GAINESVILLE, Fla. — UF All-SEC tight end Kyle Pitts is questionable with a concussion.
Arkansas first-year coach Sam Pittman could be out with COVID-19.
The No. 6 Gators (4-1) and surprising Razorbacks (3-3) face a new set of hurdles as preparations ramped up Monday for a meeting between the two teams at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Swamp.
Pitts is Florida's most dangerous offensive weapon and team leader with eight touchdown catches, including a 25-yard score during the Gators' 44-28 win against Georgia. The win put coach Dan Mullen's squad in command of the SEC East race, but to reach the Dec. 19 conference-title game and the College Football Playoff semifinals, the Gators likely cannot afford a slip-up.
Pitts' potential absence is not ideal against an Arkansas pass defense ranked second in the SEC. Yet Mullen is confident that Gators backups Kemore Gamble and Keon Zipperer can fill the void.
Two plays after Pitts left the game following a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit by Georgia safety Lewis Cine, Gamble caught a 24-yard touchdown. Earlier in the game with Florida trailing 14-0, Zipperer caught a 39-yard pass during his team's first scoring drive.
"We've always had guys who have that next-man-up mentality," Mullen said. "Kyle is a great player. They know it. We feature him. You look, he goes out and Kemore has a great game. Zip has a catch and a long run afterward; he did a great job blocking.
"To me, those guys have just got to come up and we're going to run our offense. It's their opportunity to go make plays; their opportunity to go show what they can do out there on the field."
Pittman likely lost his opportunity to pick up his first win against a ranked team. Arkansas is 0-3 against teams in the top 25, though a 30-28 loss at Auburn ended in officiating controversy.
If he is not cleared to coach the game, Pittman will be replaced by former Missouri coach Barry Odom, now the Razorbacks' defensive coordinator.
For an Arkansas program that began the season carrying a 20-game skid in SEC play, Pittman — a former offensive line coach at Georgia — has ignited a turnaround few saw coming in Fayetteville or beyond.
"He went into a program; he obviously knows how to win," Mullen said. "It's a fun challenge. He's got them playing hard, believing.
"One of the keys is creating a winning mindset. And if you see this year, they play with that winning mindset and have been really successful."
Mullen has been part of his share of turnarounds, including as head coach at Mississippi State and UF.
Mullen and his Gators program also have had their issues with COVID-19. An outbreak of the virus shut down the program for 14 days and infected more than two dozen players and some coaches, including Mullen.
"Prayers are with him and his family," Mullen said of Pittman. "I hope he has minor symptoms kind of like I had; it really wasn't a tough ordeal (for me). I know a lot of people have had a tough time dealing with it, and then obviously the seriousness of it for a lot of other people and families out there.
"So our prayers are with him and I hope he recovers quickly."
Pittman said Monday he received a phone call at 6:30 a.m. to let him know he tested positive. The 58-year-old said he has experienced no symptoms of the virus.
"I'm feeling great. Well, you know, I'm not feeling great," he said. "I'm embarrassed. I wish I wouldn't have gotten the COVID. To be honest with you, I haven't done anything different."
Pittman said he is holding out hope he had a false positive test. If he were to test negative for COVID-19 three times, doctors could clear Pittman to coach this weekend.
"Only guy on the whole team, you know. Lucky me," he said. "And I wouldn't want it to be somebody else, either."
