. He can play running back. He can punt return. Outside receiver. Wherever you want to put him, the guy just works hard. He’s physical. I like him, so I think he’s going to have a great role."

Even McElwain, who has been extremely hesitant to name specific players who have impressed this spring, spoke highly of Powell.

"He's a guy, for example, that has really adapted well to the wideout spot and was doing some really good things," McElwain said. "But what that means is someone else gets an opportunity to get those reps. That's how this works."