Florida vs. Missouri: Tigers, Former Gators LB Out Week 12
No. 9 Missouri will be without star linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper in Week 12, having ruled the fifth-year senior out with an ankle sprain against his former team, Florida, according to a report from Pete Thamel of ESPN.
Hopper suffered the injury during Missouri's 36-7 win over formerly No. 13 Tennessee in Week 11, forcing him to exit the game. Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz later shared that Hopper's X-ray and MRI came back "clean."
The Roswell, Ga. product joined Florida as a member of its 2019 recruiting class and spent three years with the program, breaking into a significant rotational role in his redshirt freshman and sophomore seasons.
However, Hopper opted to enter the NCAA transfer portal in Jan. 2022, following Dan Mullen's firing and Billy Napier's hiring as Florida's head coach. He chose to stay in the Southeastern Conference and moved to Missouri, joining his cousin, defensive lineman Tyrone Hopper, with the Tigers.
"That's my best friend," Gators cornerback Jaydon Hill said of Hopper on Wednesday, noting the two spoke the day before. "I think his ankle is messed up. He ain't give me no definite answer yet. I know he was in a boot the other day. He might go. He might not. I'm going to see. I'm going to definitely find out."
Hopper has compiled 133 total tackles including 20 for loss, 5.5 sacks, one interception, eight pass breakups and one forced fumble over two seasons with the Tigers. Previously, he collected 82 total tackles with 11.5 for loss, four sacks, two pass breakups and a forced fumble over three campaigns with the Gators.
Florida will take on Missouri at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Miss.
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