By LARRY VAUGHT

Taylor Wyndham was surprised with Florida’s left tackle made no attempt to block him when the Gators were driving deep in Kentucky’s territory here Saturday night during their 41-7 victory.

Wyndham got a clear, clean shot on Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and knocked him to the ground when he hit him in his chest as he waited to pass. Tebow’s head hit teammate Marcus Gilbert’s head as he fell to the ground and the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner lay motionless on the ground for several minutes.

Florida teammates were worried he had hurt his neck before he eventually sat up and was able to make his way off the field. He stayed on the sideline before he was carted off the field. He vomited several times on his way to the ambulance to be taken for tests for what Florida coach Urban Meyer said were “concussion-like symptoms.”

“It was a good, clean hit. The coaches told me that,” Wyndham, a redshirt freshman said. “It was still scary that he got hurt. I wish the best for him. I didn’t try to hurt him. It kind of freaked me out when he was down there knocked out. I didn’t want to be known as the player who hurt Tim Tebow. I want to be known for making plays, but not that kind of play.

“I knew I hit him pretty good, but he’s a big guy and I really didn’t think about it hurting him. I hope he’s okay.”

So did UK defensive tackle Corey Peters.

“Taylor didn’t get blocked at all. It’s kind of scary he got that kind of shot on Tebow. I hope everything is fine. I think he will be even though he looked like he was pretty out of it at first,” Peters said.

Kentucky coach Rich Brooks thought Tebow fumbled on the play before he hit the ground, a view game officials did not share. However, the UK coach was still concerned about Tebow, who ran for 123 yards and two scores and threw for 103 yards and another touchdown.

“I feel bad for him. When you look at how many times he carries and throws the ball, he’s not had too many injuries. He’s been a fortunate guy,” Brooks said.

“Tebow is in a different category from most great players. He is in the elite category. He runs and it looks like you have him and he spins or does something. He makes something out of nothing more than anybody I have seen,” Brooks said.

3 Responses to “Wyndham hopes Tebow is okay”