GAINESVILLE, Fla. _ Florida junior Tyler Jordan has started 10 games at right guard and lined up when needed at center for the Gators.
But Jordan's versatility now is being put to the test.
With freshman reserve OT Kadeem Telfort among seven players suspended for the season opener against Michigan, Jordan has lined up at right tackle _ a position he has not played since high school.
LT Martez Ivey said Jordan acclimated himself well last weekend.
"He's versatile," Ivey said. "It took him about a day to get used to it."
Ivey is well familiar with the challenges of transitioning from the inside of the line to the edge. After two seasons at left guard, Ivey moved a spot to the left last spring.
In Ivey's case, the move is back to his natural position. But switching positions still required some time to adapt.
"At guard, there's more contact and everything happens faster. It's like 1-2 it happens," Ivey said. "At tackle, you have to be really patient, you're not always going to make contact on that first kick-step or that second kick-step _ or make contact at all, really. It's about footwork."
Jordan will continue to work at guard and tackle, backing up starting RT Jawaan Taylor. Taylor sat out last Friday's scrimmage with a minor leg injury, forcing Jordan into the starting lineup.
Whatever happens, Ivey said Jordan will be ready.
"He went out there and handled it like a man and went about it like no problem at all," Ivey said.
