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Florida Football: Marcell Harris to miss 2017 season with torn Achilles

By Connor Muldowney

BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 19: Marcell Harris #26 of the Florida Gators tackles Danny Etling #16 of the LSU Tigers during the second half of a game at Tiger Stadium on November 19, 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 19: Marcell Harris #26 of the Florida Gators tackles Danny Etling #16 of the LSU Tigers during the second half of a game at Tiger Stadium on November 19, 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Florida football received some devastating news on Thursday as senior safety Marcell Harris will miss the 2017 season with a torn Achilles.

Bad news has struck Florida football once again this offseason as fifth-year senior safety Marcell Harris is expected to miss the entire season after suffering a torn Achilles.

Unfortunately, that might mark the end of his collegiate playing days as he was already redshirted and he would require a special waiver from the NCAA, allowing a sixth year.

Florida posted the news via Twitter on Thursday afternoon.

According to Florida’s official athletic website, Jim McElwain weighed in on the devastating loss for the team.

"“As a coach this is one of the hardest things you are faced with,” Head Coach Jim McElwain said. “Here is a kid who has made great personal growth during his time here and has really matured both on and off the field. It is tough to see a player invest so much in himself and his teammates and have this happen, but I do know that we will support him every step of the way as he works through this injury.”"

Harris was expected to have a big season for the Gators following the departure of Teez Tabor and Quincy Wilson in the secondary. He was ready to step up as the senior leader of the group after putting together his best season as a Gator in 2016.

In fact, he played in 13 games last season, starting eight at safety. He recorded a team-high 73 tackles to go along with four tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions and a pass breakup. He will be greatly missed by the now-unproven unit.

An early favorite to replace the senior will be sophomore Jeawon Taylor.

The senior safety was one of the players who represented Florida at SEC Media Days last week and it’s tough to see a career potentially derailed by an injury.

Next: SEC Football: 5 teams that can dethrone Alabama

Florida will be taking on Michigan on Sept. 2 in Arlington, Texas, to open the 2017 season. The Gators would have loved to have the veteran presence to rely upon in the defensive backfield against the Wolverines.

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